Steve Nash News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

Boston Globe

"The Phoenix Suns played their style of basketball last night. And, for much of the game, the Celtics did the same thing. The result was a 110-103 Suns' victory, ending the Celtics' six-game winning streak to start the season. Steve Nash (12 assists) directed the show and Jason Richardson (34 points, 10 rebounds) played a starring role as the Suns got into their comfort zone, transitioning and firing up 3-pointers (hitting 13 of 24). Phoenix (5-1), in the midst of a five-game road trip and nearly 3,000 miles from home, acted like they were performing before a friendly, sun-soaked, Maricopa County crowd."

Nash teaches Curry how it's done

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October 31

San Francisco Chronicle

"When Warriors rookie Stephen Curry was yanked in the closing minute of the first half Friday night, a courtside fan stood up and yelled, "Take some notes, Curry." Consider Friday's 123-101 loss to Phoenix learning experience No. 2 of the point guard's two-game career. After making a costly turnover in the final 1 1/2 minutes of the Warriors' one-point loss to Houston on Wednesday, Curry got a game's worth of lessons from Steve Nash at the US Airways Center. "Hopefully, Curry will learn a little from each game," coach Don Nelson said. "He saw a great point guard tonight, one that I know he would like to emulate." Nash had 18 points, 20 assists and six rebounds, and he didn't make any of his ..."

Suns run with ease in home opener

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October 31

Arizona Republic

"Coach Alvin Gentry went through a list of kudos Friday night as long as his arm after the Suns' 123-101 victory over Golden State in their home opener. There was plenty to commend, including the Suns' defense and rebounding, Channing Frye's six 3-pointers, two well-played halves by the Suns reserves and the scoring bursts by Leandro Barbosa in the second quarter (12 points) and Grant Hill in the first quarter (11 points). Then Gentry remembered who passed the baton during the Suns' sprint relay. After the Suns opened the season with two fast-break points Wednesday, point guard Steve Nash put the Suns back on the running track Friday with 18 points, 20 assists and six rebounds. He won ..."

When to shoot is an art cultivated by Curry, Nash

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October 30

San Francisco Chronicle

"When Don Nelson acquired Steve Nash as an unestablished third-year player in Dallas for the 1998-99 season, the coach threatened to fine the point guard if he didn't shoot the ball at least 10 times a game. "He just wanted to pass the ball and make everyone happy, so he was half the player I thought he could become," Nelson said. "I had to try a whole bunch of different stuff to get him to take his shots." That point finally sank in during the 2000-01 season, when Nash nearly doubled his shot total, averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists and made the first of six All-Star Game appearances. Four seasons later, Nash won his first of back-to-back MVP awards in Phoenix. Nelson, now the Warriors ..."

Suns left dissatisfied with win; Nash leaves game in 2nd half

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October 21

Arizona Republic

"The Suns won by 16 and scored 143 points. The Suns scored 51 points on free throws. Channing Frye scored 29 with four 3-pointers. Amaré Stoudemire scored 27. Phoenix outscored Sacramento by 32 when Goran Dragic was on the floor. Scores used to be enough to satisfy scores of Suns. But after Phoenix's 143-127 home preseason victory Tuesday night against the Kings, there was more dissatisfaction heading into the preseason finale Thursday. Phoenix has no problem getting points, but taking care of points of emphasis has been another issue. In the much-emphasized categories of defense and rebounding, the Suns surrendered 50 percent shooting for the game Tuesday and gave up 16 offensive rebounds ..."

Nash can hold a torch

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September 13

Arizona Republic

"Canadian newspapers are confirming a Friday report from Canadian press that that Suns guard Steve Nash will carry the 2010 Winter Olympics torch on its path to the games in his home province. Nash, a Victoria, British Columbia, native, will have the torch for a portion of the 106-day journey across every province and territory of Canada. The games will be Feb. 12-28 in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. The Canadian Press' Nash authority, Lori Ewing, also has a feature on Nash, who has been popping up in the Canadian papers because he was in Toronto to judge sports films at a festival. With all that Nash has been taking on of late, some of you might have needed to hear him tell the CP this: ..."

