Steve Nash makes everybody on the Suns better. He most definitely deserved the MVP trophies he was awarded with. He accounts for almost 50 points a game between points and assists, something only him and Chris Paul are able to accomplish on a consistent basis.
If he truly deserved it the they would have made the Finals. I'm sure that statement's going to get jumped all over but the point of attack against Phoenix goes straight through Steve Nash, he's as much of an individual defensive liability against penetrating PG's (which most top tier PG's are) as he is an asset on offense.
Of the MVP's in recent history let's see who's been a member of the NBA Finals within a few years after winning the award.
Dirk - got to Finals
Nash - can't guard anyone
Nash - can't guard anyone
KG - Sam was out, this/next year will make up for it
Duncan - got to Finals
Duncan - got to Finals
Iverson - got to Finals
Shaq - got to Finals
Malone - got to Finals
MJ - got to Finals
Malone - got to Finals
Robinson - got to Finals
Dream - got to Finals
Barkley - got to Finals
MJ - got to Finals
MJ - got to Finals
MJ - got to Finals
Magic - got to Finals
Magic - got to Finals
MJ - got to Finals
Magic - got to Finals
Larry - got to Finals
Larry - got to Finals
Larry - got to Finals
Aside from KG every other MVP going back to the 70's (I won't look them ALL up) has made it there. That's not to say that any MVP not making them shouldn't win the award but there is that general trend obviously. Nash's career isn't over by any means but the Phoenix Suns are (say what you will, they'll never make it with that system, including the "pound it" Shaq system, which will never work). History proves that teams with this makeup cannot do it.
And of these MVP's every single one of them except for Steve Nash was a top notch defender, rebounder, shot blocker and/or steals leader the season they won the award, at the very least to the best of their ability.
He won it on inflated offensive statistics. Am I the only person around here that actually believes offense is only half of the game? If that's not the case 'Nique deserves an awful lot of retribution for being passed over these past few years. Nash is going to go down in history as the next Charles Barkley but the difference being he won't even make the Finals, and if he does it will be because he'll have to chince his way there Michael Finley style as a dwindling star looking to complete himself. There's no such thing as a championship caliber leader that plays only one half of the game.
Chris Paul leads the league in steals and assists and scores 21.1 ppg, if Steve Nash deserved the MVP would you not think NBA fans would be up in arms about Chris Paul probably not winning the award? This season by Paul DWARFS every season Nash has had statistically. The whole thing's stupid IMO. If he can win the MVP playing one side of the ball then call it offensive player of the year, not MVP. I know that's an obvious statement but to some it's obviously not because he won the darn award.
Yes he runs the offense which is integral to the team but him winning the award is a slap in the face to the true greats who worked on and stressed all facets of the game. Like, say, Kevin Garnett. Who's more valuable? You decide. It's not a coincidence that the defensive minded player of the two is going to waltz into the Finals while Nash is back home teaching shooting clinics in Victoria. It's also no coincidence that the real MVP of the league just won DPOY. Or that the other true MVP, Chris Paul, leads the league in steals. And his team is dominating in the playoffs.
I'll stop beating this dead horse but this discussion is exactly why NBA teams waste our time with garbage teams like the Warriors and the old Mavs and Kings and the Suns, people actually buy into believing that these teams can win. They can't, they never do, they never have and they never will. Look at the NBA Finals match ups and see how many teams that played terrible defense were there. And how many of those teams' best player was their worst defender.
The red pill folks, the red pill.