Steve Nash is Psyched He Doesn’t Play in NY

It wasn’t enough, and call me old-fashioned, but I’ve never seen an 11/15 line with a 3.0 A/TO as something to scoff at. How about Channing Frye’s atrocious shooting on the road? Dragic 1-6? Amar’e just 6 boards.

@TommyDeeTKB I think I can tell you why Nash gets a free pass in the national media.

Last night the Suns shot 50% from the field, 40% from 3 point range, and scored 112 points. You can’t fault Nash on his running the offense. The Lakers shot 57% from the field, 56% from 3 point range, and scored 124 points.

It’s really a interior defensive breakdown that did the Suns in. Artest, Bynum, Gasol, and Odom shot 33- for 43, 77% from the field and shot 16 for 22 free throws. They scored 77 points.

Nash can’t be held responsible for that. Defense wins championships. Phoenix is soft in the paint.

D’Antoni comes off as abrasive to a lot of people, and his sarcastic responses to some reporters’ dumb questions could fuel their criticisms. I’m actually not criticizing him, I’d probably lose it being asked the same meaningless questions, but I don’t think he’s perceived to be this happy go lucky nice guy by everyone

I think the bashing of Ewing was one of the all time press lows. There have only been two eras of Knick success and they both started and ended with two centers, Willis Reed and then Patrick Ewing.

Patrick came out of college without a real offensive game and turned himself into a solid mid range jump shooter. He didn’t have the athleticism of a Wilt, Russell, or Hakeem, but still was a force on both ends for 15 seasons.

If you trying to pursue a racial and/or personality issue with Ewing versus Nash, I won’t argue with you. it’s all conjecture, except that it’s a fact that Patrick Ewing was unfairly treated by the NYC press.

Every time I see Patrick on the sidelines with Orlando, I get wonderful memories of that Knick era. The press have to sell newspaper and negative sells more than positive. Perhaps with guys like Hash and Jeter, they can still sell positive news.

Yep You need Interior Defense…..Derrick Favors Would Help Us Alot.

Oh how I miss the Ewing days. How is he not a part of the knicks organization???? The media in pho is nothing like ny. If Nash was in ny he would be getting blasted right now. Wasn’t mo and jeter booed a few years ago in ny? The fans would be all over Nash I’m not saying he deserves it but winning is all that counts in ny.

Sigh ……. I just thought about the knicks and how bAd the have been the last 10 yrs

Two things Tommy Dee:

First, Ewing went to one final. That Knicks team in 99 went while he was injured. It is why everyone felt they had no shot against the Spurs. It would be like saying McGrady made it out of the first round with the Rockets last year when he wasn’t playing. And I’m a big Ewing guy.

Second, your headline is misleading. I expected to read a quote from Nash or something. Shouldn’t it be “Nash Should Be Psyched He Doesn’t Play In NY”?

Let’s see what Nash does at home. I found it funny that he was saying his team doesn’t play good enough defense when he is the worst defender of all.

No offense to Steve Nash, but the Suns are being exposed for the frauds they are by Kobe and Company. D’Antoni caught lightning in a bottle for a couple of seasons. His Phoenix team could’ve landed in the Finals, if not for that incident with some Spurs players. But no team has ever won it all without defense.

NY media will examine every part of an elite player such as Nash. I would not be surprised if they would stick a microscope up his rear end. That is why most players are scared to play here. Ewing was wise to ignore the media. The media would have eaten him alive if he was a nice guy. If you think the NY media has been ruff on D’Antoni now, wait until he gets the players that he wants and gets to the playoffs only to get schooled by a real coach.

Good pts but the Lakers are just too big for the Suns. If they try to double team Kobe, he can find a 7 footer near the rim at will.

The Suns only hope is to run like hell and hope the Lakers don’t play hard in Phoenix thinking they have it in the bag at home.

But you can see the Suns trying to push out on defense only to be taken apart by the big men.

Imagine putting Bynum, Kobe, Gasol, Odom and Artest on the court at the same time! Too much size and talent period!