Steve Nash eyes life after basketball

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September 11

Toronto Star

"The horizon continually expands for Steve Nash, whose passions seem endless and run from sports to film to social causes to his family. It's a gamut that runs contrary to the perception of the single-minded professional athlete. The workload would be astonishing if, in fact, it was work, but the endeavours in which he's involved are not work, they are fun. They are all part of a grand plan to assure he's more than just another ex-jock putting in time once his NBA career reaches its inevitable conclusion. He's sitting this morning in a downtown hotel suite, conducting a series of rapid-fire interviews where the subject is not the Phoenix Suns nor sports of any kind."

Nash: Incredibly loyal or simply misguided?

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July 28

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"After listening to Steve Nash for 15 minutes on a conference call Monday, I can't decide whether he's incredibly loyal or completely misguided. By signing a two-year contract extension with the Suns, the 35-year-old Nash all but guaranteed he'll never win an NBA title. Yet he's not only OK with that, he's reveling in the fact he'll likely finish his career as a Sun. "Even if you go to the team that comes in second, what does it matter?" Nash said. "If you don't win it, you don't win it. I'd obviously love to win a championship but chasing that can be really fleeting. "I think it's a much more stable and intelligent outlook to be part of a group that you really love and enjoy a situation ..."

Nash makes Suns extension official

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July 28

Arizona Republic

"As Steve Nash talked today about his decision to stay in Phoenix, the boarding call behind his voice on the phone was for a flight to New York. Nash will take the trip to his summer home in lower Manhattan but chose to keep Phoenix as his basketball home, saying on a conference call from his airport gate in Phoenix that he signed a two-year, $22 million contract extension with the Suns today because he could not turn his back on the franchise, his teammates, fans or a good team with great chemistry to chase a title chance elsewhere. Nash turned down the option of 2010 free agency, where his former coach, Mike D'Antoni in New York, and former general manager, Bryan Colangelo in Toronto, ..."

Nash signs $22 million extension with Phoenix

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July 21

Washington Times

"Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract extension, his agent said Monday. The deal will keep the two-time MVP point guard under contract with the Suns through the 2011-2012 season. The 35-year-old Nash, entering his 13th NBA season, had one year left on his contract that would pay him $13 million next season. He will be 38 when the contract expires. He is expected to sign the agreement later this week. Under the agreement, $6 million of the final two years of the contract will be deferred, with $3 million being paid in each of the two years following the expiration of the contract, Nash's agent, Bill Duffy said. TIMBERWOLVES: Forward Mark Madsen said he ..."

Sources: Nash re-ups with Suns

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July 20

ESPN.com

"After receiving an improved offer last week and taking a few more days to deliberate, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash notified the Phoenix Suns over the weekend that he is accepting the Suns' two-year extension offer worth an estimated $22 million, according to team sources. Sources told ESPN.com that Nash is expected to formally announce his decision via his Twitter feed later Monday. The Suns offered Nash a two-year, $20 million extension two weeks ago in addition to the $13.1 million he's owed next season, then bumped it higher in a meeting in Las Vegas last Wednesday attended by Suns owner Robert Sarver, president of basketball operations Steve Kerr and Nash's agent Bill ..."

Kerr to meet with Nash in New York

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June 18

Arizona Republic

"Suns General Manager Steve Kerr will be in New York Thursday to secure a piece of the Suns' future. Early draft preparation? No. A meeting at the NBA's offices? No. He's in New York to meet with Steve Nash, who lives there in the summer. Kerr will meet with the point guard and his agent, Bill Duffy, Thursday to discuss a contract extension and the the franchise's plan with the draft a week away, free agency two weeks away and numerous trade possibilities. "It's more about letting each other know how we feel," Kerr said. "I can give him some ideas (of a plan), but there's no telling what can happen.""

Nash not in hurry to extend deal

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May 20

Arizona Republic

"The Suns' upcoming personnel decisions don't just affect the franchise's future. They will affect Steve Nash's future with the franchise. Nash, 35, and his agent, Bill Duffy, have let the Suns know that they will wait to see how the Suns roster is altered before getting serious about negotiating a two-year contract extension. If and when that time comes, Duffy said Nash would ask for a raise from the current deal, which is slated to expire after paying him $13.125 million for the 2009-10 season. "This is kind of a perplexing time because he (Nash) absolutely wants to win and he loves the (Phoenix) market but all the pieces have to line up properly," Duffy said. "We just want to wait and ..."

Loss to Kings is difficult for Suns' Nash to swallow

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March 30

Sacramento Bee

"Steve Nash hunched over his seat and took a gulp of his beer. Disappointment showed in his face Sunday night as he tried to ingest the Phoenix Suns' 126-118 loss to the Kings, the worst team in the NBA. "I don't know what to say," said Nash, who finished with 31 points, one shy of his season high. "We just laid an egg. That's very frustrating. I know it's difficult, we're tired, but we have to fight through it." Nash said he wasn't sure where things went wrong for the Suns, who were coming off a 104-99 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz the night before. "No offense to that young team over there, but we weren't playing the Lakers or the Celtics," Nash said. Face off - Bobby Jackson predicted ..."

Nash excited about MLS team ownership

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March 19

Arizona Republic

"When Vancouver was awarded a MLS team Wednesday, so was Steve Nash. Nash will be part-owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps when the expansion team begins play in 2011 in Nash's home province. "It's really exciting," said Nash, who worked on the bid for two years. "It's going to be amazing for the city." Nash's brother, Martin, is captain of the Whitecaps, the United Soccer Leagues First Division champ that has been successful against MLS teams. Nash is an avid soccer fan and player who explored ownership in his favorite English Premier League club, Tottenham."

Walsh: LeBron not only option

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March 17

New York Post

"Speaking candidly on a "Knicks on Demand" video for the team's Web site, Knicks president Donnie Walsh said he does not have all his eggs in LeBron James' basket and his decision to make trades to get under the salary cap in 2010 was a broader philosophical move. Speculation in recent weeks is King James isn't leaving Cleveland. "You always have a backup plan," Walsh said from his Westchester office on the videotape, in which he answers submitted questions from fans. "I really didn't know what the list of free agents were. "It wasn't like I was going after LeBron or this guy. It was just, we have to get in the free-agent market. The market in that year, I won't have to pick all the ..."

Nash likely to play tonight vs. Magic

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March 3

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Steve Nash is planning to play tonight against Orlando after missing a week of action due to a right ankle sprain. "It's still sore," Nash said this afternoon, "but it's a lot stronger. Today, I feel ready that I can give it a shot and get through it." Nash has missed eight games this season, the most he has been out in a season since the 200-01 year in Dallas when he played 70 of 82 games."

Suns buy Nash more time off

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March 2

Arizona Republic

"Suns coach Alvin Gentry was talking before Sunday's game about how the staff was going to be careful with Steve Nash's attempt to play when his office phone rang about 50 minutes before tipoff. "Oh, boy. All right," Gentry moaned to his caller, Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson, who was reporting that Nash would have to sit out a third consecutive game because his right ankle had proved too tender during his pregame workout. "Remember the Alamo," Gentry said of his team's chances to beat the Lakers with the same crew that lost to them by 26 points Thursday in Los Angeles. "They held them off for two weeks (at the Alamo). We just got to hold them off for 48 hours." But the Suns ..."

Nash: Game-time decision vs. Lakers

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February 25

Arizona Republic

"Suns coach Alvin Gentry said guard Steve Nash would make the trip to Los Angeles with the Suns for their game against the Lakers Thursday night, but a decision won't be made until then on whether he'll be able to play. Nash suffered an ankle injury during Tuesday night's win over Charlotte at US Airways Center. "We'll have to take a look at it," Gentry said. "Right now he'll be a game-time decision. Obviously we're not going to push it if he's not feeling good." Nash shot around during the club's light workout at US Airways Center Wednesday, but Gentry said, "we really didn't do a whole lot today. We'll make that decision when we get to Los Angeles and go through shoot-around (Thursday ..."

