Nash: The Monthly Invoicing

by Son of Steve Nash on Apr 1, 2008 4:33 AM MDT Comment 30 comments

A month-by-month analysis of Steve Nash's season so far

I posted on my blog http://sonsofstevenash.blogspot.com/ this, just to show Nash is still playing is A+ game every night

Somehow, during this season, I got the idea that Nash was having a so-so season, possibly not in line with expectations nor with his previous performance as the Suns PG. I decided to have a look at the numbers.

Steve Nash season so far looks like this: GP 73 MPG 34.7 PPG 17.2 APG 11.2 TO 3.70 3P% 0.48 while his Suns career stats are MPG 35 PPG 17.6 APG 11.2 TO 3.6 3P% 0.45.

Nash is in line with his past performance and shooting the best of his career from 3-point range. So, could you please bring back those MVP MVP chants?

Here's a statistical recap of Steve Nash's performance, on a monthly basis.

November (too many turnovers, but a great moth)
GP 16, MPG 34.3, PPG 19.5, APG 10.9, TO 4.2, 3P% 0.50

December (great passing month)
GP 15, MPG 34.5, PPG 13.9, APG 14, TO 2.8, 3P% 0.40

January (another excellent month)
GP 15, MPG 33.7, PPG 18.6, APG 10.5, TO 4.3, 3P% 0.49

February (too many turnovers in the toughest month of the season for the Suns)
GP 11, MPG 36.4, PPG 17.7, APG 10.3, TO 4.6, 3P% 0.43

March (adjusting to the Shaq era)
GP 16, MPG 35.3, PPG 17.5, APG 9.8, TO 3, 3P% 0.56

In case you wonder, here are Nash's stats in the post Shaq era: GP 21, MPG 35.2, PPG 17.5, APG 9.6, TO 3.1, 3P% 0.52

So, Steve is playing is usual great game. There's not much talk lately about Nash since everyone is focusing on Shaq and Stoudemire. Only dangerous sign is playing time, I'd rather se Nash play under 34 minutes a game trying to rest him a little before the playoffs, since the Suns failed once again to develop a back up PG.

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Great analysis

Two points:

We have become so used to seeing Nash be Nash that we expect it. With Amare I think the MVP chants are recognition and appreciation for the new level he's playing at. Its not a dis on Steve as much as the way the fans can "thank" Amare.
As Steve showed last night, he can still carry the team when he has to. The GREAT thing is that he doesn't have to each and every night. So, we see fewer MVP type performances over the 82 games but that allows the team to play better w/o him and saves him for the playoffs.

Where

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 1, 2008 9:13 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Great point about Amare and the MVP chants

Overall, I think it's great that Amare is finally getting his turn to shine (even though I hate that he's being "rewarded" for those silly comments to the media, if only because it will encourage him to make more such comments in the future).

However, for some reason, the MVP chants for Amare last night just seemed kind of "disrespectful", given that (as you wrote in your recap) Nash was the reason they won the game. It was like he just decided "I don't care that we're down by 20, there is no way in hell we're losing this game!", and then went out there and willed the team to win. I didn't get that same read from Amare, even though he was the statistical MVP I guess. Anyway, I understand the need for something "new", and that it's Amare's turn in the spotlight (plus this is really kind of a petty topic in the first place). But this was one time that it seemed more appropriate to give the ex-MVP his props too. As it was, it might have been different from the view of someone that was actually there, but it came off as kind of awkward over the TV, at least to me.

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2008 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

No worries about MVP chants

We have an interesting 'problem' in that we have three bona fide MVPs on this team. MVP former (Shaq). MVP current (Nash) and MVP future (Amare). That they can coexist at all is a testament to their dedication to winning.

This is why Marion had to go. He could not stand to be the 'third MVP', even if it was in his mind. And come on, for stretches, particularly the year Amare was out, Shawn performed like an MVP.

I think these three guys are the perfect trio. They are all tough minded. I look forward to seeing them perform in the playoffs when there are no back to backs, and scheduling is equal. The last time I went into the postseason feeling pretty good about our chances was in 1994, the year after the finals appearance against the Bulls. Of course the Rockets ruined it, but I feel we can beat anyone in a seven game series this year, if we play hard.

If Shaq averages 20-10, or at least 15-8, I like our chances. We know what we'll get from Amare and steve.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 1, 2008 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said

It's a petty discussion, and one that wouldn't even matter if it had been Amare hearing the cheers all season. But given that it's a very recent thing, and that Amare (for all his statistical greatness last night) didn't really seem to be the primary momentum changer here, it just added kind of a weird, awkward element to one of the best finishes of the season. But maybe it seemed different to people who were actually there.

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2008 11:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amare

let's not forget to give Amare credit for 8 offensive rebounds and the overall PUNISHMENT the Suns dished out on the glass.

Besides, who do you think Steve Nash wants getting the MVP chants? Himself or Amare?

Amare of course. This all just helps Amare play even better. He's raised the bar and now he's got to live up to it. And he has been. Can't complain about that.

Oh, and I may be misremembering but did Steve even get to the FT line late in the game to have a chance to be chanted at?

Where

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 1, 2008 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

And I even mentioned it in the game thread. Anyway, it's not a big deal, it just seemed kind of weird and awkward is all.

Also, I think someone who's been following the Suns since the day Amare was drafted would have an entirely different take on this whole matter. This is like seeing your kid all grown up and setting the world on fire. It's an amazing, awesome, ecstatic, wonderful thing that people have been waiting a long time for. It's probably a different perspective altogether from those of us (bandwagoners, I admit) who started watching the Suns in 2004-05, largely because of Nash. For us, it's a small reminder that our "era" is coming to an end, and we have to adjust, and eventually learn to love, the new one.

