Write On Sports LLC - "Led by Nash, Suns come up short again" by Jake Lloyd

Led by Nash, Suns come up short again

2007-05-19 20:08:05 | By: Jake Lloyd

It's hard not to like Steve Nash. He has all the attributes a team looks for in a leader.

He never gives up, as witnessed by his immense effort to bring the Phoenix Suns back from a 20-point deficit in their 114-106 Game 6 loss to the Spurs Friday night in the Western Conference semifinals that ended their season.

He's unselfish. Just look at his assist totals from game to game -- rarely does he fail to put up 10.

He's helpful to the media, always granting interviews and talking at length even after difficult losses.

But, despite all these traits, the finger needs to start being pointed at Nash for Phoenix's early exits in the playoffs. With a wealth of talent, the Suns have now lost in the Western Conference Finals twice and the semifinals once in Nash's three years in Phoenix. And at 33, Nash doesn't have too many years remaining to get to the Finals and win that elusive ring.

There needs to be a sense of urgency. Series can't be blamed -- whether directly or discreetly -- on the NBA commissioner David Stern.

After the loss, Nash praised the Spurs, but also wondered what would have happened had Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw not been suspended for Game 5 for coming off Phoenix's bench after Robert Horry's hip check of Nash late in Game. Nash called the rule that cost Stoudemire and Diaw a "stupid rule" and said the decision by Stern "will forever haunt us."

What should haunt the Suns is that they led Game 5 into the final couple minutes, before letting it slip off their fingertips. Forget the suspensions. They were in position to win.

Nash probably won't admit it, but while Phoenix has made strides toward being able to play more in-your-face basketball, San Antonio remains superior to the Suns when it comes to playing physical basketball. While the Suns -- beginning with Stoudemire's claim of Bowen being a dirty player after Game 2 -- complained all series about the Spurs playing dirty and Stern's decision, the Spurs simply played basketball.

You see, the Spurs have been there, have touched the Larry O'Brian trophy three times, and they know what it takes to get back there. The Suns -- they haven't even stepped foot on the promised land yet.

And it starts with the veteran, Nash.

There were signs this series. Nash was the most vocal I've ever noticed him in a series. He called out his teammates when they weren't performing. He constantly encouraged them. But when it came to winning tight games -- with the exception of Game 4 -- he wasn't there.

Just look at Game 1, which, of course, wasn't his fault. Nash was on the bench in the final crucial seconds with a bloody nose, watching the Spurs steal the game.

Or look at the heartbreaking Game 5, when Nash's 3-pointer to tie the contest was well off the mark, allowing the Spurs to escape with the win.

And finally, there was Friday, when Nash had just three points prior to the fourth quarter, which Phoenix entered down 14 points. San Antonio's lead grew to 20 before Nash led the Suns' furious rally, which -- and here's a theme for the series -- came up just short.

It's easy to blame the suspensions if you're a Phoenix fan. Sure, they were unfair. Sure, Phoenix got the worst possible deal. But a rule is a rule -- or, according to Stoudemire, "It is what it is” -- regardless of how ridiculous it might be.

And it is not the main reason Phoenix lost this series.

Phoenix simply is not quite at the Spurs championship level yet. It looked like they might be there when they came back for a hard-fought road victory in Game 4.

Then came the suspensions.

And more whining.

And the Spurs making all the big plays on the road -- a return to normalcy, I guess.

And finally the end to this drama that has had more twists and turns than "Melrose Place."

Nash's numbers were pretty. He had 13.3 assists per game.

But this series was never about numbers. Or behind-the-back passes (a Nash specialty). Or reverse layups (he’s pretty good at them too).

It was about winning and advancing. And led by Nash, the Suns came up short once again.