After Googling his name this morning to look for any mention by NBA scribes, it's confirmed. May I be the first to say this... Steve Nash -- three-time NBA MVP winner?
Okay, I'm from Victoria (Nash's hometown) so I may be bias in that prediction, but the numbers don't lie. Nash is back on top of the league for assists (almost 13/game) -- dishing out helpers at a frenetic pace. He has led the Phoenix Suns to one of their best starts in franchise history -- a team that many so-called NBA "experts" predicted would have real trouble making the playoffs. And the best part -- Nash is bringing back that highly entertaining run-and-gun offence that we sorely missed after the failed Shaquille O'Neal experiment. The Phoenix Suns are fun to watch again.
Why does Nash (who turns 36 in February) look so rejuvenated?
1 - The aforementioned departed Shaq. The Suns point guard would never publicly admit it, but the 'Big Cactus' was an old rusty anchor slowing down the Nash fast ferry. Like a bad bass drum player, he ruined the rhythm of Maestro Nash's orchestra. The flow is now back with flashy pick and rolls with Amare Stoudemire and #13 popping out passes to his teammates for threes. New teammate Channing Frye is in heaven and will have a career year thanks to his set-up man.
2 - The Underdog Role Re-Emerges. It's hard to label a two-time NBA MVP an "underdog". But somehow, that has been the constant in Nash's career since he came out of high school. In the off-season, Nash was widely criticized for opting to re-sign with the Suns, instead of considering other teams with a better chance to win a championship. Critics called Phoenix an aging group on the decline and that its undisputed leader wasn't really interested in winning a title. Well, that has motivated Nash once again. And just ask Marc Cuban what happens when you trigger Nash's competitive juices.
Yes, it's early. Not even ten games in. And yes, the Suns' success this year will be determined on what happens at the other end of the floor. But with coach Alvin Gentry bringing back the "seven seconds or less" offence back to the desert, there is a good chance Nash -- barring a serious injury -- will be the NBA assists leader once again at the end of the season. Without Nash, the Suns are nothing. Gentry recently compared that to Jeff Gordon without a racecar to drive.
And if the little engine that could continues his durable ways, there is a good chance when it's all said and done, that the future hall-of-famer will have passed John Stockton as the ALL-TIME NBA assists leader.
Three NBA MVP's would not be too shabby as well -- joining that elite and exclusive group of Kareem, Bill, Michael, Wilt, Moses, Magic and Larry.