+1 So True but the Naysayers and defenders of this coach will always say that he NEVER had the players he wanted. They even say this was the case in PHX. So unless, D’antoni win a ring (which he won’t) this will be the fall back position for some.

Yeah, I get the same impression. Based on his interviews, he seems pretty full of himself and gets very defensive when his decisions are criticized.

HAHA…………………………………………………………………

Amare is being exposed as not very good at all, and neither is Gentre/Dantoni’s ‘system’

And Gentry giving a half time speech about how they should ‘go down fighting’?

Wow.

How about a half time speech about how to win?

In addition to all that LA is a much, much better team–super deep, with the refs often on their side.

Steve Nash is playing good, but not good enough to overcome all of the above-it’s doubtful any player could play that good.

I don’t understand this. Nash is playing fine, he shouldn’t have to carry the team all by himself. Pretty much with the exception of Grant Hill, no one else on that PHX team is playing above average basketball so far. Nash is 35 and has been one of the most beloved, best players in the NBA ever since signing with PHX.

I think he has earned himself a pass. Plus, unlike Ewing, Nash actually knows how to handle the media and is a charismatic, interesting talker who seems to enjoy interviews and such. Ewing always made it seem like interviews were the most painful things he had ever been forced to do.

Anyway, its a lot of fun to watch this series and Alvin Gentry’s “improved defense”. So glad that he is a good defensive coach unlike Dantoni so that this is a close series…lol. Amare was really showing off his commitment to defense and how Dantoni was holding him back last night too…Anyone see him standing flat footed at the 3pt line while Gasol just ran to the basket for an easy and 1.

Yup. You’re never gonna win if you can’t get stops.

http://espn.go.com/espn3/player?id=7945&league=NBA?id=7945&league=NBA&size=condensed

hey all the draft combine is live online now at espn 3, the centers are working out right now…

Once and for all, this is proof that defense and the right players wins championships–not an Over-rated-over-hyped system. This is why, no matter who comes to the Knicks, until D’Antoni is gone, they will be a disaster of a team. You see how both The Lakers and The Celtics stress defense. Plus, they have size, and the right mix of players. Also, they play more than 7 guys. And most importantly, they are WELL COACHED.

I’d hire Tom Thibidoux right after the playoffs!

“I don’t understand this. Nash is playing fine, he shouldn’t have to carry the team all by himself.”

“I think he has earned himself a pass. Plus, unlike Ewing, Nash actually knows how to handle the media and is a charismatic, interesting talker who seems to enjoy interviews and such. Ewing always made it seem like interviews were the most painful things he had ever been forced to do.”

hahaha…..woooow…………….

haha……..word..

you guys knock lee who was the last pick in the first round for not playing d and only playing one side of the ball…….then turn around and defend nash a 2time mvp who is the leader/player for the suns……….and say things like how can anybody criticize him he’s a pleasure to the media and he can’t do it by himself he’s playing “fine”………HAHAHA……………AMAZING

alot of news today.
chandler been playing with a broken nose since january
an the knicks might trade curry for ANIS if they strike out in F.A

[...] TheKnicksBlog.com – Steve Nash is Psyched He Doesn't Play in NY [...]

don’t 4get nash PAID big money for the 2mvp’s he won
how the hell he won those mvp…lmao..

How about odom and artest on Nash?

I have no idea if this system can win here or not. that said, based on the interviews D’Antoni comes across the exact opposite to me.

Coming from the guy who thinks Jerry Sloan should be fired and Mike Woodson is a good coach, I will take that as a compliment with a grain of salt lol. Because there’s no pattern going on with anything you say……

1. Nash plays in Phoenix and they have other issues in AZ right now. Namely Sarah Palin LOVES AZ’s immigration laws.

2. Nash has more Marc Berman’s in his corner than anyone else in the NBA.

3. When they say it’s not a black and white issue, it’s a black and white issue. Last I checked, the only thing black about Nash is his eye.

4. Maybe just maybe the Lakers are really that good. They demolished the Jazz. Pau Gasol is one of the best basketball players I’ve ever seen – highly effective.

5. Anyone catch Rashard Lewis reeling in Dwight Howard in the 4th quarter of game 2 besides me. Here it is, the ECF and Howard is goofing around with the fans.

