Is Steve Nash overrated?

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Firebot

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: KingGheedora
The few games I've seen him in, I don't see him do anything special. I think it'd be ridiculous for him to get MVP again.

Compare his team to the Lakers. Other than Kobe, none of the starters on the Lakers are in the same league as those on the Suns.

Nash is surrounded by all-stars. Does Nash just fill a niche for the Suns that happens to make them better when he's on the court? They can all knock down shots and when he's there it comes together for them. I don't think it's talent though.

His teamates are all amazing. Especially Stoudamire, Marion, Barbosa. To a lesser extent Bell and Diaw; they aren't all star caliber like the other three, but they are still pretty good.

I say Dirk is front runner for MVP, then a tie between Lebron and Kobe.

The reason why Nash is surrounded by 'all-stars' is because he makes everyone around him better through his own selfless play and awareness of the game. The definition of MVP is Most Valuable Player, not Who Scores 65 Points While Losing ala Kobe Bryant.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
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His numbers this year are just insane. 19ppg on 53% shooting. 2.2 3pt attempts per game at 47%. Just shy of a 90% free throw shooter. 11.6 assists per game.

TO's are a bit high but that comes with the assists.

He has no equal and his team goes from championship caliber to barely making it to the first round without him. You can make the argument that Kobe or Lebron are more important to their teams, which is fair. But that's not what the MVP is about.

It's about a player that makes the team better, not one that *IS* the team. Nash doesn't go out and score 60 points to get his team a win. He creates opportunities that take advantage of his teammates strengths - pick & rolls to Amare. Breakaways with Marion. Great passing to the spot up three, ect. He makes 4 other people on the floor better. That's an MVP.
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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An MVP brings up the game of everyone that is on the team -- not a showboat like Kobe. If you are able to bring up the best in all the players on the team, I consider that an MVP. Jordan was an MVP for sure. Olajuwan was an MVP. Not because they were just talented, but because they brought out the best in the players on their teams as well.
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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Originally posted by: vi_edit
His numbers this year are just insane. 19ppg on 53% shooting. 2.2 3pt attempts per game at 47%. Just shy of a 90% free throw shooter. 11.6 assists per game.

TO's are a bit high but that comes with the assists.

He has no equal and his team goes from championship caliber to barely making it to the first round without him. You can make the argument that Kobe or Lebron are more important to their teams, which is fair. But that's not what the MVP is about.

It's about a player that makes the team better, not one that *IS* the team. Nash doesn't go out and score 60 points to get his team a win. He creates opportunities that take advantage of his teammates strengths - pick & rolls to Amare. Breakaways with Marion. Great passing to the spot up three, ect. He makes 4 other people on the floor better. That's an MVP.

Totally agree.
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
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Originally posted by: jcuadrado
Nash is a monster...I used to think the same thing about him...but no...he is deserving of the MVP again.

Dirk is a great regular game player...but when it's crunch time...the noose tightens and he chokes. Even the last game vs the Suns...Dirk which is one of the best free throw shooters misses one that would have iced the game...Nash goes on and scores 10 pts in less than a minute....2 OT's later..the Suns win.

Nash = MVP
Dirk = choker
Wade = best player in the league.


Still a little sore from that 2OT loss?
I agree with Nash=MVP although they probably won't give it to him, but just because Dirk missed a couple of critical FT's that would have iced that game doesn't make him a choker.
How many games has Dirk won with a buzzer beater? How about the series against the Spurs in last years finals? How about the last two games that he took over in the fourth, including last night making all his FT's down the stretch?
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
Of course he's overrated.

He happens to play in a style where he can get away with being the worst defender on the floor yet still be on a successful team because all they try and do is outscore the other team, which makes his assists and points stats overrated, and his lack of position defense under emphasized.

The MVP race is usually a joke anyways, since the hack voters want to instead award GM's for putting together a talented and deep team together rather than the worthiness of a given player.

Nash is an allstar, but never should have been nor should ever be considered more than that.
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
And imo if he were black, he wouldn't be as 'heralded'.

Perhaps 30 years ago, but certainly not in today's game will you ever see a black player who's a defensive liability win an MVP award.
 

mallik

Senior member
Dec 25, 2001
693
0
76
Originally posted by: vi_edit
His numbers this year are just insane. 19ppg on 53% shooting. 2.2 3pt attempts per game at 47%. Just shy of a 90% free throw shooter. 11.6 assists per game.

TO's are a bit high but that comes with the assists.

He has no equal and his team goes from championship caliber to barely making it to the first round without him. You can make the argument that Kobe or Lebron are more important to their teams, which is fair. But that's not what the MVP is about.

It's about a player that makes the team better, not one that *IS* the team. Nash doesn't go out and score 60 points to get his team a win. He creates opportunities that take advantage of his teammates strengths - pick & rolls to Amare. Breakaways with Marion. Great passing to the spot up three, ect. He makes 4 other people on the floor better. That's an MVP.

