Steve Nash – ‘Poetry in Motion’
To describe the two-time MVP Steve Nash and his passing wizardry with mere words is an improbability. He plays the game with such calming grace that it is a joy to behold. The 37-year-old All-Star and his unselfish on-court exploits, have earned him comparisons to legendary point-guards John Stockton and Bob Cousy.
There is no doubt that Steve Nash is by-far the best point-guard playing in this league right now, although, the Phoenix Suns 33-32 record this season might not be a correct depiction of that fact.
There is no questioning the leadership abilities of the point-guard extraordinaire, who has solely been handling the team’s reins since he came over to Phoenix in the 2004-05 season. He literally turned the Phoenix Suns into a legitimate contender in just a season, before his arrival the suns had a pathetic 29–53 record. Head Coach, Mike D’Antoni, and his up-tempo basketball system coupled with Steve Nash and his on-court vision worked wonders, as he led them to an NBA best 62-20 record. With Nash handing out 11.5 assists a game, the Suns averaged a decade-high 110.4 points that season.
He won back-to-back MVP titles the first two seasons in Phoenix while leading the Suns to consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Finals.
Steve Nash can also be credited with polishing the talents of big-man, Amare’ Stoudemire.
Although there is a lot of praise for Nash and his ability to find the open man and thread the most impossible of passes, it shadows in comparison to his shooting ability. A three-point marksman, he has the potential to erupt for 30-plus points whenever he feels like it. Considered arguably the best shooter to ever play the game, Nash has a free-throw shooting average of 90.3 percent, which ranks him at number two on the all-time list.
Steve Nash is best classified as a Pandora’s Box; you never know what you are going to get when he takes the floor. His passes are homing missiles, destined to find the recipient no matter how many hands there are in the passing lane. This is so easily accomplished because he is ambidextrous, and has the ability to pass with both hands equally well. Nash runs the Suns offence like clockwork, calling plays, setting screens, and passing only when the other person is in a position to score.
Ever since coming over to Phoenix, the two-time NBA skills challenge champion Nash averages close to 11 assists per-game, while shooting more than 50 percent from the field. He has performed in the clutch for Phoenix countless times, single-handedly winning games for them at the horn.
But what happens if you take Steve Nash out of the Mix?
The Suns collapse.
With Nash in the lineup, the Suns are 356-171 (67.6 percent).
Without him, they register a dismal 9-21 (30 percent).
These numbers give a clear picture of what Nash means to the Suns Franchise, and its hopes of a title run. With Steve Nash nursing a hip injury this season, the future looks bleak for Phoenix. He has missed four games this season; Phoenix is 0-4 in those games.
After their loss to Orlando on Sunday, Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry said. "Steve is the backbone of our team, I mean, obviously, he gets guys good looks and he creates situations where we have pace and rhythm and things like that. But we don't have Steve, so we have to create that some other way."
As always, the western conference playoff race is closely contested and if the Suns are going to make a serious run at a play-off spot, they will need Nash healthy and back in the line-up.
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