Sons of Steve Nash is moving to Fanster

The Sons of Steve Nash is moving !

The blog will officially become part of the Fanster All Sports All Phoenix Network, the ultimate resource for Arizona Sports Fans.

This is the new home of the Sons of Steve Nash

Please make sure to update your links, bookmarks and feeds as the season is approaching.

Sio, louder then ever Go Suns !

Yours truly, Steve Fan

The Summer of Steve Nash, finally some time off...chilling out with Sidney Crosby

After our beloved one spent the summer in the usual activity....

• playing soccer in NYC with, among others, soccer legend Thierry Henry


• thrilling Vancouver


• helping Uganda's youth overcome a terrible tragedy


• attending the ESPYs awards cerimony


• and so on....not to mention some film making and plenty of other charity work
  

It's now time to take some rest, recharge batteries for the new Suns season. The same Sons of Steve Nash paparazzi that got him hangin out in the desert with Randy Johnson last year this time got him on the Australia Gold Coast, chilling out by the sea with none other then fellow canadian NHL legend Sideny Crosby.

Here's the pictures.

Enjoy the rest of summer. Have fun...and Go Suns !

2008 NBA Blogger Mock Draft

Chirs from the What Would Oakley Do? blog (a nice Sports and NY Knicks blog) had a great idea: Put together a bunch of NBA bloggers and invite them to hold a 2008 mock draft.

Chris was also so kind to invite me to represent the Suns.

The result was a great post, a much better mock draft than the usual mainstream stuff.

In case you're intersted, the Phoenix Suns picked PG Mario Chalmers from Kansas with the 15th pick.

The Pick: Mario Chalmers, out of the University of Kansas

The Reason For: For once the Suns will draft a player they can use and not simply pick some talent and ship him somewhere else for future picks or cash considerations as they did with Loul Deng, Rajon Rondo, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez. The Suns' biggest needs are (1) find a back up point guard to play at least 15 minutes a game; (2) add some defense to the team and (3) find someone who can play right now, as the Suns are looking at a 2-year window. Plus Chalmers reminds a bit of Terry Porter, solid defender, good shooter and ready to play with a 3-year experience at a top-level program like Kansas. So, Mario, welcome to the Valley!

Go Suns !

Spurs-Suns or simply Nash and Ginobili

The first two games of the Spurs series were decided by two players. After watching game 2 I realized it was not about Duncan, Stoudemire, Shaq, foul trouble, zone defense or anything.

It all comes down to Manu Ginobili and Steve Nash (Ronald Martinez/NBAE Photos). Suns can’t limit Manu and can’t play efficient offense without Nash on the court.

1. Suns don’t have an answer for Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili has a plus/minus of + 9 in game 1 and +12 in game 2.
Raja Bell can’t guard him, nor can Grant Hill. Zone defense (2-3) can be used to protect the inside and the big men from getting into foul trouble but it’s very vulnerable to outside shooting, or better, to mid-range shooting.
Parker and Ginobili beat the first line of perimeter defense, easily, and can score without actually having to deal with Shaq and STAT coming up the middle. Check the shot charts of Manu and Parker in Game 2 from espn.com

2. Suns offense can’t function without Nash.

It’s not only evident by watching the games, Steve has 13 of a Suns season-low 16 assists (if I remember it right) in game 2. The Spurs defense can send the Suns completely out of rhythm and when Nash is on the bench it gets really ugly.

The Suns could use Barbosa and Diaw as alternative point men. Forget that! as both are having an awful series (-18 for both in +/- in game 2).

By the way, did you notice that in the high-equilibrium Western Conference each series is now 2-0?

Go Suns!

Suns vs Spurs. Next

So, after 82 games (55-27) of the regular season, it’ll be the Spurs again starting this weekend in Texas. We haven't forgotten.

Go Suns !

The expected April decline of Steve Nash

I am a bit worried by the last few games played by Steve Nash.

He looked tired and I am afraid his back is starting once again to feel the pressure of playing 35 minutes each night.

The long discussed inability of the Suns coaching staff to develop a decent back up to Nash is taking its toll, as usual in April. Just check his Split Stats on ESPN.

Nash is averaging 13.2 points, 11 assists and shooting a season low 35 percent from the field. This decline in production has already happened in 2005-06 and 2004-05 and that means 3 of Nash 4 seasons with the Suns.

With the Suns more or less locked in 6th place in the West, why not rest Nash for a week?

Go Suns !

Nash: The Monthly Invoicing

Somehow, during this season, I got the idea that Nash was having a so-so season, possibly not in line with expectations nor with his previous performance as the Suns PG. I decided to have a look at the numbers.

