Tuesday, October 16th, 2012 at 3:00 pm  |  77 responses

Top 50: Steve Nash, no. 21

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players for ’12-13.

by Yaron Weitzman | @YaronWeitzman

There really is no explanation for Steve Nash being No. 21 on this list.

It’s not that he’s undeserving of this honor; any point guard who can average 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game while shooting 53 percent from the field, 39 percent from behind the arc and 89 percent from the charity stripe most certainly does. Rather, what I mean is that, well, he’s old. Like really old.

Steve Nash is currently 38 years old. On February 7 he will turn 39, which is exactly how old Jalen Rose and Chris Webber are, and I’m pretty certain I’ve been watching the two of them analyze the game they used to play for the past 10 years.

Thirty-eight-year-old professional basketball players are supposed to be in the decline phases of their careers. Actually, they’re not supposed to be in the midst of any career phase; when an NBA player gets to his upper 30s, his career is supposed to be something that was, not is.

The few anomalies that are able to hang on usually do so by serving as a contending team’s veteran presence on the bench. They certainly aren’t supposed to be the best players and focal points of their teams, and they certainly aren’t supposed to put up near historic shooting numbers like Nash did last season.

What’s most incredible about Steve Nash, though, is that his ability to combat the undefeated foe of father time in a way that few ever have may not even be the most impressive line on his resume. In fact, the most impressive line on his resume is probably the fact that it’s so hard to choose just one impressive line.

Think about this: Steve Nash may be the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA. Only seven players in the sport’s history have shot at least 50 percent from the floor, 40 percent from behind the arc and 90 percent from the free-throw line for a season. Nash has accomplished that feat four times, and nearly hit those marks again last year. No one else has done so more than twice. Yet shooting is rarely the first skill that someone mentions when talking about what makes the two-time MVP so great.

How many players can that be said about it? How many players in the history of the sport have done something on the court better than anyone else ever has, only to see that skill constantly relegated to the bottom of the list when factors behind said player’s greatness are being discussed? It would be like not mentioning defense when trying to explain what made Bill Russell so great. That just doesn’t happen, yet with Nash, the conversation—rightfully so—always starts with his passing and court vision and leadership, not with his historic ability to efficiently shoot a basketball.

This year, though, things will be different. This year, Nash will be wearing purple and gold and playing in Los Angeles and sharing the court with Kobe Bryant. This year, Nash will not be handed the keys to the car, or at least not as frequently as he was during his eight years in Phoenix. This year, Nash will have to defer to Kobe and throw the ball into the post and spend time spotting up on the wing.

But what makes Nash so great is that he’s not just a system point guard—a la Raymond Felton or Jeremy Lin—who only thrives when allowed to play a certain way. When you can shoot and pass and dribble and think like Nash, you become the rare piece that can smoothly fit into any puzzle.

Nash’s shooting will give the Lakers some much-needed spacing when Pau Gasol and Bryant are posting up. His brilliance in the pick-and-roll will give Dwight Howard—statistically, the best pick-and-roll finisher in the NBA last season—and the Lakers more easy baskets than either had all of last year. His uncanny ability to elevate the play of those around him—last season, Nash’s Phoenix teammates shot 47.4 percent when he was on the floor and 41.6 percent when he wasn’t—may be the only chance the Lakers have of winning a title while they have players like Steve Blake and Jordan Hill getting minutes off the bench.

As the ‘12-13 NBA season approaches, many seem to be under the belief that the Lakers can be a Championship contender and one of the best offensive teams in the League if Nash can figure out how to play with Bryant and Howard and Gasol. That line of thinking is backwards.

The Lakers will be a Championship contender and one of the best offensive teams in the League because Nash is playing with Bryant and Howard and Gasol. There’s no if.

Not when an offensive wizard like Steve Nash is involved.


Where should Steve Nash rank in the SLAMonline Top 50?

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SLAMonline Top 50 Players 2012
Rank Player Team Position Pos. Rank
50 Greg Monroe Pistons C 8
49 Tyreke Evans Kings PG 14
48 Brandon Jennings Bucks PG 13
47 Stephen Curry Warriors PG 12
46 Ricky Rubio TWolves PG 11
45 Al Jefferson Jazz PF 14
44 Anthony Davis Hornets PF 13
43 Serge Ibaka Thunder PF 12
42 Al Horford Hawks C 7
41 Ty Lawson Nuggets PG 10
40 Danny Granger Pacers SF 6
39 Tim Duncan Spurs PF 11
38 John Wall Wizards PG 9
37 Monta Ellis Bucks SG 8
36 Zach Randolph Grizzlies PF 10
35 Roy Hibbert Pacers C 6
34 Tyson Chandler Knicks C 5
33 Eric Gordon Hornets SG 7
32 Kevin Garnett Celtics PF 9
31 Manu Ginobili Spurs SG 6
30 Amar’e Stoudemire Knicks PF 8
29 Marc Gasol Grizzlies C 4
28 DeMarcus Cousins Kings C 3
27 Paul Pierce Celtics SF 5
26 Andre Iguodala Nuggets SG 5
25 Rudy Gay Grizzlies SF 4
24 Josh Smith Hawks PF 7
23 Derrick Rose Bulls PG 8
22 Joe Johnson Nets SG 4
21 Steve Nash Lakers PG 7

Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’12-13 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Jake Appleman, Maurice Bobb, Rodger Bohn, Brendan Bowers, Franklyn Calle, David Cassilo, Bryan Crawford, Adam Figman, Eldon Khorshidi, Eddie Maisonet III, Ryne Nelson, Ben Osborne, Allen Powell II, Sam Rubenstein, Jonathan Santiago, Abe Schwadron, Leo Sepkowitz, Dave Spahn, Ben Taylor, Tzvi Twersky, Peter Walsh, Tracy Weissenberg, Yaron Weitzman, DeMarco Williams and Dave Zirin.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

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  • Bodhidogma

    great ranking for nash. whats up with all the haters? has nash ever been a fantastic individual defender? no. the man wasn’t blessed with the physical gifts of a russell westbrook or cp3 (don’t bring up stockton – he was an anomaly and a hard nose mofo!). but he is a great team defender, and puts himself in the right positions at the right times. any team in the league would take nash’s defensive liabilities in order to have him running the show at the other end. best shooter, and one of the best passers ever folks. EVER!

  • Caboose

    I can name a bunch of teams who would not trade their PG for Nash. Clippers, Nets, Bulls, Nuggets, Spurs, Sixers, Thunder, Celtics, Wizards, Cavaliers, Wolves, and Warriors.
    How can you say Steve is a good team defender? You can’t just say things without backing them up with facts, bro. Here’s a fact: the Suns haven’t ranked higher than 23rd in Defensive Efficiency in the last 4 years.

  • Caboose

    I think he’ll put up even less than that in LA this year.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    “he is a great team defender” – *spits coffee at computer screen and dies laughing*

  • Bodhidogma

    sorry to ruin your computer screen brah. died laughing? doesn’t take much to amuse you i suppose. perhaps i got a little ahead of myself by saying that nash is a “great” team defender. but the fact remains that he is a very intelligent defender. he funnels his man into the right areas on the court, he isn’t afraid to take a charge, and does his best to stay in front of his man. i will admit that nash is also guilty of cheating on defense far too often in an effort to break out in transition. oh well. on the flipside, where are all these amazing pg defenders? and why is nash still lighting them up at age 37?

  • Bodhidogma

    you’re going to blame the suns defensive liabilities entirely on nash? it’s a team game man. does he have shortcoming on the defensive end? no doubt. is he the worst defender in the league? hell no.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Nash is a terrible defender, he led the league in charges once, but that really just veils how truly terrible he has been on that end, i live in Phoenix, I’ve watched just about every Suns game Steve Nash has been apart of, he’s a terrible team defender, & individual defender. He’s smart, but that doesn’t make up for how truly bad he is. – Nash is a top 5 offensive PG, that’s why nobody can guard him. He’s an offensive genius. He just can’t play more than 34MPG max for a season without breaking down, which hurts his value.

  • Bodhidogma

    you’re going to have to explain to me how leading the league in charges is somehow indicative of how bad a defender he is. i am not seeing it. perhaps it is a better indicator of how bad the rest of his teammates are at defending? you’re also going to have to explain to me what makes a good defensive pg? nash is 37! let me repeat this – 37! yet the “defensive” pg’s in the league can’t stop him. what gives?

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    i didn’t, i said leading the league in charges veiled (Partially conceal, disguise, or obscure) how truly bad he is.
    .
    So do you not understand how defense works? What does Steve Nash’s age have to do with defensive PG’s stopping him? What elite offensive PG is being stopped by any elite defensive PG? When has less athleticism (i’m sure that’s where your going with this age thing) ever kept an elite guard from succeeding against some elite defender/athlete? Ever?
    .
    Think through what you are saying.

  • Bodhidogma

    a rather condescending reply. are you actually suggesting that athleticism doesn’t play a role in being an elite defender? we are talking about the NBA right? you don’t think the fact that rondo is a freak of nature (arm length, speed, vertical leap) has no bearing on him being labeled a great defender? certainly instincts play a role, but dude. c’mon.

    what i am getting at is this: if nash is a poor defender, what exactly constitutes a great defender?