Nash rolls ankle, to be re-evaluated

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February 25

Arizona Republic

"The Suns led the Bobcats by 15 late in the third quarter on Tuesday night when point guard Steve Nash, who led them with 22 points, rolled his right ankle and had to be helped off. "It's a little swollen and sore, but it's something we'll have to reassess in the morning," Nash said. "If I had to guess, I would say it's not going to be a long-term thing." The ankle will be re-evaluated Wednesday. The Suns looked as if they were in control against the Bobcats when Nash rolled the ankle on a 3-point shot. He went into the locker room to get the ankle re-taped and returned midway through the fourth quarter, hitting a big 3-point shot to give the Suns an eight-point lead with 7:25 to go. He ..."

Nash sits out game vs. Cavaliers

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February 12

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Steve Nash sat out Wedenesday's game because of his ongoing back problems that have triggered right shoulder issues for the last month and some hamstring soreness. Leandro Barbosa started in place of Nash with Goran Dragic, who has been getting time recently, moving into the backup point guard role. The Suns dropped to 2-3 when Nash does not play. Nash was a game-time decision and spent all of the pregame time doing exercises to see if he could play. About 45 minutes before the tip, Nash said he was still undecided but word just came down that he will sit out."

Nash a game-time decision tonight

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February 11

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Steve Nash will be a game-time decision for tonight's final pre-All-Star break tilt at Cleveland. Nash was 1 for 8 from the field in Monday's loss at Philadelphia when he was pulled earlier than usual in the third quarter and never returned to the game. Nash said that his back, shoulder and hamstring had bothered him so much that he could have risked furtherinjury had he re-entered that game. Leandro Barbosa would start tonight if Nash is not able to play. The team had Tuesday in Cleveland off. Nash walked through Wednesday morning's shootaround but told Terry Porter he was still hurting."

Suns 107, Pistons 97 – Just plain Nashty

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February 9

Fanster.com

"A couple people have asked me about the logic behind the Suns making their 35-year-old point guard “untouchable” while entering into trade discussions to potentially move the other core members of the team. Next time I’m asked that I won’t even have to respond. I’ll just tell that person to pop in tape of the Suns’ 107-97 win over the Pistons. Nash was Steve Nash at his best, finding teammates every which way on his way to a season-high 21 assists (one short of a career high) to go with 15 points while assisting on two more baskets than the Pistons as a team. He found Shaq, Amare and J-Rich for emphatic slams and Leandro Barbosa on his patented back cuts for two. Nash spread the wealth ..."

Right shoulder bothering Nash

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February 9

Arizona Republic

"Nash's right shoulder has been bothering him for three to four weeks. The only signs Nash offered was the occasional winding or clenching of his right arm after a perimeter shot. His 29 percent 3-point shooting in his past 12 games entering Sunday was evidence, too. Nash said it feels like a spasm and a byproduct of his chronic back issue."

Nash fighting negative perception

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February 8

Arizona Republic

"Steve Nash is a six-time All-Star choice. Golden State guard Jamal Crawford has been a conference Player of the Week. Nash is credited with a Suns' renaissance that led to more wins in four years than the club ever had. Crawford is heading for a ninth season of missing the playoffs, the longest run of any current player. Nash is less than three years removed from becoming the only point guard besides Magic Johnson to win two MVP awards. Crawford is three years removed from finishing 14th in Sixth Man Award voting. It is a ridiculous resume comparison. Yet, until the final All-Star voting tallies were counted last month, fans had Nash seventh among Western Conference guards - behind ..."

