Steve Nash’s Game Struggling Due to Bruised Rib

The Phoenix Suns’ soon-to-be 38-year old point guard says the rib injury is affecting his ability to shoot and move around the court. From the AZ Republic: “Believe it or not, there was a time when this Suns season was starting to go well — in the season opener. After a sluggish first half against New Orleans, the Suns took command with 18 points in the first six minutes of the second half as Steve Nash made his first four shots. It also might have been their worst stretch thus far. During that span, Nash fouled Greivis Vasquez on a 3-point play and took a Vasquez shoulder into his ribs as he jumped into Vasquez. Shortly thereafter, Nash grimaced and asked out of the game. A week later, Nash still is not right, and his 7-for-29 shooting since that game reflects the pain he has endured from the bruised rib. Nash said it improves nightly with medication, but in each game he inevitably takes a blow to the left-rib-cage area and aggravates it. The intercostal muscles in the rib cage allow it to expand and drop during breathing. ‘It’s like I’m holding my breath a lot,’ Nash said. ‘I’m tired a lot. I’m bracing. It’s not fun. It’s definitely affected my shot and mobility.’ And his team. The Suns are 1-3 because of offensive woes that go beyond Nash’s shooting. After a six-turnover game against Philadelphia that Nash considered possibly the worst game of his career, Nash dealt 12 assists in Friday’s win at New Orleans and could have had more than that Saturday in a 107-97 loss at Oklahoma City if his teammates had made open shots. Part of the problem is fellow starters Marcin Gortat (right-thumb hairline fracture) and Grant Hill (sore right knee) alaos are recuperating.”