Los Angeles Lakers and Mike D’ Antoni need Steve Nash : NBA Feature
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most inconsistent teams so far this season. They roar their way to victory when they all click, but have been out of sorts lately, losing to the Indiana Pacers by 2 points in the last game
after scoring only 77.
When they win, no one makes a sound - they are supposed to be winning as they are the mighty Lakers. But when they lose critics say “withhold your judgment for now; this team isn't all together yet.”
In the present scenario, the root cause of the all the problems is the unavailability of their star point guard Steve Nash, out with a fractured fibula in the left foot. Nash has played only 50 regular season minutes in the Lakers
uniform, after moving from Phoenix Suns this summer, looking for the silverware that has so far eluded him. His health has kept him off the court for about a month now.
Mike D’ Antoni, under whom Nash rose to great heights in the Phoenix Suns has joined him in Los Angeles. Mike’s offence has produced mixed results for the Lakers so far, they are taking some time to get to grips with the new offensive
style. It is expected of Nash to come and steer this Lakers offense, as he knows D’ Antoni’s tactics like the back of his hand. With his agility and ball movement, he will allow Kobe Bryant to be more useful and will inject energy into the team. On paper his
partnership with Dwight Howard looks like one of the most potent pick-and-roll combinations in the NBA.
But it may be too much to ask of the 38-year old who has not played basketball since collision with the rookie Damian Lillard on October 31st. There is definitely no need to rush him in rotation as aggravating his injury
may prove costly in the long run for the Lakers, who wish to go all the way this season.
One of the reasons Mike D’ Antoni was preferred over the Phil Jackson for the coaching job at Los Angeles was that he will have Nash at his disposal. Mike did not enjoy much success with his offence without his key play maker at
the New York Knicks. He has been waiting for Nash’s earliest possible return, and he mentioned him quite a lot of times after the Lakers post game conferences, particularly when they lose.
Lakers had more than their fair share of injuries this year as their other point guard Steve Blake is also out with an injury. Kobe has tried to step in the point guard role but has met mixed success. He did score more than 30
points in six games season; unfortunately Lakers lost 5 out of them.
So more than anything Lakers need to work as a team. Individual efforts don’t win you trophies, team work does. And Nash will be looking to do just that when he comes back into rotation, get the other players on the scoreboard
and off course bring the Lakers back to winning ways.
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