So Ewing gets no credit for 99? oh, ok.

he gets a shit load of blame for the previous 13 years tho.

Nash is teflon. I see.

at what point are you going to realize that the “Naysayers and defenders” of which you speak don’t really exist.

the “defenders” are those who want to be patient and see. You’re the naysayer saying that he definitely can’t win and is an idiot.

Others are waiting to see if he can.

unless i’m wrong.

Well coached… And, yet, the world before all saying how much better Gentry is as a coach for Phoenix compared to D’Antoni. Let’s stop the nonsense, now, shall we? It’s players, not plays. Just get players. The good ones will play both ways.

yessir…and they better have some depth up front.

Im really shocked to see people reading this as a race issue. Nash and Ewing are hardly comparable-mainly in the fact that one plays in PHX and another played for NY. Different medias, different expectations. Its as simple as that.

PHX did not expect to do much this year, they have already surpassed expectations, and Nash is a 36 year old veteran who has played at least decently for the majority of the playoffs and the regular season. How about calling out Amare for lack of rebounding and defense? How about Dragic and Frye for being completely invisible so far?

No one is getting called out, because PHX is doing what was expected of them..They are getting dominated by a far superior team. The Lakers are that good, and the series between them and Boston in the finals should be great.

To read race into this is frankly, completely ridiculous and absurd.

any coach who can take a organization who team goes from wins in the teens to 50 wins is a good coach…especially in a span of like 4 or 5years with NO SUPERSTAR OR GO TO PLAYER OR HOME COURT ADVANTAGE OR LEADER ………..and I said Jerry Sloan was a hall of fame coach and can be considered great(some use that word way to loosely)……even though he has nothing to show for it meaning championships….and I said that theres nothign wrong with having a new voice…….if BILL PARCELLS , mike shanahan and JOE TORRE…….even Phil Jackson can be fired or let go then so can sloan……are you seriouse…………. see you only told or remembered half what I said to take your shots which is fine because that the only way you can refute my points ……and yes I said he should be fired and rightfully so because he has no rings to show for it and had damn near 2 decades to try to do so unlike all coaches ….because like ALL COACHES NOW IN DAYS WHO DONT PROVIDE RINGS GET FIRED……once again if BILL PARCELLS , mike shanahan and JOE TORRE…….even Phil Jackson etc. etc. can be fired or let go…. then why not sloan……like are you seriouse ………….

there’s nothing but consistency with minds but if you disagree thats fine…people are mechanically stuck and pogramed in there ways that they cant see beyond the norm….which is fine….I said if it’s good for the gander it’s good for the goose…………so if other superstars and leaders can get it so can nash…..who I can really care less about and didn’t even give this post much credence ….all I ever mention is DEFENSE and 2 way defensive minded players so u saying that Im not consistent is false and has no substance…….but that’s what it would take to actually make an argument against Me……….

and I see you have a distinct pattern that you feel that jerry sloan shouldn’t or couldn’t get fired and nash shouldn’t be criticized …….because he has a charming personality…….AHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAAH……

I hate Nash, pretty much always have.

The worst MVP selection to date.

I agree. His MVP awards are ridiculous and undeserved.

But I still like him a lot. He’s a lot of fun to watch play, even though he truly does only play 1 end of the court.

“Others are waiting to see if he can.”

I think his stubbornness, lack of accountability and his inability or unwillingness to communicate will forever keep him from becoming an “elite” coach.

He’ll always wind up diving his locker room, kill chemistry, cause dissension and cause players to tune him out. Also, his stubbornness will keep him from learning and growing as a coach.

However, anything is possible, maybe he’ll chance his ways.

lol. Your telling me that Im not reading yet you clearly didn’t even read my post.

First, Mike Woodson is terrible. Anyone who watched the playoffs should and would be aware of this. He was completely and horrifically outcoached by SVG, who is now getting outcoached completely by Doc Rivers. His only answer to any adjustment was 1 on 5 isolations for Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford, and the players clearly didn’t respect him or each other. If thats not a reason for a coach to get fired, then I don’t know what is. I am sure you do though.

Second, the media is composed of human beings. They respond to kindness and players being open to them just like any human being would. Ewing did not do that all, and that is one of many reasons why the brutal NY media got all over him. And let me be clear, Ewing did not deserve what he got. But thats what happened to him. Just like Nash does not deserve to get what Ewing got.

But lastly, its just not even worth it getting into it with you. lol. You clearly can’t be reasoned with anyway and according to you are perfectly consistent and right everytime. Good for you. Maybe one day all humans can be like you.

So, good arguing with you. AHAHAAHAHAHAAA….

dividing his locker room*

Stockton – 0.

Nash – 2?

Ridiculous.

agreed with almost everything you said except that thinking race doesn’t play “ANY PART” is even more completely ridiculous and absurd in regards to media coverage in defense or criticism…….just look at your own arguments 4 get the national or arizona media…………..you can look at this blog alone and see the bias…………..and people can have high expectations after the way they ran over the spurs who some considered favorites if they played the lakers in the first round…………………….

Matter fact for those who think arizona is the only place that is having problems in regards to racially profiling as of late just a reminder ….right in front of your own face look at Ill WILL….it’s been raining and cold the past couple of days so if he only had a little bit of weed on him how could they smell it…. Im sure his and or the police car windows were up…look how people bash whether on radio or on here a good dude like ILL WILL who nobody at MSG or Depual would have 1 bad thing to say about him or his charecter but yet people make stupid assumptions and call him all kinds of name(spitefully)……like the low life’s and cornballs that they are whether on this blog and or radio alone….so plz…

queens cops especially or more particularly southside area precinct are PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how can anyone HATE steve nash? the guy is a phenomenal player and overall person…. wonderful work ethic and does so much charity. i wish he was on the knicks. the fact that this man is playing so many minutes at such a high caliber leve, given his age shows his dedication to winning.

Nash is a human turnstile.

WACK……….

I never said race doesn’t play a part in anything, because it might. All I said was to read this as purely a race issue is ridiculous.

you may be right about Wilson, I don’t know. All I know is he seems like a good young person and I doubt he was dealing or doing anything that deserves to be illegal. I obviously think its ridiculous that weed is illegal lol. Racism and Racial profiling are obviously issues. Both are ridiculous and some of the worst most despicable things in the world.

Again, I want to make clear that while race may play an issue in Nash’s perception, to read this as purely a race issue is wrong to me at least.

Its crazy man. Stockton played both ends of the floor and certainly deserved a mvp for than Nash. Its actually crazy how similar PHX and Utah were at the times these guys are playing. Both uptempo pick and roll teams with a great pg and great power forward that could never quite get over the hump…Utah with MJ and PHX with Tim Duncan and co.

Some of the awards in the NBA are beyond ridiculous. I mean, pretty much every coach of the year has been fired a year or 2 after they recieved the award.

And, David Lee somehow got a a vote for Defensive Player of the year. Thats crazy.

Nash & Amare should not be compared to Ewing.
Nash & Amare might be measured again a duo like Stockton and Malone,
only the Utah guys played tenacious D. (and still never won anything)

I’m not sure he would be treated the way Ewing was however.

Nash did win 2 MVP’s (deservedly so or not) and he may have had the _avi_ Lee effect.

_avi_ is constantly given a pass by many fans even though it is obvious to anyone with a retina that he wasn’t a “hustle player” or a “blue collar guy” as he was portrayed by a large part of the media.

“And, David Lee somehow got a a vote for Defensive Player of the year. Thats crazy.”

Maybe they thought they were voting for Defensive Rebounder of the Year?

No one REALLY knows that tho.

So it’s hard to accept people who are so definitive. next year we’ll know more.

Tommy:

Your comments on Nash are way off base. He was not the reason why the Suns lost. No interior defense and not enough size. By the way, you can’t compare this Suns team to D’Antoni’s. You and others seem to forget that those other Suns teams had two top defensive players in Bell and Marion. Back then Marion was a pumped up version of Jeffries, and Bell let’s say that other than Bruce Bowen no one played Kobe tougher.

