When I had a riveting conversation
last week with friend and radio host, Matthew
Ross, I had no idea one of my offhand comments
would be the catalyst for penning another column
but that’s exactly what happened when I
said to Ross, ‘if Steve Nash were on the
Los Angeles Lakers, they’d be one of the
best teams in the west.’
Ross then prompted me to
write a column on the hypothetical circumstance
and when I agreed that I would, the wheels were
in motion for this column. I have however, once
again, gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Not only have I managed to put Nash on the Lakers
in this fantasy column, but two other teams as
well - his former team, the Dallas Mavericks because
they were so foolish to let him go and another
western conference team that would go from pretenders
to contenders in a minute with Nash – the
Houston Rockets. Now, before I go any further,
let me say that each team’s current starting
point guard has been removed for the purpose of
replacing them with Nash. So, without further
adieu, here we go.
Los Angeles Lakers
Let me begin by saying that
if Steve Nash were on the Los Angeles Lakers,
Kobe Bryant would probably be averaging 40 points
per game. That’s how simple Nash makes the
game for his teammates. The backcourt of Bryant
and Nash, along with a frontcourt of Lamar Odom,
Kwame Brown and Chris Mihm would probably win
more than their fair share of games. I’m
guessing somewhere near 50 games. I know that
may sound like an outrageous number, but Nash
would improve both Brown - an underachiever -
and Mihm, an overachiever, immediately, while
allowing Odom more of an opportunity to play off
the ball and use his length at the small forward
position.
The thought of Nash and Bryant
in the backcourt together is absolutely scary.
All of those tough shots that Bryant now routinely
takes with two and sometimes, three defenders
draped all over him suddenly become open spot-up
jumpers for the game’s deadliest sniper.
I would even go as far as
saying that Luke Walton, Devean George and the
Lakers other spot-up shooter, Jannero Pargo, would
become almost deadly from the perimeter as well.
Just think Walton and Pargo instead of Raja Bell
and Boris Diaw or Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson
for that matter. The point is, Nash’s presence
and ability to penetrate the defense’s interior,
makes every player on his team that much better.
Not only that, but the modest point guard’s
selflessness is also contagious as well. Now,
instead of having one great passer, everyone on
the floor is looking for open teammates knowing
full well that when they themselves are open,
someone will find them for an easy basket.
Now, I’m not saying
that the Lakers would instantly vault pa ast the
San Antonio Suprs as the best team in the west,
but I am saying that with Nash, the Lakers are
a 50-win team and legitimate championship contender.
Dallas Mavericks
It’s not that I don’t
like the Mavs current starter, Jason Terry, however,
if Nash were still running his old team, the Mavs
would be an even better team than the current
contender that they are right now.
Nash would transform small
forwards Marquis Daniels and Josh Howard from
the talented players they both currently are into
high-flying scorers in the mold of Shawn Marion.
Center, Erick Dampier would also become a viable
low post threat whenever Nash penetrates. The
incredibly gifted Dirk Nowitzki would also benefit
from the endless possibilities he and Nash could
create in pick and roll situations.Young point
guard Devin Harris would also benefit from watching
how efficiently Nash runs an NBA team.
Now, whether this team, even
with Nash, could surpass the Spurs, remains a
huge question mark as well, but I would say they
would be conference finalists at the very least.
I still don’t think they could stop Tim
Duncan or Nazr Mohammed, but it sure would be
fun watching.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets could use Nash
more than any other team on this list. I know
they are led by career underachiever, Tracy McGrady,
but with Nash on board, that would allow him to
take control of the team and let McGrady do what
he does best – pump in points. Yao Ming
would also become a pick and roll terror with
Nash being able to find the nimble giant for both
rolls to the basket and pop out jump shots.
High-flying, athletic underachiever,
Stromile Swift would also become a beneficiary
on fast breaks with Nash and Juwan Howard would
probably become rejuvenated as well, knowing he
could get good quality looks at the basket with
Nash’s help. Young combination guard, Luther
Head would also benefit immediately from having
Nash as a teammate. He would be another invaluable
perimeter shooter and gain infinite experience
about running the point from just watching “Stevie
Wonder.”
In short, every team in the
NBA, barring the New Jersey Nets, who already
have a great distributor in Jason Kidd, would
benefit from having Steve Nash running their respective
teams.
Would he make them all into
championship caliber clubs?
Of course not!

Some teams have so many needs,
they would need five Steve Nash’s to improve,
but he would instantly make every team –
and his teammates – better. In short, there
is no one in the NBA more proficient at making
his teammates better players than Steve Nash.
Go ahead and put him on any team in the league
and I guarantee that he would improve each player
and each team in the league. I firmly believe
Nash is unequivocally the most valuable player,
not only to the Phoenix Suns, but also to the
entire league. Now that’s what I call an
MVP.
Eric Williams is a sports
columnist for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun. You
can hear him every Wednesday at 3:15pm EST on
www.BetUSradio.com. Contact Eric at eklass66@yahoo.com.
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Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 @ 10:31:51
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