Nash is out for the season (again)

[wildturkey]

You don't come out saying that when you have not contributed much in two years for what the Lakers gave up for you.. That is just stupid. If he was playing well and contributing to the team then I could forgive him. A lot fans knew he was stealing money, but to come out and admit it?

But its not stealing money. It's a contract. It's already been agreed to it. How the hell was he suppose to know his nerves would cripple him again? Nerves are tricky. They heal almost randomly for different people. Up to the injury, Nash and all those around him said he was looking as good as he had in 2 years. You act as if he planned this out to screw over the Lakers, stealing money while he twirls a newly grown dastardly looking mustache. He did everything he could to play, it just didn't work out. That's not "stealing". "Stealing" would be like Boris Diaw a couple of years ago in Charlotte, who literally stopped giving a fuck and gained so much weight he could have used a sports bra in games.

 

[Retroram52]

But its not stealing money. It's a contract. It's already been agreed to it. How the hell was he suppose to know his nerves would cripple him again? Nerves are tricky. They heal almost randomly for different people. Up to the injury, Nash and all those around him said he was looking as good as he had in 2 years. You act as if he planned this out to screw over the Lakers, stealing money while he twirls a newly grown dastardly looking mustache. He did everything he could to play, it just didn't work out. That's not "stealing". "Stealing" would be like Boris Diaw a couple of years ago in Charlotte, who literally stopped giving a fuck and gained so much weight he could have used a sports bra in games.

 

[tomodach10]

But its not stealing money. It's a contract. It's already been agreed to it. How the hell was he suppose to know his nerves would cripple him again? Nerves are tricky. They heal almost randomly for different people. Up to the injury, Nash and all those around him said he was looking as good as he had in 2 years. You act as if he planned this out to screw over the Lakers, stealing money while he twirls a newly grown dastardly looking mustache. He did everything he could to play, it just didn't work out. That's not "stealing". "Stealing" would be like Boris Diaw a couple of years ago in Charlotte, who literally stopped giving a fuck and gained so much weight he could have used a sports bra in games.

I don't care what you say. Nash stole money for two years. He contributed nothing to the Lakers. He was washed up 2 years ago. Just announce your retirement and move on already!!! He only tried to come back for his check LOL

 

[trojanfan12]

But its not stealing money. It's a contract. It's already been agreed to it. How the hell was he suppose to know his nerves would cripple him again? Nerves are tricky. They heal almost randomly for different people. Up to the injury, Nash and all those around him said he was looking as good as he had in 2 years. You act as if he planned this out to screw over the Lakers, stealing money while he twirls a newly grown dastardly looking mustache. He did everything he could to play, it just didn't work out. That's not "stealing". "Stealing" would be like Boris Diaw a couple of years ago in Charlotte, who literally stopped giving a fuck and gained so much weight he could have used a sports bra in games.

^^^THIS EXACTLY^^^

Maybe he was part of a sinister plot by the Suns to cripple the Lakers for a few years.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

^^^THIS EXACTLY^^^

Maybe he was part of a sinister plot by the Suns to cripple the Lakers for a few years.

Nash knew he would never win a title with the Suns so he had to try something.

 

[Retroram52]

I disagree. Think about it. When these guys say things like "I play for the love of the game" or "I would play this game for free" or "It's not about the money for me", we all roll our eyes and call bullshit.

Then, when a guy comes out and says "Heck yes, I do it for the money", we tell him "You can't say that" or "See, he's just greedy". I appreciate the honesty myself because I'll tell you what, if I were in his position, I'd do the same thing for the same reason.

My retort to players that say "its not about the money" is: Well then, play for free. Deion Sanders is notorious for stating that opinion. I can just imagine his reply to my response.

 

[Black Adam]

My retort to players that say "its not about the money" is: Well then, play for free. Deion Sanders is notorious for stating that opinion. I can just imagine his reply to my response.

mi Lord in Heaven i hated that guy...

 

[GMATCa]

With or without him, this team even getting the 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs is a longshot at best and this was going to be his last season anyway. He's one of my all-time favorite players and I had been hoping the Lakers would get him for years.

Wanted to see the guy have 1 last good season and go out on his own terms.

In that case, the Lakers should have tried to trade for Nash about three years ago ...

 

[GMATCa]

My retort to players that say "its not about the money" is: Well then, play for free. Deion Sanders is notorious for stating that opinion. I can just imagine his reply to my response.

... yeah, or at least play for the minimum salary (which is still way more than most people will ever earn) and improve your team's chances of winning in the process. Otherwise, don't claim that money is irrelevant.

 

[DJ Fieri]

In fairness to him, Nash's first season wasn't awful by any means.


12.7ppg (on 49.7%, 43.8%, and 92.2%), 6.7apg and 2.8rpg in just 32.5mpg in 50 games.