Steve Nash season so far looks like this: GP 73 MPG 34.7 PPG 17.2 APG 11.2 TO 3.70 3P% 0.48 while his Suns career stats are MPG 35 PPG 17.6 APG 11.2 TO 3.6 3P% 0.45.

Nash is in line with his past performance and shooting the best of his career from 3-point range. So, could you please bring back those MVP MVP chants?

Here's a statistical recap of Steve Nash's performance, on a monthly basis.

November (too many turnovers, but a great moth)

GP 16, MPG 34.3, PPG 19.5, APG 10.9, TO 4.2, 3P% 0.50

December (great passing month)
GP 15, MPG 34.5, PPG 13.9, APG 14, TO 2.8, 3P% 0.40

January (another excellent month)
GP 15, MPG 33.7, PPG 18.6, APG 10.5, TO 4.3, 3P% 0.49

February (too many turnovers in the toughest month of the season for the Suns)
GP 11, MPG 36.4, PPG 17.7, APG 10.3, TO 4.6, 3P% 0.43

March (adjusting to the Shaq era)
GP 16, MPG 35.3, PPG 17.5, APG 9.8, TO 3, 3P% 0.56

In case you wonder, here are Nash's stats in the post Shaq era: GP 21, MPG 35.2, PPG 17.5, APG 9.6, TO 3.1, 3P% 0.52

So, Steve is playing is usual great game. There's not much talk lately about Nash since everyone is focusing on Shaq and Stoudemire. Only dangerous sign is playing time, I'd rather se Nash play under 34 minutes a game trying to rest him a little before the playoffs, since the Suns failed once again to develop a back up PG.

Go Suns !

Watch out Spielberg !

According to The Arizona Republic Steve Nash sees filmmaking in his future as he already started his cousin.

Check some of his magic on You Tube. That's some director's talent.

I am sure Steve will one day become the greatest film producer in the industry.

Go Suns !

It'll be either the Suns, the Spurs or the Mavs...

Former Sun Jalen Rose, now an ESPN Analyst, makes a bold prediction on the Western Conference: you wouldn't believe he's picking either the Suns, the Mavs or the Spurs to win the West...even following a Monday loss by each one of them. Other than the easy pick, Jalen is actually making some interesting comments on those three teams, from a guy who used to play with those same guys he's now watching; the best: "Phoenix, the team I finished my playing career with last season, is one whose style can make an opponent look its worst on a given night".

Don't forget to read the best recent portrait of Steve Nash, it's "Not to Get Too Mystical About It" on NY Times Play Magazine. What can you say about the man anymore...

Go Suns !

Nash Equilibrium

"In game theory, the Nash equilibrium is a solution concept of a game involving two or more players, in which no player has anything to gain by changing only his or her own strategy unilaterally. If each player has chosen a strategy and no player can benefit by changing his or her strategy while the other players keep theirs unchanged, then the current set of strategy choices and the corresponding payoffs constitute a Nash equilibrium". (Nash Equilibrium definition, Wikipedia)

Sounds a lot like the 2007/08 Phoenix Suns ! The Suns begin their quest for the title tonight in Seattle (7.30 PM) riding their usual up-tempo style of play trying to outrun, outshoot, outplay, out-everything each opponent until next June.

There's been a lot of discussion about wheather the Suns' style of play will ever be good enough to win in the playoffs when everything gets tougher, games become slower, the Spurs keep posting up Tim Duncan, Referees - even non gambling ones - are allowing more contacts and so on.

I was even discussing lately the irony of the fact that Mike D'Antoni the player was possibly the opposite of D'Antoni the coach. Mike was a great defender, pass first point guard, then I realized the two sides of Mike have something deep in common: they belong to the most intelligent man in the arena. The player and the coach always played in such a way to give his team the best chance to win: same with the Suns. D'Antoni will not try to impose his theories on players, he will ride their abilities, just like he used to do guiding the great Milan team of the 80's to Italian and European glory.

The 2007/08 version will be the best Suns team of the last 10 years and will play the only way they know: at full speed. It's their DNA, it's the way they have been assembled and success will ultimately rely on the thin equilibrium this team has been built on. The Suns are a perfect machine guided on the field by the best quarterback in the League and on the bench by the best possible coach. This Nash-D'Antoni combination is what this equilibrium is built on and everyone else will follow, trying to adjust, trying to find his role and his place and adapt to the ever changing flow of the game. That's also why basketball intelligence is what could eventually lead the Suns to the NBA title and that's also why Grant Hill is such a great addition.