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    when i feel people are arguing out of defense, rather than with the intent of making a point i tend to get abrasive.
    .
    You need to stop trying to intertwine everything. Of course Athleticism plays a factor for an elite defensive player. But we aren’t talking about what constitutes what makes an elite defender (at least until you asked that last question), we are talking about why elite defenders can’t stop a 37 year old. Your point about a 37 year old could only revolve around athleticism, so i explained why that was patently illogical. (elite defenders who are superior athletes almost never limit elite offensive players – Steve Nash has been a sub par athlete his whole career, aging isn’t going to change that for better or worse as long as he can still change speeds).
    .
    If you can’t see that Nash is a poor (to put it lightly) defender than i’m just going to assume you don’t actually watch him play. If you do, and you still can’t see that he’s a bad defender, i’m automatically going to assume you don’t know how to interpret what it is you are watching.
    .
    Obviously elite defenders get beat less often by the guy they are guarding then most other defenders. Being better than almost everyone else at your position at defense is what constitutes a great defender.
    - Steve Nash and his 110 defensive rating, 0.6 defensive win shares and penchant for giving up INSANE offensive performances from opposing PGs constitutes a horrible defender.
    .
    Need Proof? It took me one try to find some, http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201204210PHO.html -
    .
    PLEASE NOTE TY LAWSON’S OFFENSIVE RATING OF 165! in that link.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    @disqus_oxoGJMLagc:disqus above average to average defenders on Phoenix’s roster 2011-12 -

    . Jared Dudley (average) – Grant Hill (above average) – Marcin Gortat (above average) – Channing Frye (average) – Markief Morris (average)
    .
    That’s 4 of their 5 starters last season.
    .
    Below Average Defenders on Phoenix’s Roster in 2011-12 -
    . Steve Nash, Shannon Brown, Sebastian Telfair, Hakim Warrick, Michael Redd
    .
    The worst part of the team defense in Phoenix is their offense, the pace they played did not allow them to be a good defensive team. Steve Nash, being the reason the offense was so good, was a huge part of why the defense was so bad. But, the give and take, was ultimately better for the team. — Still though, Nash was a terrible defender who has a terrible overall effect on his teams defense.

  • LakeShow

    I gave it a down vote.
    Gotta get some ish done at work.
    I’ll be bach.

  • LakeShow

    I don’t know where the line is drawn between “cool” and “great”, but 14-8 is a top tier PG. Lower, top tier, but still top tier.
    Nash should be right around 11-10 this year. Just barely a double double average over the season will be my gander.

  • Caboose

    Word.

  • LakeShow

    Steve Nash is the best pick n roll PG in the L. He is going to be playing with the best pick n roll center in the game today.
    In addition to that, he has Pau Gasol on the other post. Gasol can space the floor effectively out to 15 feet. He isn’t one of the best mid range bigs in the game, but he isn’t shabby, and he will knock down the mid range enough to keep defenses honest on him. When Gasol moves to the 5 spot or Howard stays and Gasol goes to the bench, Jamison will come in. That is where Nash will enjoy the Princeton offense at it’s purest with Jamison, a known marksmen, providing the spacing for Nash to tally up assists between Howard alley oops, and Jamison’s deep bomb’s. Nash has not shot lower than 39% from 3 point land since his 2nd year in the L. So that’s unlikely to drop a measurable amount. Nash has posted 10+ assists in 7 of his 8 last seasons. While all were in PHX, with the tempo he plays best with, he still did not have the talented scorers that he now has in LA, so that assist total is unlikely to drop below 9. Bryant is planning to be a shooting guard rather than a scoring guard this season; meaning Nash will benefit from having a top 2 shooting(#1 imo) guard to toss the ball to at any given moment for a quick assist. So what we have is a player that puts up a small double, double, average. Also with the best across the board shooting percentages in the L. He is going to be on a team that will be winning somewhere around 60 games with him being the catalyst at the PG spot.
    Sounds to me like a top 25 NBA talent.

  • http://twitter.com/AjpDos Allen Powell

    You are talking like he was a good defender at 25. He wasn’t. I watched him. He sucked for Dallas on defense too. You can’t praise him for doing what he does on offense at his age and then give him a pass for his age on defense. That’s ridiculous. Just accept that he’s horrible on defense and great on offense. It’s just the truth.

  • Caboose

    Ok, I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but I just saw the last line “Top 25 talent.” You know I’m gonna quibble with that; I didn’t say he wasn’t a top 25 talent, I said he won’t be top 25 productivity. Let me read through now.