 

[GMATCa]

Absolutely hate it for him. He's been so close to being back several times, even looking like vintage Nash a couple games, but something would always come up. I can't imagine how unbelievably frustrating that must be for an athlete like him.

Of course "something would always come up." He is forty years old; you're not going to be "vintage" as a basketball player for more than "a couple games" in a row when you are circa forty years old. As far as Nash is concerned, the situation should not be "frustrating" so much as a dose of much-needed reality. He could have easily avoided these frustrations by retiring two or three years ago and taking advantage of the opportunity to exit the game gracefully and at a time when he could still play. Instead, he decided that he would risk playing into his forties and end up being scraped off the court.

I don't blame Nash for choosing to keep playing and make some more millions, but one needs to be realistic about the downside.

 

[Retroram52]

Good stuff GMATCa!

 

[GMATCa]

In fairness to him, Nash's first season wasn't awful by any means.


12.7ppg (on 49.7%, 43.8%, and 92.2%), 6.7apg and 2.8rpg in just 32.5mpg in 50 games.

That minutes average was higher than in Nash's final season in Phoenix and almost the same as Nash's average over his last four years as a Sun (32.9). Limiting Nash's minutes always helped keep him fresher on the court and allowed him to play at peak efficiency and maximum productivity to a greater extent. More minutes, conversely, would have resulted in more fatigue and possible worse numbers.

That said, yes, Nash certainly was not awful in that first year, but he basically emerged as an overpriced, glorified version of Steve Blake. Worse, his defensive liabilities forced Kobe Bryant to often defend quick points guards such as Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Russell Westbrook, which was not what Bryant should have been doing at the age of thirty-four and in his seventeenth NBA season. Instead of trying to pair Bryant with another ball-dominating guard, the Lakers should have paired him with a young defensive guard who could have allowed Kobe to rest on that end of the court.

... because Bryant was ultimately going to dominate the ball offensively no matter what. I don't care if Kobe had been playing alongside a prime Magic Johnson; he was going to want the ball in his hands.

 

[GMATCa]

Good stuff GMATCa!

Thanks.

And let me say that I hope that Nash is able to return to the court next year and retire on his own terms.

I just don't know why any team would bother with him as a player any longer.

 

[Retroram52]

We shall see.

 

[trojanfan12]

In that case, the Lakers should have tried to trade for Nash about three years ago ...

They did and they got him. Unfortunately, his body fell apart on him beginning that same season. Did you mean they should have tried about 3 years before the did? Because I agree with that wholeheartedly.

 

[trojanfan12]

Of course "something would always come up." He is forty years old; you're not going to be "vintage" as a basketball player for more than "a couple games" in a row when you are circa forty years old. As far as Nash is concerned, the situation should not be "frustrating" so much as a dose of much-needed reality. He could have easily avoided these frustrations by retiring two or three years ago and taking advantage of the opportunity to exit the game gracefully and at a time when he could still play. Instead, he decided that he would risk playing into his forties and end up being scraped off the court.

I don't blame Nash for choosing to keep playing and make some more millions, but one needs to be realistic about the downside.

Agree with pretty much all of this. A dose of reality can be very frustrating, however. Not that I have ever played at the level of Steve Nash (or even close), but I played in basketball leagues with some friends until I was about 40. Nothing sucks more than your brain knowing what you need to do and your body not responding anymore. Or struggling against younger players that you would have dominated when you were their age.

I can only imagine that it must be infinitely more frustrating for a guy who is a first ballot HOF'er. I used to have a shirt that described it perfectly. It said: "The Older I Get, The Better I Was".

 

[trojanfan12]

Thanks.

And let me say that I hope that Nash is able to return to the court next year and retire on his own terms.

I just don't know why any team would bother with him as a player any longer.

I think he's done as a player in the league and I would be shocked if he doesn't retire after the season. I would love to see the Lakers offer him a job as an assistant coach or as a "special consultant" to work with the PG's. Something similar to the deal they have with Kareem to work with the bigs.

 

[Retroram52]

Well since the Lakers are dressing Mark Madsen and Larry Lewis so they can conduct practice because of the lack of bodies, Nash could conceiveably put on a uni and comeback as a coach. BTW, the Lakers are applying for a hardship waiver to carry 16 players. Can't have enough healthy bodies these days in Lakerland.

 

[trojanfan12]

Well since the Lakers are dressing Mark Madsen and Larry Lewis so they can conduct practice because of the lack of bodies, Nash could conceiveably put on a uni and comeback as a coach. BTW, the Lakers are applying for a hardship waiver to carry 16 players. Can't have enough healthy bodies these days in Lakerland.

They need to start dressing Mad Dog for games.