Steve Nash
 

I got the treat of going to the Cleveland Phoenix game on Sunday. I was pumped to see LeBron play, but Steve Nash is freaking unreal. I have never seen someone control the game like he does. It seems like he has 6 eyes while on the court. I also have to say that Phoenix might be the smartest team in the league. Their spacing is perfect, each understand their roles and they are totally unselfish.

I know some people dont like the NBA, but watching Steve Nash is a absolute joy if you understand the NBA game. Think about this stat - ZERO TURNOVERS. That is amazing in any basketball game.

They need to slow it down a little and try to stay healthy for the playoffs. Run and gun increases injuries significantly. If they can stay healthy they'll cruise through the playoffs.

I agree with that 100%. Cleveland played with them through 3 Quarters but as soon as the 4th started it seemed like Cleveland hit a wall while Nash was still running around like a child on speed. At the timeouts, Cleveland was gasping for air while Phoenix was barely sweating.

Nash is my favorite NBA player....he is simply amazing! I have him in my fantasy leagues and he single-handedly earns me assists every week but his worth can't be seen by simply looking at stats...you are right, he controls the game! Reggie Miller moved like him but not with the ball...Steve makes every player on the team better! He deserves his 3rd straight MVP award this year and I hope he gets it. I saw Cousy and, of course, Stockton in their prime and even they didn't control a game like he does! I would make him my point guard on my all-time team I think...certainly up there with the best ever! I cringe when I hear stuff like "Wade and Bryant are the best guards in the NBA"...what does best mean? Talent...sure! But to build a team...give me Steve Nash!

I pretty much agree with everything you just said. I had the opportunity to watch Reggie Miller play several times. And he moved without the ball with such ease and he always moved himself into a position that was best for the team. He made Mark Jackson a better point guard. But Nash is just unreal. My point guard would be Nash or Magic.

There have been a lot of great players...If I was gonna start 5 playersfrom the all-time list, I guess I'd go:
Center...Wilt Chamberlain
Power Forward...Larry Bird
Small Forward...MJ
Shooting guard...Magic Johnson
Point...Steve Nash
And brings the likes of Kareem, Elgin Baylor, Dr J, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West off the bench as a second unit! I think I would win a few...even if I coached...lol!

im a mix between steve nash and ray allen when i step on the court

There have been a lot of great players...If I was gonna start 5 playersfrom the all-time list, I guess I'd go:
Center..Arvydas Sabonis
Power Forward...Larry Bird
Small Forward...MJ
Shooting guard...Jerry Cruz
Point...John Stockton

That Cruz guy is a weak link (or maybe the missing one)...body like Charles Barkley when constipated with the moves of PeeWee Herman...a guy that scores only when playing with himself!

If I had to start a team it would be

Center - Bill Russell
Power Forward - Wilt Chamberline
Shooting Forward - Larry Bird
Shooting Guard - Michael Jordan
Point Guard - Magic Johnson

Olajuwon
Rodman
Bird
Jordan
Virtual Cousy

Center- Wilt
Forward- Bird
Forward-Kareem
Guard- Magic
Guard- MJ

BUT this years MVP is Agent Zero you got it Gilbert Areneas he is simply taken a team with not much talent other then Jamison (who is getting old quickly) and Butler (should also make the All-star team) and made them into the number 1 seed in a very weak easter conference.

Position: First Team / Second Team / Third

Center: Russell / Kareem / Wilt
Power Forward: Barkley / Malone / McHale
Small Forward: Bird / Erving / Baylor
Shooting Guard: Jordan / Maravich / Robertson
Point Guard: Nash / Cousy / Archibald

I agree, Nash is truly great. Depending on what his team needs, he can either score 30 points or get 20 assists.

Sent I know your a big sports fan but how can anyone leave off Magic Johnson!!! he is probably one of the 10 best players ever.

He's tough to leave off for sure! That playoff game he played center when Jabbar was out was a great, great performance. Then again, I put McHale on my list....

You really can't go wrong with any of the players everyone mentioned.

That playoff game was also during his rookie year which makes it even more amazing. What I like about Magic as my starter is that he is able to post up a smaller guard. That is the only difference for me between Nash and Magic.

Steve Nash is the best passer I have ever seen. He has surpassed Magic. He should be the 3 time MVP. And then the Suns gotta hope they dont meet the Spurs in the playoffs. The Suns gotta hope the Mavs take care of the Spurs in the playoffs because the Suns will not, cannot beat the Spurs in a 7 game series.

If Duncan is not the best power forward of all time, I dont know who is. Because it aint the 3 you mentioned.

Magic at point guard is a must.

Maravich????? The best AND ONE player. But does not come close to the best shooting guard. Might as well as George Gervin if you add Maravich.

Other than those I like your list.

Pgardn: Magic revolutionized the passing game...his game presence was unequalled! Nash should be the MVP again..but there's still opportunity out there...NOT for Arenas though....he belongs with the Globetrotters:eek:

is mchale that white guy from the celtics in the 80's?

Yes. I believe he went on to coach an NBA team in some capacity and still may. He was an awesome player, sort of like Steve Nash, a huge overachiever. Didnt look like much but he was money.

McHale was a position player and a recipient of some of Birds' greatness! Nash is hardly an overachiever since he's still the reigning MVP. btw...Gander...you haven't said much about baseball this offseason?

I dont know about an overacheiver Gander. McHale was just damn good. Nearly the Best footwork of all time for a big man, second only to Hakeem. He played great D also. He was very talented as Nash is. Nash is the only player I have seen that is as good left handed as right handed on everything but jump shots. His left hand is amazing which is why he befuddles so many defenders. So these guys had/have amazing talent just like Magic, and none of them had/have great hops. Lots more to the game than hops.

McHale never coached. He is the VP of basketball operations or something like that with the Timberwolves.

I dont follow the NBA anymore but I knew Mchale had something to do with some team. I regard him as an overachiever because he just never looked or acted like an athlete who could play at the level he did. Had it not been for Larry Bird he would have been much more recognized and people like the Turd would not have to ask who he was.

They play completely diff. roles. McHale did not bring the ball up the court, he did not shoot 3's. He had fantastic pivot moves close to the basket and an incredibly soft touch. And he had/has exceptionally long arms and would block shots while keeping the ball in play instead of knocking it into the stands (just like an offensive rebound for the other team...)

And there is no flippin way Lebron could beat McHale in a post game. McHale would score over him every time he got the ball. And if Lebron tried to post Mchale up... he wouldnt... he would try to go past him. If he did try and post him up, jumping from a post position (ie without a flying start) he would find the ball blocked unless he tried a fall away jumper which he would have to do.
There is a reason Lebron does not cover Duncan down low also. He would foul out and get scored on.

They play completely diff. games in diff. positions.

Hey, it's just one man's opinion.

Duncan really had two great years. He was plain bad most of last year and isn't good enough to carry his team. That's why he's off my list.

Johnson, sure, why not. But the guy played with Jabbar and Worthy. He was great but I'd still take the others as the top point guards.

And Maravich would have averaged 35 points a game every season if he was healthy and playing in today's NBA. He averaged 44 a game in college and really was minimally healthy for only the first 3-4 years he played in the pros.

For a guy who was playing with one cornary artery, he was as good as I ever saw while playing for lousy teams.

Just my thoughts. Though George Gervin would be in my top 5 shooting guards now that you mention it.

Wrong.

McHale coached the last 30-40 games of the 2005 season after Flip Saunders got fired by Minnesota.

what little I watch the NBA now, Nash seems to have the best court vision since Bird. Always saw 2-3 passes and moves ahead of everyone else. Complete court vision and awareness is a lost art among todays players.

McHale was a great low post player. Bird had nothing to do with that. McHale is the only player ever to shoot over 60% from the field and over 80% on free throws in the same season. That same year, like most years, he was on the NBA All-Defense team.

Lebron is great, but he would not have just ripped McHale apart.

Larry Bird was the greatest I have ever seen. Guy could do anything and nobody ever to this day makes the passes he use to make every night. He could shoot 3's too, back when not many really could.

Had personality too. Lebron is a robot out there.

You are kidding. You look only at stats I guess. He has been an Allstar every year. Rookie of the year. 3 NBA championships... HOly Cow waddya want. If the Spurs did not have Duncan now or any year they would barely make the playoffs if at all.
Duncan has the best hands of any big man ever. Thats what allows him to have the most varied post moves of any player in NBA history. He is now in his downhill physical years. So he has to rely even more on saavy than he used to . ANd he was injured last year. He could have been the leading scorer in a number of years if he played on a team like Phoenix but he plays on a team that is more concerned about taking time off the clock on offense, and playing shut down defense.

Pgard, your Spurs and Tim Duncan bias is very tiresome.
ENd it please.

Its almost as bad as Kevin's English Channel bias :D

He played when the NBA had to play man to man (anything else was illegal), and on bad teams he was the ONly scorer. He never had to get matched up against Zones and double teams off the ball. And he never shot over 50% from the field. He was a circus to watch, but no way a great all around player like Robertson or Jordan, not even close.

I will end if you can give me a player with better hands and a better post scorer than Duncan. You are watching an all time great in Tim, Tim. I think, I thought, you did not like NBA basketball so how can you rate if you dont watch the games? And the guy has the same first name as you and is nothing but a gentleman. Although he gripes way too much now.

David Robinson was a much better athlete than Tim Duncan, but not even close as a basketball player. I think Robinson is overrated. He was the best athlete to ever play center imo, but a very ordinary basketball player. There, hows that for Spur bias.

I have a little bias...but you remember the conversation we had on the phone the other day Tim...who I said ran the best 2 races last year.


again, a little bias...but I am smart enough to know there are some other really good horses out there.