  • http://twitter.com/AjpDos Allen Powell

    That ain’t top tier in my book. 14 and 8 is a very good point guard, not great or top tier. Now, you average 18 and 8 or 20 and 10 and you are top tier. I don’t even know if 14 and 8 gets you to the all-star game.

  • Caboose

    Alright, I’ve got some main complaints. #1: pace. The Suns have ranked in the top 10 in pace for the past decade. The Lakers under Mike Brown were 20th (and 21st the year before that). Additionally, the LA offense simply doesn’t give a point guard the chance to shine. The highest assist total ANY point guard has ever accrued while playing with Kobe is 8.5 (Nick Van Exel in 1996). Finally, even with Steve, Kobe is going to be handling the ball a substantial amount of the time. While this may be good for the Lakers’ offense having Steve space the floor, it doesn’t add anything to his productivity.
    In summary, things that will make Steve’s productivity drop: slower pace, Laker’s offensive scheme, Kobe’s ball-handling ability. And I haven’t even touched on defense.
    But I will say this: Nash is still easily a top 15 offensive -TALENT-. However, you and I both know that’s not what we’re talking about.

  • LakeShow

    So that’s one place where everyone comes to their own assessment.
    What is “projected performance? Is that stats? Is that influence on the game? Is it a mixture, or something different altogether?
    Nash being a top 25 talent puts him in the top 25 in my rankings. It’s about what you are capable of doing not what stats said you did, in my book. His stats may not be as good as a top 25 player, but he is a top 25 player. Especially in the playoffs. Although he has never won a chip he has seen his fair share of playoff games and has played very well in them.
    With that all being said…
    Nick Van Exel has a career average of 6.6 assists. His best season was 9. If he was able to get 8.5 assists next to Mr. Bryant, so i’m sure that one of the greatest passers to ever play basketball can get more than that.
    Kobe may be handling the ball allot, but not as much as before and he is excited for Nash to be doing the majority of the ball handling so Nash will get his touches.
    My guess is 11-10 from Nashty. We will see how that plays out. Those digits along with leading one of the best teams in the L has to get him in the top 25 IMO.
    We may just not be seeing eye to eye on the criteria for “projected performance.”

  • RG190

    “Steve Nash may be the greatest shooter in the
    history of the NBA.” Based on the info shared in the rest of the
    paragraph, he IS the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA. 50/40/90 four…almost FIVE times? Ridiculous.

  • Caboose

    There is no justification for 11-10 and no defense to be top 25 in the NBA. Why? Calderon did that for the Raptors and no one in their right mind puts him in the top 25. You said that “it’s about what you are capable of doing” that determines performance. WHAT?! That’s the exact OPPOSITE of what it means. Otherwise, I’d say that JR Smith is capable of being a top 30 player; he has the talent. I only care about what the guy actually does on the court, and Nash is going to be a solid point guard on offense, and the 2nd worst starting point guard in the league on defense.

  • LakeShow

    So you think that Calderon is a top 50 player then right? Cause you said Nash deserves to be in the 40′s, so Calderon is Top 50 right?
    JR Smith is not capable of being a top 30 player and I might be his biggest fan on this site… That’s just stupid.
    I just agree to disagree We don’t see eye to eye on what constitutes as a Top 25 player int he L.
    I take intangibles and playoff capability into play for projected performance.

  • Caboose

    Ok yeah, my argument was reductio ad absurdum, but it was to illustrate my point: “ability and capability” cannot be considered for “performance.” Those are two fundamentally different things, like just by definition. Explain to me how having the ability to do something is the same as actually doing it.

  • LakeShow

    Nash will not need to put up 15-12 next season for the Lakers to be successful. They actually would probably be less successful with Nash scoring more. They need the ball in Dwight’s hands, Pau’s hands, and Kobe’s hands when it comes to scoring. His team will need him to distribute the ball. He is going to do that. Admirably. So he is going to be the starting PG on a loaded team. Loaded teams usually don’t get to have people reach STATistical goals. It’s team oriented and Nash will do everything within his capabilities to make this team win games which to me is more important than the fact that his STAT’s might not look as pretty as someone else.

  • Caboose

    I agree, Nash will fulfill his role pretty amazingly. Top 5 in the league. But this isn’t about filling roles, otherwise Kawhi Leonard would be top 10 on this list. It’s about performance and production on the court. And you’ve said yourself that Nash will look for team first, neglecting his own personal goals. If that was the criteria, then just put all the Spurs in spots 1-10. C’mon, you’re dancing around a definition when I’ve given you a clear one.

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