The other point is that this Laker team is much better than the ones from a couple of years ago. People don’t give Gasol enough credit, and what team has a top 50 player as their 6th man in Odom…uhhh none other than the Lakers.

I wish the Knicks had Nash, and by the way those Knick teams with Ewing were some of the most boring teams to ever grace this planet. I am not saying that I want 140 – 135 games, but some offense is nice.

Get D’Antoni some players, and let’s see what he can do.

Amar’e is soft as cotton candy.

I think Nash is the best PG (offensively) in the league and an amazing teamate. Not saying he is “teflon” at all.

But his defense is pretty bad.

dividing Robinson, Curry,and Hughes? so what? All three of them are clowns. When you have good players and win those things don’t happen. It’s easy to divide a locker room full of guys on the last year of their contract who are all overpaid.

Suns playing great defense ehhh? 58% game 1, 58% game 2. Yikes.

I didn’t say he divided Robinson, Curry and Hughes did I?

Can you read?

excuse me. I assumed thats what you meant. Can you clue me in on what you are talking about? Those are the players that I know of that were unhappy.

Were Gallo, Douglas, and Chandler divided?

I guess I can read as much as you could yesterday when you got on Tommy for the MD/Gentry article saying it only mentioned MD once when in fact he was mention 10+ times.

read it over. So you say he will divide the locker room? You said he will divide his team but I took it has he has divided his team and will continue to do so.

Having double standards and not holding everyone accountable will divide any locker room and get any coach tuned out eventually.

Was there division in the Suns locker room? I am asking this because I really have no idea one way or the other.

I think once we get a stable roster and start winning (hopefully start winning) things will go more smoothly but I agree with you that he wasn’t the most consistent coach.

Steve Nash is not playing with a sense of urgency, and he’s not playing like an All-Star point guard. He needs to step up.

The Suns look like they’re just happy to be there.

Steve Nash deserved to win one MVP.

But 2 = Ridiculous.

ds – I agree, “Coach of the year” = Cinderella team of the year award.

The fact that Jerry Sloan doesn’t have one is a joke.

Ewing played into the conference finals in 99, 4life, and was a big part of the first two rounds. 22 and 11 in the deciding game against Miami, 17 and 9 in the closeout game against the Hawks. So, whatever, dude.

I agree.

The bigger you are the more attention you attract under the spotlight. And there were higher expectations surrounding Patrick Ewing because he was a #1 pick.

Steve Nash will always get a pass because people subconsciously believe that “Hey he was not supposed to be a great player!”

bigger = taller

an he’s been doin it without a super duper star for a while now
20+ years an not 1 coach of the year award that sucks..

By the way even Gentry sounds like he’s just happy to be there (lack of experience?).

“If we’re gonna go down, go down fighting”

WTF?

He’s a very good coach, but he also needs to be more aggressive.

Not really sure about that…

Amare has never been in a defensive system until this year so he doesn’t know what defense in the NBA looks like.

People also forget that Donaghy was a ref back then. I’m not saying the NBA fixed the games and had it out for D’Antoni, I’m just saying Donaghy wasn’t a “rogue” ref.

Also, Joe Johnson was hurt in one series and and the whole Nash – Horry led to the demise of the Suns in the playoffs.

People who hate Gasol really have no clue what basketball is all about, he’s a threat in so many ways – passing, shooting, and has as many interior moves as Kevin McHale did in his prime. Without him, Kobe has no shot at rings.

If you’re going to get all hung up on defense… well then, you’ve never seen the NBA in the 80s where defense was nonexistent. Pistons and Knicks brought down the level of play. Sort of what the Devils and Red Wings did to the NHL.

Personally I’d rather watch up and down ball, it’s a lot more fun than half court sets.

Peter Griffin has more people skills than Jerry Sloan.

So you’re saying that Raja Bell and Kurt Thomas didn’t play defense with the Suns??

lmao! I see only show some passion when it comes to you boy D’Antoni!

You had the nerve to say that you to say

“have no idea if this system can win here or not. that said, based on the interviews D’Antoni comes across the exact opposite to me.”

