When the shorten NBA season got under way, it appeared as though father time had finally caught up to Steve Nash.
Always considered one of the best shooters in the game, Nash was struggling to put the ball through the hoop. In one game against Philadelphia, Nash made only 2-of-11 shots to the tune of 18 percent from the field. The point guard was also having difficulties distributing the ball to his teammates with games of one and six assists on his game log.
It was learned during Nash’s stretch of poor play that the veteran was playing through bruised ribs that were bothering him. Nash also suffered a bruised eye during a collision inpractice.
Whether it be a better bill of health or just finally getting into his normal game shape after the short training camp and preseason schedule, the Nash Rambler has really come on during his last four games after playing poorly for the most part in his first four contests.
It all began in the game against Golden State on the afternoon of Jan. 2. Nash shot lights out from the field to score 21 points and just missed out on a double-double with nine assists. Nash would get his second double-double of the season the very next game against Dallas putting 15 points on the scoreboard and dishing out 12 assists.
In his last two games against Portland and Milwaukee, Nash has continued to score as well dish out the ball. The 37-year-old has been nearly perfect shooting the basketball as well. Nash has missed only three of his 17 attempts, a far cry from how he was shooting when the season got under way just a couple of weeks back.
Because of his improved play, the Suns offense as a whole has been much better as a result. In three of their last four outings, the Suns have compiled at least 100 points. In their first four games of the season, they were getting no where close to the century mark and were struggling to make it to the 90-point mark.
When the season got under way the day after Christmas, I fully expected for Nash to be one of the few players across the league to put up his usual numbers because of the tremendous shape he stays over the course of the offseason. Nash’s slow start to the year showed though that he is human and not a double-double robot that we have grown accustomed to in his second stint in Phoenix.
With a shorten training camp, two preseason contests and eight regular season games under his belt, it looks as though Nash’s is back to his normal self, which is one of the best point guards in the league despite his advanced age. That is great news for the Suns playoff prospects going forward.
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Nash is still one of the best PGs in the game. He might not be the fastest or strongest, but he’s definitely still one of the most crafty players. He can still pass the ball (he had 10 assists(!!!!) in the first quarter vs the Bucks), he can still shoot, and they’ve got talent around Nash. The Suns might not go deep in the Playoffs, but Nash sure still is very entertaining and exciting. I’ve been a Nash fan since day one, still am, and always will be. I hope the Nashty One finally gets his championship ring; it’d be a shame to retire without one after a very strong and great career as one of the best PGs to ever (EVER!!!) play the game.