Resting Nash is Unrealistic

Last week, I linked to an article from the East Valley Tribune that talked about GM Steve Kerr’s plan to rest Steve Nash for twelve games next season:

“What do you think of (general manager) Steve Kerr’s plan to limit you to 70 games next season?”

Nash gives me that “you’re-not-going-to-get-much-out-of-me smile” and then proceeds to, well, not give me much.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he says. “Those are great intentions, but is it realistic? We’ll see.”

Nash, 34, is receptive to the idea of getting more rest. He played in 81 of 82 games last year and averaged 34.3 minutes per game. To put that in perspective, Dallas point guard Jason Kidd, 35, was the only player older than Nash to log as many minutes.

From the comments of Bright Side Of The Sun, Phoenix Stan is on board:

“Duncan sat 16 games in 04-05 and they won the ring. Shaq missed 23 games the year Miami won and 15 for his last ring in LA. KG missed 11 last year. These teams managed to win without their super star.

These guys were injured which is different then just benching to get rest but come on. How many games did Nash play over the past few years that he easily could and should have sat out due to nagging injuries to his shoulder and back?

The point of resting Nash 12 games isn’t (I assume) literal as if there’s a pitch count on his arm. They are saying – and I totally agree – that some of those games that he played in over the past few years when he was injured, in the coming year he will sit out and recover.

And again – isn’t it clear by now that Nash alone can’t lead this team to a title? Didn’t you all see how poorly he played against the Spurs last year? The team needs more balance, more depth and better D.

The team and Nash needs to be smart about pacing himself through the season AND using the bench and a more defensive focus to play well without him.

Think of it this way. We are all excited (most of us anyway) about the new emphasis on D. We all know that D is not where Steve is going to really help the team. So why shouldn’t they be able to play better without him then in past years?

Will they score as much? No. But they should also be able to hold teams to under 90 more consistently and frankly have a better chance of doing that w/ Dragic on the floor then with Steve.

This isn’t 04-05 and Nash isn’t even the best player on the team any more.”

In theory, resting Nash for twelve regular season games is a great idea.  Nash will turn 34 next season and would definitely benefit from a decreased workload.  In actuality, it’s impossible.  Eight Western Conference teams won at least 50 games last season.  Seven games separated the number one seeded Los Angeles Lakers and the eighth seeded Denver Nuggets.  Seven games also separated the sixth seeded Suns and the ninth place Golden State Warriors.

The Nuggets and Warriors have certainly taken steps backwards this off-season.  But the Portland Trailblazers are waiting in the wings.  Houston will be improved after their acquisition of Ron Artest.  And emerging point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams will have their teams primed after advancing to the second round of the playoffs last season.  Not to mention the Western Conference playoff mainstays Lakers, Mavericks, and Spurs.

Phoenix Stan pointed out Duncan, Shaq, and KG’s absence from their respective teams at different points during their championship runs.  But there’s a difference between those players’ absence and what Steve Kerr is proposing in Phoenix.  All three of those players finish plays rather than start them.  They’re all dependent upon someone getting them the ball.  And Tony Parker, Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce play/played the role of fascilitator.  Without Duncan, Shaq, and KG, Wade and company are capable of starting and finishing plays.  Nash is the facilitator in Phoenix.  He’s the spoke that makes the Suns offense go round.

Without Nash’s wheel, the Suns offense will come to a grinding hault.  No one else on Phoenix’s roster is capable of creating their own offense on a consistent basis.

I understand Phoenix’s newfound emphasis on defense.  But their defensive transformation isn’t going to happen overnight, if at all.  Especially with Stoudemire and O’Neal — two players with bad habits born of years in the NBA — protecting the basket.  The Suns are still going to have to outscore their opponents to win basketball games.

After trading for Shaquille O’Neal, anything short of a championship during Shaq’s tenure in Phoenix will be considered a failure.  But without Steve Nash for twelve games of the regular season, the Suns can forget about the playoffs, much less the NBA championship.