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2008 12:10 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh - that's really interesting

I never thought about Nash-Suns fans. That's like Reagan-Democrats.

I think it's really great that in a game we don't know for whom to chant MVP... Isn't that wow?

by ZonaFlash on Apr 1, 2008 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with ya Tex..

I'm a Nash-Suns, bandwagoner whatever you want to call me. =)

About the MVP chants? It's not a big deal, I think Steve doesn't mind so why should we?

I think is great that Amaré is growing and perfoming at that level BUT I wouldn't dare to say that this is his team yet. You saw it last night, Nash got upset and looked at what happened.

by PanamaSun on Apr 1, 2008 2:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

Steve probably doesn't care (and may even be happy the spotlight has moved onto someone else since he never seemed particularly all that comfortable it to begin with). I guess just in this one instance it kind of struck me like I had just finished watching this really cool movie that had a great ending, the bad guy was vanquished, the good guys won, and everything was grand--except the main character didn't get the girl, his buddy did instead. Even though you knew the actor didn't care, something just wasn't quite "right". Guess I'm a little bit "OCD" about stuff like that. Just seemed like a hair was out of place or something.

by TexSUN on Apr 1, 2008 3:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the commercial tho

by ZonaFlash on Apr 1, 2008 3:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

grammar alert

I love the use of the (quasi) word misremembering. Is that a Roger Clemens-ism we will have to live with from now on?

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 2, 2008 7:44 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I seem to think

its a Bushism....

Phx - where run and thunder happens

by Phoenix Stan on Apr 2, 2008 9:03 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

misremembering

Yeah, I think W coined it, but Clemens used it in his steroid hearings.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 2, 2008 9:47 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I prefer

disremembered as in,

"As soon as I received the subpoena I instantly disremembered everything I had done over the past five years."

by ZonaFlash on Apr 2, 2008 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

My preference

Or dismembered, as in, 'The Suns Dismembered the Spurs in the 2008 NBA playoffs'.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 2, 2008 12:11 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amare, MVP?

Right. I love Amare's offensive game. He's a scoring machine when he's switched on. I just can't get over his defense. If he never improved 1 bit more on his game, would he ever truly be worthy of an MVP? I say that he would in a down year for the league. He's got to improve his 1-on-1 defense and get his boxing out for rebounds more consistent. Until then, I'll likely refrain from joining in the chants. However, I still acknowledge that he is a great player to watch and I'm glad he's on my team!

by KJ7 on Apr 1, 2008 10:53 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't remember

Nash being all that great as a 1 on 1 defender yet he's got the shiny trophies. Gotta hold your MVP's to the same standards unless you didn't think Nash deserved the awards in the first place.

by AZSEAfan on Apr 1, 2008 2:44 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree with you

If Amare hadn't had to play center the first half of the season, I think we'd be talking about Amare as a top 1-4 mvp candidate, easily.

Nothing in this Verse can stop us!

by jasonsuns1 on Apr 1, 2008 4:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bingo, Jason

He would be at 30-12 and 3 blocks. He would be leading the league in free throw attempts. and he would be fouling out opposing bigs at a prodigious (sp?) rate.

In short, everytthing we thought he would be in 2006 if the microfracture hadn't happened.

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 2, 2008 7:48 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

Nash is a pretty poor defender. In fact, I would say that Nash and Stouds play nearly equivalent defenece. I wonder, if they tracked a stat on taking charges, would Nash have as many of those a game as Amare does blocks? The way I see it, those are both a form of weak-side help defense.

As for Nash's MVP's... I love the guy's game, but I do flounder back and forth sometimes on the validity of his winning 2 in a row. The clincher for me as far as Nash is concerned is that he elevated the game of his teammates to some pretty incredible levels when he was in the lineup vs. when out of the lineup. We'll see if/when Stouds is able to be that guy. I'm not sure yet.

by KJ7 on Apr 1, 2008 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nash MVP

He deserves the MVPs. From that POV, there are two factors to consider:

Nash's play
the play of the field

Nash's play was great, and the field wasn't spectacular (there was no Jordan, Kareem, Magic, or Bird).

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 2, 2008 7:51 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right, Hawk

The field wasn't spectacular overall. Though, maybe I'm getting my years mixed up, but didn't Shaq have quite a great season the year Nash won his first MVP?

by KJ7 on Apr 2, 2008 9:01 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

2005

Depends on what you call great. Wade had his breakout year that year, so it wasn't Shaq alone who lifted Miami to such a huge improvement. Shaq's stats weren't totally amazing (22 points, 9 or 10 rebs, IIRC).

'07-'08 Suns: It's clobberin' time!

by Hawk42 on Apr 3, 2008 8:15 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree with the idea

Nash is making everyone around him better.
Steve is not a good defender (he doesn't have the body and the athleticism to be one), while Stoudemire could be like Kevin Garnett if only really wanted to.
The whole idea behind the MVP concept is leading a team, it's not about stats I believe.
Nash will always be no. 1, whatever ....

by Son of Steve Nash on Apr 2, 2008 10:38 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

What we're seeing is chemistry -

nay, its harmony.

Everything is falling into place and as Kerr said, there's a pecking order.

With Matrix out of the way, Amare can now be the focal point.

Like all true assassins of the game, Nash can do what he likes, hanging back until absolutely necessary for him to impose his will.

Shaq has been a blessing in the early going - stroking Amare's ego and maintaining his close tie to Grant Hill, to the point of giving Grant good advice to sit out a few games.

PStan said it best. Amare can collect the applause upfront and he deserves it. But it's nice to know the big is being backed up by a basketball godfather and cold-blooded assassin.

As when Nash had the whole team accept his MVP award, none of these guys win without the other.

by ZonaFlash on Apr 1, 2008 12:13 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs