Steve Nash is having his best season ever

[slinslin]

He is having probably the best season of his career right now, better than his MVP seasons but he doesn't not even get into the ASG?

Steve Nash is the only reason the Suns are in the playoff race. With him in the game the Suns are one of the best teams in the league , with him on the bench the Suns are absolutely the worst team worse than the Cavs.

It is no surprise he is leading the league in net +/- stats.

He is averaging 17/3.6/11.3 52%/41%/92%

He is having a great year defensively.

His advanced defensive stats lead all PG but people are still calling him one of the worst defenders in the league. In the past he was usually near the bottom.

Example:

Steve Nash holds his matchups to 12.2 production, Rondo to 12.9, Williams 14.9, Rose 15.2 and Paul 15.4 .

Yet this guy apparently is not in the MVP discussion, is not in the best PG discussion although he clearly still is the best and he did not even get in the allstar game while Kevin Love and Blake Griffin made it in the West?

 

[slinslin]

It is a shame that the Suns are so stuck in no-mans land that nobody even talks about Nash missing the ASG. Hopefully we will rebuild soon.

 

[Mainstreet]

I noted in another thread, that the announcers in a recent game showed a chart that Nash's stats were significantly better than those of John Stockton at age 37. Suns fans are being treated to watch one of the best players in the game to play for their home team.

 

[elindholm]

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels that Nash's defense has been pretty good this year. He's a lot more focused and really seems to be taking it seriously. And, as slinslin noted, it is no longer the case that opposing PGs routinely light the Suns up. (Of course sometimes that's because Hill is guarding them, but still.)

 

[Covert Rain]

He is having a great year defensively.

His advanced defensive stats lead all PG but people are still calling him one of the worst defenders in the league. In the past he was usually near the bottom.

Example:

Steve Nash holds his matchups to 12.2 production, Rondo to 12.9, Williams 14.9, Rose 15.2 and Paul 15.4 .

Nash still is one of the worst defenders IMO. He is just getting more help when driven around. I have watched Nash get shaken out of his shoes several times the past few weeks alone. I do admit that he seems to be doing a bit better one on one but I don't think that is the primary reason.

I think what is helping Nash this season is a more traditional lineup. Without Amare or Frye getting most of your center minutes it's making opposing guards jobs harder. When one center goes to the bench we actually have another center entering the lineup. We still occasionally use small ball centers (Frye) but no where near as much as we have prior to this season.

Nash his MVP seasons still managed to get past his defensive deficiencies. Nash deserves to be an All-Star. The problem is the Suns have not been very good this season which is one of the factors they look at.

 

[BC867]

he did not even get in the allstar game while Kevin Love and Blake Griffin made it in the West?

I agree that Nash deserves All Star recognition, but not by comparing him to the selection of Kevin Love and Blake Griffin. They are Power Forwards.

There are four outstanding Point Guards in the West. You can't have four Point Guards on an All Star squad.

The league isn't going to follow the Suns early attempt to play above .500 without a Power Forward.

If we hadn't done that with Hedo and were now a solid playoff team, Nash would probably have been chosen.

In the long run, it's better for the Suns that Steve go out of town and rest during the All Star weekend.

I'll be watching tonight and tomorrow, as I did yesterday, and will enjoy the festivities despite nobody from our team participating.

 

[Mainstreet]

In the long run, it's better for the Suns that Steve go out of town and rest during the All Star weekend.

Exactly.

 

[slinslin]

Doesn't make a difference for the Suns since this season is lost anyway and next years too unless a miracle happens.

 

[Chaplin]

Nash still is one of the worst defenders IMO. He is just getting more help when driven around. I have watched Nash get shaken out of his shoes several times the past few weeks alone. I do admit that he seems to be doing a bit better one on one but I don't think that is the primary reason.

Very true, but have you seen what he's done against opposing point guards when he's on offense? Even the best defensive PG's have problems this season guarding Nash. I mean, Deron Williams is a good example of that.

 

[slinslin]

Here are adjusted +/- stats

Nash +14.8
LeBron +11.5
Kobe -14.1

Yes that is a "-" infront of Kobe. The Lakers this season have been playing better basketball when Kobe is on the bench.

http://waynewinston.com/wordpress/?p=1062

My friends know I do not get upset often. But I become livid when people make judgements that are totally “illogical.’ There is no doubt in my mind that this year Steve Nash has been a better player than Kobe. Every midseason MVP article I have seen has Kobe in the top 10 and omits Nash. Kobe is an all-star and Nash is not. I do not care about PER, Win Score, or Win shares. I can show below that this year Nash has been more valuable thab Kobe. If my logic is wrong let me know.

The Suns play 8 points better than average per 48 min (adjusted for strength of opponent ) with Nash in. The Lakers play 7 points better than average with Kobe in. So the Suns are better with Nash in than Lakers are with Kobe in. Kobe has better (Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Fisher) teammates than Nash. So how can Kobe be better than Nash? Here are more points in favor of Nash

Gasol and Odom in with Kobe out Lakers are 12 points better than average.
Odom in and Kobe out Lakers are 8 points better than average.
With Nash out Suns are a horrid -21 and Lakers are still 1 points better than average.
With Nash in and Carter out Suns are 9 points better than average.
Let me know where I am wrong or admit Nash has been a better player this year than Kobe.

 

[Errntknght]

Here are adjusted +/- stats

Nash +14.8
LeBron +11.5
Kobe -14.1

Yes that is a "-" infront of Kobe. The Lakers this season have been playing better basketball when Kobe is on the bench.

http://waynewinston.com/wordpress/?p=1062

Where the heck are those stats from?

 

[dodie53]

nash's best season is when he wins his ring

 

[desertdawg]

nash's best season is when he wins his ring

Yamon, I'll have what he's having, and make it a double (2 rings) please.

 

[slinslin]

Where the heck are those stats from?

http://basketballvalue.com/topplayers.php?year=2010-2011&mode=summary&sortnumber=94&sortorder=ASC


Gortat by the way has the 2nd worst adjusted +/- stats on the Suns too.

http://basketballvalue.com/teamplay...summary&sortnumber=94&sortorder=DESC&team=PHX

 

[Cheesewater]

Steve Nash is no longer popular amongst those who buy basketball shoes, carbonated soft drinks, smart phones and multi-G network services. Therefore he is no longer popular with David Stern, Inc.

 

[elindholm]

Steve Nash is no longer popular amongst those who buy basketball shoes, carbonated soft drinks, smart phones and multi-G network services. Therefore he is no longer popular with David Stern, Inc.

Well, and his team is mediocre. There are lots of very good players who don't merit All-Star consideration for that reason. It works both ways: does anyone really think that Ray Allen is one of the 10 best guards in the league right now?

 

[Joe Mama]

He is having probably the best season of his career right now, better than his MVP seasons but he doesn't not even get into the ASG?

Steve Nash is the only reason the Suns are in the playoff race. With him in the game the Suns are one of the best teams in the league , with him on the bench the Suns are absolutely the worst team worse than the Cavs.

It is no surprise he is leading the league in net +/- stats.

He is averaging 17/3.6/11.3 52%/41%/92%

He is having a great year defensively.

His advanced defensive stats lead all PG but people are still calling him one of the worst defenders in the league. In the past he was usually near the bottom.

Example:

Steve Nash holds his matchups to 12.2 production, Rondo to 12.9, Williams 14.9, Rose 15.2 and Paul 15.4 .

Yet this guy apparently is not in the MVP discussion, is not in the best PG discussion although he clearly still is the best and he did not even get in the allstar game while Kevin Love and Blake Griffin made it in the West?

now I think Steve Nash is having an incredible season. I think he should get serious mention for MVP because as many of you have pointed out this team would be one of the worst without him. I honestly believe he's the best offensive point guard in the league. What he's doing at age 37 is nothing short of remarkable.

That said, shouldn't some of the credit for this defense be going to Grant Hill? I mean I'll fully admit that I don't pay close attention most of the time when I have the games on TV. Usually I'm cranking my head around to catch a play here and there while I work. But most of the time doesn't Grant Hill guards the opposing point guard if they are one of these top guys?

Joe Mama

 

[SirStefan32]

now I think Steve Nash is having an incredible season. I think he should get serious mention for MVP because as many of you have pointed out this team would be one of the worst without him. I honestly believe he's the best offensive point guard in the league. What he's doing at age 37 is nothing short of remarkable.

That said, shouldn't some of the credit for this defense be going to Grant Hill? I mean I'll fully admit that I don't pay close attention most of the time when I have the games on TV. Usually I'm cranking my head around to catch a play here and there while I work. But most of the time doesn't Grant Hill guards the opposing point guard if they are one of these top guys?

Joe Mama

Well, it's certainly true that Gran Hill is responsible for some of it, but Nash has been a little bit better this year. I am almost willing to say that Steve Nash is now able to guard a chair and hold it to 20 points or so.

 

[slinslin]

Grant Hill guarding PGs is the exception though and I can't remember that happening over a full game.

Also that was the case last year too and PG production against us was much higher in past years.

 

[BC867]

Grant Hill guarding PGs is the exception though and I can't remember that happening over a full game.

Also that was the case last year too and PG production against us was much higher in past years.

Then, factor in the production against us with Nash trying to guard a Wing.

I don't have stats, but I know how awful it's looked on TV.

That may be true for any PG, but if you start with one whose amazing skill is on offense . . .