Steve Nash is a Good Defender

Seriously. He is. But before getting all riled up, consider my careful use of adjective. He is a "good" defender, not a "great" defender or even a good one-on-one defender.

Steve Nash is a smart player. He is a player who understands his strengths, which is why he is such a great passer, excellent shooter, and superior decision maker on the court. He maximized his strengths to be the best player he could be.

He also recognizes his weaknesses, which is also why he is such a great passer, excellent shooter, and superior decision maker. He's not a quick, explosive athlete. He's not a drive-the-lane-slam-dunk kind of player on the offensive end, so why do people expect him to be a spectacular defender on the other end?

Watch Steve play defense tonight. It's very subtle, but Dan and EJ talk about it all the time. Nash plays defense with his head, not his athleticism. He doesn't swipe at balls or gamble on steals because he doesn't have quick hands or an explosive first step to get the jump on loose balls in the back court. The game one incident that resulted in a bloody and battered Steve Nash is not the norm. He'll go for a steal like that maybe once a game. Same thing with blocked shots. He doesn't do it that often, but when he does, I need to see about three replays to believe my eyes.

That's why he's not a good one-on-one defender. Steve Nash plays defense sort of like a post player. He watches the ball, and he moves his feet. Think of Allen Iverson going straight up against Tim Duncan. That's how it is when Tony Parker goes up against Steve Nash. Chances are, Parker's going to get by. But that's what the weak side is for, and the Suns' weak side defense always seems to be waiting for the next bus.

Unless Nash is playing the weak side. Ever wonder why Steve draws so many charges? Watch when he's on the defensive weak side, and there's ball penetration. Notice how Nash always keeps one eye on his man, and one eye on the ball. Then watch as the penetrator commits, Steve darts to position outside the circle a step before the ball handler gets there. It's like a defenseman tackling a forward from the blind side in football proper.

He plays smart defense. He stays low, keeps his hips square, and trusts his back side. His footwork is paramount to his weak side defense, and he is one of the league leaders in taking charges. That's a "good" defender. He is a player who minimizes his weaknesses and maximizes his strengths. It may not be to All Defense First Team standards, but it's what coaches want to see. He only averages about two fouls a games, so you know he's making smart plays.

So is he a great defender? No. But he is better than people seem to realize.

If the team behind him would ever let what Steve says sink in, then maybe the team would be recognized for its defense more. You played with no heart on Sunday. You play smart, you play with heart, and you beat championship caliber teams. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs. You play like that, and you win championships. It's only natural that the talent level of the Suns takes care of the rest. They're too good not to win, and Steve Nash is why. Why they don't listen, I do not know.

Be smart, guys. Listen to your captain. That goes double for you, Boris. And Shawn...you know that Steve's right, so what are you going to do? This city loves you, and we want to see YOU win this title. Don't let us down. Be the Matrix.

Don't let Steve Nash out-defend you.