Well duhhhhhhh! If you talk to Charles Mansion, he’ll probably tellya he did a very good thing or if you speak to Isiah, he would say that he had it fugured out but wasn’t given enough time to turn things around.

Yikes! You don’t need to ask D’Antoni a d-am-n- thing to see what his system does and how he has been a farce here in NY.

Tommy, you’re selling yourself quite short in the waiting to see rant or b.s. You should know better. You have the nerve to go after Nash now when Nash is the one that made this dumb-a-s-s coach!

Nash is having trouble because the Lakers are a better team that can play different styles and can go big and etc. There is no one in the paint for Nash to operate other than the Laker Trees!

But you keep on making a fool of yourself by putting out excuses for this coach. you might need to kiss his butt for interviews but I’m good and don’t ever care to do that for any coach…especially one that has done more to hurt our youth progress in a timeframe where we needed to have to develop.

I’ll accept being an idiot anyday if it means telling the truth and being accountable. It’s all business and I guess if it means keeping your press pass to D’antoni, it’s all business with ya too!

Not accurate dude. We were saying the Suns are at least trying to play some defense as oppose to under D’antoni.

Watch the games! The Suns were in each game in LA but they are undersized and being picked apart when they double Kobe. The Lakers are much better than the Lakers the Suns played when they were coached by D’Antoni. The Lakers then had just gotten rid of Shaq and they were dismal!

If you play SOME defense it does not guarantee you that you win! However if you play NO defense, you’re mostly guaranteed to lose against a good team especially a playoff series.

It is easily to see that the Lakers were playing with more intensity on defense and they are the better team.

So if a coach doesn’t matter then why do we need D’Antoni! Play a dude minimum wage and we can save the money on the Fans!

De De De Delusional! lol You have no idea when the system ahs never won and Don Nelson has been doing it for most of his career and he’s a better offensive mind! hahahahahahahaha

The luv you have for this coach is insane! lol

Tommy can you hear me?
Is D’Antoni near you?

Despite his age, I still expect Nash to sign with the Knicks when his current deal is up if D’Antoni is still here. I always thought he’d be our future PG. He can still play and lives in NY on the offseasons. I think it will happen.

agreed……but u said ” To read race into this is frankly, completely ridiculous and absurd.”

when you imply “to read race”…….that means taking it from it’s most simplistic to its most profound out take of any situation…… Just by saying to read alone…….

which makes “I never said race doesn’t play a part in anything”
false……and or double talk…..

maybe that’s not what u meant but it’s what u typed…..

” to read this as purely a race issue is wrong to me at least”
when u use the word “purely” that implies only……

so it’s in contrast to ” To read race into this is frankly, completely ridiculous and absurd.”

not consistent ……just saying……..

I see what you saying ….but once you reach 2xmvp rightfully or wrongfully so that goes out the window…..and it should…..brady was drafted in the 6th round……if he fails form here on out nobody is going to say….. hey well he was drafted in the 6th round…….

Ask Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudamire about division in the Suns locker room.

Kobe only has 1.

Peter Griffin has more people skills than _’antoni and for some reason he’s still seen as a “player’s coach”

Why would the Knicks want him at 40?

The Lakers are one of the best defensive teams in the league. Gasol averages nearly 2 blocks a game.

LOL at “going to get all hung up on defense”.

The Lakers were a very good defensive team in the 80′s with Cooper, Worthy and Kareem as well as being able to run.

The Celtics were a good defensive team as well (they got away with a lot of hacking too, hated them) with Parrish in the middle, Bird was a ball hawk, Dave Cowens, Dennis Johnson etc all good defenders.

I guess you get “all hung up on” the offensive end of the court because it’s fun to watch the way our “coach” does.

“Amare has never been in a defensive system until this year so he doesn’t know what defense in the NBA looks like.”

I’m not even talking about his defensive lapses (he’s not bad when he’s focused in, but that’s not often), I was talking about his rebounding numbers. Even if you put both the 1st 2 games together he doesn’t have a double double.

Soft as a silkworm.

Because at 40 he’s still one of the top PGs around and doesn’t have a 40 year old body as a result of his soccer conditioning. Plus D’Antoni wants to molest him at all times.