Bill Simmons - How can Nash be MVP??

[goldseraph]

Taken from his article on ESPN.com today

• After watching last night's Suns-Grizzlies game, I came to the conclusion that this whole "Steve Nash for MVP" thing is the dumbest argument in the history of basketball. How can anyone argue that Amare Stoudemire isn't the most important player on that team?

For instance, let's say you replaced Nash in Phoenix with Kirk Hinrich for the entire season. Would the Suns still be a top-five team? Of course they would. Even if you replaced him with Jason Williams or Tony Parker, they're still probably a top-five team – they're just too loaded. But who could possibly fill Stoudemire's shoes on that team? Is there another athletic big man in the league who brings as much to the table? He's an absolute force of nature. I just don't understand this whole thing. Seriously, I'm flummoxed. And why hasn't anyone written the "If Steve Nash were black, nobody would be mentioning him as an MVP candidate" column yet? If the late Ralph Wiley were still around, he and the Road Dogg would have had three 4,500-word conversations about this topic already. Do you honestly think Steve Nash would be considered a top-three MVP candidate if he looked like Baron Davis? Come on. He's not even the best player on his own team. This is crazy. I wish I could use the pseudonym "William X" on Page 2 and write an entire column about this.

 

[fordronken]

Taken from his article on ESPN.com today

I really don't care much about the MVP award. It's a team game, and quite frankly, the sooner the Suns learn to play well without Steve Nash the better. In the long term, he's not going to be able to run the whole show.

 

[elindholm]

I like Simmons, but he doesn't know that much about the Suns. He still spells Stoudemire with an "a" in the middle at least half the time.

 

[chickenhead]

Last year vs. this year. Is Amare's development a bigger difference than swapping Marbury for Nash? Not in my opinion.

 

[JPlay]

I don't think he's seen the Suns when Nash is out. They can't get a good shot.

 

[mribnik]

I think the problem is that the only game he's seen was last nights game.

 

[jibikao]

According to him, guys like AI can only be MVP since he DOES IT ALL.

 

[Gaddabout]

Bill Simmons is a Celtics fan. Nothing more need be said.

 

[jibikao]

Bill Simmons is a Celtics fan. Nothing more need be said.

Let's give the award to Paul Pierce then. He is another "do it all myself" guy.

 

[playstation]

bill simmons is hilarious, love his work. he's entitled to his opinion, its all good. bottom line is, suns are young, dominant, and fun to watch. in this league, you can't ask for anything more.

 

[PhxGametime]

Suns pretty much had the same team as Marbury's team (with Q being the player missing, Hunter as well but Outlaw was a key factor on those teams at that time). 8th seed 1 year, missing Playoffs 2 years... (I am aware Marbury was Traded but that team sucked before he was Traded that year).

 

[Chaplin]

Simmons pretty much has nothing but good things to say about the Suns and our style of play, so saying he thought Amare is our MVP and not Nash, isn't that big of a deal.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Simmons pretty much has nothing but good things to say about the Suns and our style of play, so saying he thought Amare is our MVP and not Nash, isn't that big of a deal.

Agreed, and he does have a point as well about subbing in a different pg with the same mentality. Without a doubt, Nash is the best in the league - and best for this team. He brings all of the little things to the table that no one else in the league does. However, I do agree with him that subbing a pass first PG would still make us a top 5 team.

Of course, if we subbed Amare with Oneal I believe we would also still be a top 5 team. It really doesn't mean anything for the MVP race.

For example, if you put Dirk on the TWolves instead of Garnett they would have still be a top 5 team last season. Does that mean that Garnett didn't deserve MVP last season? I don't think anyone would argue that point.

The fact of the matter is that Bryan Colangelo put together a team that meshes perfectly. That is why we are a top ONE team in the league, not just a top 5. Since we are a top ONE team, Nash deserves the award.

 

[elindholm]

Simmons pretty much has nothing but good things to say about the Suns and our style of play

Well, let's not get carried away. Simmons did pick the Suns to win the title just a week ago, and he's infatuated with Stoudemire.

 

[elindholm]

However, I do agree with him that subbing a pass first PG would still make us a top 5 team.

Of course there's no way to know, but I don't agree with this. Nash's advantage is that he already had so much experience playing with a high-octane team with scorers at every position. Phoenix's players are different from Dallas's, but the basic principle is similar. Nash had several years to develop the skills, particularly the passing, that work well for this kind of offense.