This will never be Amaré's team nor Marion's (and it has nothing to do with their All Stars basketball skills) because the Suns have been built as a group with one inspiring philosophy: follow Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash's Beautiful Mind. Will it be good to win it all? not sure but it'll be by far the best show you'll ever witness on a basketball court these days and I just plan to enjoy every minute of it.

Go Suns !

PS Don't forget it's Steve Nash Day on The Bright Side of the Sun. Make sure to check the You Tube highlights, Steve's amazing !!!

Got an e-mail this morning about a Nash interview

It came from Sport Business Radio blogger Brian and it included a link of a recent Steve Nash Interview recorded in China last week during the Yao-Nash Charity Chinese Trip.
Can't say enough about Steve...I mean I dedicated a blog to him, but it's always a pleasure to hear the man.

The interview of course is focused on the business side of the game, in this case about Steve's humanitarian efforts but also about China, Soccer and so on. Nothing new, but always articulate and funny.

If you're interested just click on the link above and go to 32:46 mark of the show.

Thanks Brian and of course, Go Suns !

A special day in september

There's always a special day for every fan, possibly second only to Opening Day (which is basically a Sports' Fan Christmas), it's the day preview magazines hit the stands.
That special day over here comes a bit later than in the US, but it's getting closer by the day and each year I am looking forward to see who is on the cover of the regional edition.
This time of the year I start surfing around The Sporting News, Athlon Sport, Street and Smith (that recentely merged with TSN) and so on and finally today I found this. It means we're getting closer !!!

Guess who's on the cover of The Sporting News NBA 2007/08 Preview (Arizona and co. version) ? You got it right ! Our very own.


Go Suns !

Nash is ready to go...Wait a minute. "He's fired up!"

According to the Republic Steve Nash is not just ready to go...HE'S FIRED UP ! (Thanks to the Republic for this great photo !)

Steve, new Sun Grant Hill and the two rookies - Alando and D.J. - are already working out getting ready for training camp I presume. The fact the three new players on the Suns' roster are having "voluntary" workouts with SN#13 is a strong confirmation this is Steve's team.

The Suns are heading into the new season with great attitude: STAT hasn't missed a chance to tell the World he's looking forward to the season, Grant Hill signed with Phoenix to have a shot at the Title, Steve won't play forever (actually I am not sure gods can retire) and he's fired up indeed. I hope Coach D'Antoni will keep this team positive without burning out their desire too early. You have to play with focus and passion from day one, but we all know the NBA season is more a marathon than a sprint race and the Suns will need 100% of their mental strenght comes May 2008.

Enough with talks and chats. I need some real games....SOON !

Go Suns !

A really (really) great Steve Nash interview

Every Suns and basketball fan should check this great interview with our own Steve Nash on the Charlie Rose Show. The host did a great job (as usual) and the interview is really great (much better than Steve's shirt...).
It was really Steve at his best, talking about the game, the players and some more.
You're great Steve !

Go Suns !

Summer Vacation !

Dear Readers, fellow Suns' fans,

it's time for a summer vacation just to re-charge batteries, study some stats and get ready for next season.

I leave you with a picture of two of the greatest players ever to call Arizona home: Steve Nash and DBacks legend Randy Johnson. I found a picture of those guys hanging out together. Thought you might like it.

Go Suns !

The Summer of Steve

Just a few notes on this hot Summer week starting with a lovely interview of Steve Nash on ESPN.com.
Among the things Steve said to Marc Stein the most interesting were:
"I think [Hill] does make us better, but we've still got a lot of work to do on the court"
"I think we can keep getting smarter"
"I love Kevin. I'd love to play with him [someday]. But I love my team, so I don't really think about it" and my favourite: "I feel great right now".
Overall, he sounded ready to go again and very positive about the upcoming season.
Check the video part of the interview as well, as Steve talks about the Spurs, the suspensions and his good friend Dirk Nowitzki.
Over the last few weeks Nash opened a new Health Club in Vancouver and played his annual Charity Classic game which brought us some "refreshing" news in the wake of the recent betting scandal and proved he's a sort of divinity in Canada.

A very funny note. The Late Show with Dave Letterman last night presented a Top Ten Signs a Referee is Fixing Games. At number 9: When talking about the Spurs, he says "we". You can check it yourself on the Late Show website.

Just in case...auditions for the 2007-08 Suns dancer will be held in Phoenix this coming Saturday. You have just 24 hours to get in shape and start dancing ! Hey, it's Summer, have some fun !

Go Suns !

*** Vote for Steve Nash ! ***

ESPN is running a Who's Now Survey to determine the Ultimate Sports Star.

Nash is in the Michael Jordan Bracket and is currently going against Serena Williams.
Click here to vote ! Vote Steve ! Vote Now !