If he can get the 3pt. and FT shooting up a bit by the end of the season, he'll be the only player in history to average over 50% shooting 50% 3pt. shooting and 90% FT shooting.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
0
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Originally posted by: Firebot
Originally posted by: KingGheedora
The few games I've seen him in, I don't see him do anything special. I think it'd be ridiculous for him to get MVP again.

Compare his team to the Lakers. Other than Kobe, none of the starters on the Lakers are in the same league as those on the Suns.

Nash is surrounded by all-stars. Does Nash just fill a niche for the Suns that happens to make them better when he's on the court? They can all knock down shots and when he's there it comes together for them. I don't think it's talent though.

His teamates are all amazing. Especially Stoudamire, Marion, Barbosa. To a lesser extent Bell and Diaw; they aren't all star caliber like the other three, but they are still pretty good.

I say Dirk is front runner for MVP, then a tie between Lebron and Kobe.

The reason why Nash is surrounded by 'all-stars' is because he makes everyone around him better through his own selfless play and awareness of the game. The definition of MVP is Most Valuable Player, not Who Scores 65 Points While Losing ala Kobe Bryant.

but if you want to compare apples to apples, it could be argued that Kidd surrounded by the same talent could be extremely successfull as well.

Kidd compared to Nash would, play better D, get more rebounds but would score less and his FG% would be less.

Kidd in his prime was better than Nash now, IMO, i don't think Kidd ever had a complete team around him the way nash does now.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
I can't believe a thread like this exists.. if you can't tell that Steve Nash is one of the most talented Basketball players of this era then I weep for you.
 

Darkstar757

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2003
3,190
6
81
I take nothing from Nash as he is a great player. However with that being said he is no Kobe and he can not completely win a game on his own. Without barbosa,marion and other he would not be as great.
 

Miramonti

Lifer
Aug 26, 2000
28,653
100
106
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
I can't believe a thread like this exists.. if you can't tell that Steve Nash is one of the most talented Basketball players of this era then I weep for you.

There's about a dozen other players who are 'one of the most talented of this era' as well.
 

AUMM

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2001
3,029
0
0
Originally posted by: jjsole
And imo if he were black, he wouldn't be as 'heralded'.

Perhaps 30 years ago, but certainly not in today's game will you ever see a black player who's a defensive liability win an MVP award.

what does race have anythign to do with it??
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
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Originally posted by: Darkstar757
I take nothing from Nash as he is a great player. However with that being said he is no Kobe and he can not completely win a game on his own. Without barbosa,marion and other he would not be as great.

That's not the question being raised though. Of course he's not Kobe, or even a McGrady, they are scorers by definition and make their bones by putting points on the board and being the go-to guys on their team. Nash has shown he can pass the ball off to someone in a key position to make a bucket AND be a scoring threat when his team needs him to be late in the game (10 points in the final :55 against Dallas anyone?)

He's also a great shooter, but has high shooting percentages primarily because he's a great decision maker too. Rarely will he try to force a shot up when he doesn't have to, so instead he'll find someone in a better position to score. So because of how smart he is giving the ball up defenses look to block out his options, and THEN he steps back and drains a couple 3's in your face and they're back to concentrating on him.

Also, he never has the same people on his team except for a select few. Throughout the last few years his role players have gotten hurt, gotten traded, or signed with another team. The players that come in then have great years because they're involved with a team that spreads the ball around as good as any other team while still having a relatively short rotation.
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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If Nash up-ed his defensive game, then he would clinch the MVP, but yes I can see some of you guys points on having terrible defense.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
Originally posted by: jjsole
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
I can't believe a thread like this exists.. if you can't tell that Steve Nash is one of the most talented Basketball players of this era then I weep for you.

There's about a dozen other players who are 'one of the most talented of this era' as well.

He's so much more then just talented though, do you even watch him play? Talent doesn't even begin to describe his play on the court, he transforms the entire team just by being the ball handler.
 
Feb 17, 2005
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Originally posted by: Electric Amish
No, he's not overrated.

Mehmet Okur for MVP!!!

Okur mirror's Dirk somewhat, but he doesn't keep the numbers as consistent as Dirk does. If anyone is to be compared to Dirk right now it should be Chris Bosh.
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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Actually, my friend just made a valid point. None of the leading offensive all-stars are great defensively, so Nash still gets my vote.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
Originally posted by: suicidalpigeon
Originally posted by: DaShen
Actually, my friend just made a valid point. None of the leading offensive all-stars are great defensively, so Nash still gets my vote.

Dwayne Wade did rather well on the defensive end before he went out.
LOL... wheelchair av + D. Wade reference FTW!
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
1
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Originally posted by: suicidalpigeon
Originally posted by: DaShen
Actually, my friend just made a valid point. None of the leading offensive all-stars are great defensively, so Nash still gets my vote.

Dwayne Wade did rather well on the defensive end before he went out.

But does he bring up the game of his fellow teammates. Mind you, I think Dwayne Wade is a much better athlete than Nash, and he is clutch too, but does he make everyone else on his team better because of the way he plays? I would say Nash is a much better passer than Wade.