This 2010/2011 season as a Phoenix Suns fan has been somewhat of a disappointment. The previous season was a great surprise, the great run to the Western Conference Finals got me excited for the coming seasons with the Phoenix Suns, then Amar'e Stoudemire left to join the New York Knicks and it seemed the wheels were in motion for the Phoenix Suns to start building for the future and enduring a few transitional years along the way. Nash has now lost both his wing-men in Shawn Marion and now Amar'e Stoudemire, leaving him as the final piece left from the Mike D'Antoni Phoenix teams of 2004-2008. I might be biased in saying this but in my time of following the NBA, I have never seen a point-guard like Nash that brings the best out of some many team mates on his team. Players like Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa erupted and had career years under Nash's leadership in the D'Antoni years. Nash has come desperately close to making the NBA finals, often part of Phoenix teams that run out of steam come the Western Conference Finals games. But surely you cannot say that Nash is somewhat that of a bottle-job in the playoffs. His playoff stats with Phoenix exceed his regular season stats with the team by some way if that is possible given his excellent regular season stats. He has got a bit unlucky, like having no Amar'e Stoudemire throughout the 2006 playoffs where it was a big chance for Nash to reach the NBA finals.
Nash has also suffered heartache in 2003 with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, who are both his and Phoenix's nemesis in playoff basketball it seems. I cannot think of a lot, if any NBA MVP's that have never played in the finals before and with Nash ageing and reaching the end of his career time is running out for him. Can we assume this Phoenix team can challenge for the title, not remotely likely. The sad thing is that unlike other greats that have joined perennial playoff teams in bids to win titles (see karl Malone), Nash still is playing at a high level, much better than most point-guards in the league. I cannot see Nash asking to leave the team but he does deserve one final shot at a title and will not get it with this current Suns team unfortunately.
In finishing this article, I would be happy for Steve Nash if he was traded to a contender where he could have a few more cracks at the NBA finals. For all he has done for this franchise, he resurrected us and brought excitement back into Phoenix upon arrival for his second stint with the team. If we could get young players to build for the future from any potential Nash deal then that would be terrific but I would not want to see an NBA modern great's career peter out into retirement full of what-if questions. Steve Nash deserves better, he deserves a championship.
Nash has also suffered heartache in 2003 with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, who are both his and Phoenix's nemesis in playoff basketball it seems. I cannot think of a lot, if any NBA MVP's that have never played in the finals before and with Nash ageing and reaching the end of his career time is running out for him. Can we assume this Phoenix team can challenge for the title, not remotely likely. The sad thing is that unlike other greats that have joined perennial playoff teams in bids to win titles (see karl Malone), Nash still is playing at a high level, much better than most point-guards in the league. I cannot see Nash asking to leave the team but he does deserve one final shot at a title and will not get it with this current Suns team unfortunately.
In finishing this article, I would be happy for Steve Nash if he was traded to a contender where he could have a few more cracks at the NBA finals. For all he has done for this franchise, he resurrected us and brought excitement back into Phoenix upon arrival for his second stint with the team. If we could get young players to build for the future from any potential Nash deal then that would be terrific but I would not want to see an NBA modern great's career peter out into retirement full of what-if questions. Steve Nash deserves better, he deserves a championship.
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