Prior to the truncated 2011-2012 season – during which the league decided to slam 66 games into 123 days – the Los Angeles Lakers made a trade for point guard Chris Paul to bolster their roster. NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed that trade for basketball reasons… allegedly.
The trio of Derek Fisher, Steve Blake and Ramon Sessions played the position for the Lakers in 2011-2012.
7.7 points per game (29th in the NBA)
4.3 assists per game (27th in the NBA)
2.7 rebounds per game (26th in the NBA)
40.8 field Goal percentage per game (24th in the NBA)
For the majority of the season, the Lakers did not receive consistent production from the point guard or small forward positions. In concert with a lack of easy baskets, bench production, timely shooting from the perimeter or defensive stops, L.A.’s playoff run ended quickly and change via trade was imminent.
Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant stated, “There’s certain franchises that always seem to figure things out and we’re one of them.”
Los Angeles’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak rolled the dice and came up huge with a sign-and-trade deal for former Phoenix Suns’ point guard Steve Nash.
Several detractors have stated that the acquisition of Nash, although a step in the right direction, has failed to bring to the Lakers to the level of championship contenders because he is 38-years old and not known for his defensive prowess.
But these same detractors failed to notice that in the Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Blake and Sessions combined for 33 points and 17 assists in five games. With all due respect to Derek Fisher, L.A. has been in need of a point guard for over a decade. Nash – in his 16th season – shot 53 percent from the field, averaged 12.5 points, 10.7 assists and three rebounds per game.
The addition of Nash should provide the Lakers with at least 10 more wins on the season. The 2011-2012 season was the first time in the last seven that Nash failed to produce a 50-40-90 mark (shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line). But this West Coast team received exactly what ailed them… a sharpshooting play-maker. Steve Nash is one of the best point guards in the NBA.
Nash is a genius in operating the pick-and-roll play and he shreds defenses with passes from either hand. One of the best outside shooters in league history, he will torch any defense that chooses to play under the screen. This is a player that a defense cannot leave open.
Having a floor general like Steve Nash will create easy baskets for his teammates with on-time, on-target passes and a forgotten friend will return to the Lakers: a ‘fast-break’. He will space the floor and give Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant room to operate. The backcourt of Nash and Bryant will be one of the best in Lakers history.
There are those that have asked the question: can these two stars co-exist? The addition of the future Hall-of-Fame point guard places Bryant in his natural position – a shooting guard and finisher. Kobe will not have a problem relinquishing the ball handling and creating duties for Nash knowing that he will find the open man and provide him with a wide-open shot.
Bryant has played with a total of 23 point guards in his career and none have averaged seven assists a game. The last to accomplish this in a Lakers’ jersey was Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Granted, in 15 of Kobe’s 16 seasons, L.A. ran the triangle offense where a traditional point guard was not necessary.
The addition of Steve Nash – sporting a #10 jersey – changes the game for the Lakers. He ensures that the team will score 105 points or better on a nightly basis. Kobe’s shooting percentage will increase and it will be interesting to see him playing off the ball.
Having Nash ensures that Kobe Bryant will not have to spend the majority of the game in isolation plays. He will not have to force the issue, attempting to do it all on his own. Bryant remains one of the NBA’s best. With Steve Nash, he will be better.
The addition of Nash does not make Los Angeles the favorite in the Western Conference. That title still belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But with Nash on board the Lakers can definitely beat them.