What other "pass first" PG in the league has had that kind of on-the-job training? The only one who comes close is Bibby, but he doesn't seem to have Nash's creativity. And Hinrich, please.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

What other "pass first" PG in the league has had that kind of on-the-job training? The only one who comes close is Bibby, but he doesn't seem to have Nash's creativity. And Hinrich, please.

What about Ridnour? Or Daniels even? Both of those players have stepped in just fine in manning a team that runs and has a lot of ball movement. While no one would be as good as Nash, basketball players can step into a scenario like this if they have the right mentality.

I agree that there would be several problems, but I think that we would have been as good as Dallas was this year with a different good point guard. The game would be different, the pick and rolls wouldn't be as pretty. There would not be as much running.

However, I think that the rest of our starting 4 is good enough to earn us more than 52 wins this season -- which puts us in the top 5.

 

[Chaplin]

What other "pass first" PG in the league has had that kind of on-the-job training?

Jason Kidd?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Look at it this way, everyone assumed that Dallas would crumble without Nash at the helm. While Dampier helped them out, he was in and out all season and missed 23 games and only averaged 27 minutes when he did play.

The Mavericks subbed out Nash with two inferior PGs, but they still managed 54 wins. Since you mentioned Dallas giving Nash the experience necessary for this team, what do you say about Terry and Harris going in to run the Mavs?


Like I said, I love Nash to death - and think he is perfect for this team. I do however believe there is credibility in Simmon's statement. However, I fail to see how it is relevent to the MVP talk.

 

[Weenus O'Baggins]

The MVP is Duncan. I don't think it is even close. San Antonio is caca without him.

 

[Chaplin]

The MVP is Duncan. I don't think it is even close. San Antonio is caca without him.

You mean just like we are without Nash? Actually, San Antonio's record without Duncan wasn't that bad. Certainly better than ours was without Nash.

 

[WaywardFan]

I think it should be Nash, and I think the sudden rash of Nash-bashing is because those that don't want him to be it are trying disrupt the possibility.

 

[elindholm]

The Mavericks subbed out Nash with two inferior PGs, but they still managed 54 wins.

Yes, but that was a team of veterans who all have some experience creating their own shot when necessary. Stoudemire is nothing without Nash, and Marion is maybe half of the player. Nowitzki, Finley, Stackhouse, and Van Horn are all experienced players who know how to get their own shot. The reason why Dallas did well without Nash this season is that their other players don't need him as much as the Suns do.

 

[elindholm]

and I think the sudden rash of Nash-bashing is because those that don't want him to be it are trying disrupt the possibility.

The voting is already closed, so if that's their reasoning, they're wasting their breath.

Shaquille O'Neal won, by the way, as I have "reported" before.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The Mavericks subbed out Nash with two inferior PGs, but they still managed 54 wins.

Stoudemire is nothing without Nash, and Marion is maybe half of the player. Nowitzki, Finley, Stackhouse, and Van Horn are all experienced players who know how to get their own shot. The reason why Dallas did well without Nash this season is that their other players don't need him as much as the Suns do.

Ok Eric, you had a point until you took this route.

Remember the end of last season? Stoudemire averaged something like 22 points and 10 boards, with Barbosa as his PG.

Marion is having his best season this year, but he is hardly half the player without Marion. Say we ignore his seasons with Kidd, since he is also a fast break player. Lets look at his stats with Marbury, who quite frankly sucked in the open court.

With Marbury on the team, Marion averaged around 20 points and 9.5 boards a game, while maintaining the same amount of steals and blocks. He actually got more points and average 6% more from 3 in Marburys first season.

Joe Johnson gets most of his shots on his own, or from wide open spot ups. Nash is a catalyst for it, but if anything the current style hinders his offensive game.

Richardson already proved himself in LA.

 

[BC867]

Taken from his article on ESPN.com today: "Come on. He's not even the best player on his own team. This is crazy."

And there's his misunderstanding. MVP is Most Valuable Player, not TheBestPlayer.

As Stephen Hunter showed us in Game 1, his subbing for Amare (as great as Amare is) was alot easier for the team than if Barbosa or either JJ had to step in for Nash.

The best player on the team -- Amare #1 and The Matrix #2.

The most valuable -- the little guy who doesn't wash his hair.