Easy for Nash to make call: Rondo is good

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January 20

Boston Globe

"During the summer of 2006, then-Kentucky sophomore guard Rajon Rondo was given a phone number to a reference for the agent he eventually hired, Bill Duffy. But this wasn't your usual reference. Rather, it was a Phoenix Suns point guard who was coming off his second straight NBA Most Valuable Player award, Steve Nash. All Rondo was expecting was some nice words about Duffy in a short conversation. But by the time the current Celtics point guard hung up the phone, Nash left the youngster with words of wisdom, too. "I told him to continue to work hard and have a long plan," Nash said before last night's 104-87 Celtics romp over the Suns at the Garden. "Obviously, whether it's his shot and ..."

Nash leads Suns past Raptors

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January 19

Arizona Republic

"Steve Nash's annual Toronto visit always carries some Canadian homecoming nostalgia. His game looked at home there, too, on Sunday when the Suns won 117-113 with Nash's season-high 18 assists. He did not need to score, or hardly shoot, to dominate but it was his drive past Chris Bosh and layup over Joey Graham with 12.9 seconds to go that secured an end to a two-game skid. Even on a day when the defense could be maligned with Toronto missing Jose Calderon, Jason Kapono and Jermaine O'Neal, Nash showed he is back in form and freed from battling November's slower tempo and his unfamiliarity with a post emphasis. It was not just the 18 assists to two turnovers that showed he is back in ..."

Porter admits difficulty of situation

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January 16

Arizona Republic

"Other than some sideline spins, smacks on the scorer's table and barking at players in practice, Suns coach Terry Porter never lets on about the pressures and frustrations of his job. Win or loss, good practice or bad, Porter always speaks in measured tones about the state of his team, whether he is doing so with criticism or praise. The past six weeks have gone far better than the first six weeks of the season, but it would be hard to tell from Porter's daily demeanor. "It got to me," Porter said, repeating that twice more. "You're always scratching your head, trying to figure out what's wrong. . . . Never let them see you sweat." Suns General Manager Steve Kerr has said that Porter has ..."

Barnes adjusts to time without Nash

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January 15

Arizona Republic

"Learning about court life without Steve Nash has been a rite of passage for every Suns player the past five seasons. Nash can make everything better. He's a scorer's dream, selflessly looking to set up teammates in their best situations. But when he's out of the game, a shooter's touch can go, too. The Suns' struggles to find a reliable backup point guard has made that even more evident. The most-recent victim is forward Matt Barnes. Barnes primarily has been a reserve in his career, so it was not the recent transition to the bench that broke his rhythm. It was losing court time with Nash, a struggle that Grant Hill dealt with before he and Barnes swapped roles. "Just being spoiled with ..."

Steve Nash's All-Star fate is in doubt

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January 10

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Jamal Crawford? Seriously? No disrespect to Crawford because the Knicks-turned-Warriors guard is having a fine season, but extraordinary enough to collect more All-Star fan votes than two-time MVP Steve Nash? Phoenix is host for the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15 and the Suns' savior won't be in the starting lineup, not by some 774,000 votes. Those two spots appear to be going to Kobe Bryant, the top vote-getter, and an in-and-out-of-the-lineup Tracy McGrady. The question is, will Nash be in the game at all? In the latest count of fan votes released Thursday, and the last before starters are announced Jan. 22, Nash dropped to seventh among Western Conference guards, surpassed by Crawford ..."

Nash likely to play vs. Clippers

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January 2

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Steve Nash said today that he expects to play in Friday's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Nash missed Tuesday's win at Memphis because of back spasms that pulled him from Monday's win at Oklahoma City but he practiced today with the team without any issues. The Suns also welcomed back rookie Goran Dragic, whose recent flu bout kept him off the road trip. "I felt pretty good," Nash said after today's practice. "Hopefully, if I wake up feeling good (Friday), I'll be ready to go. If the game were today, I probably could've played. Today, I woke up fine.""

Nash mulls options for 2010

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December 31

Arizona Republic

"In an interview with NBC sports correspondent Graham Bensinger, Nash talked about his prospects when his contract with the Suns expires after the 2009-10 season. "There's a few situations out there that would be attractive, so I feel fortunate that there could be some possibilities for me," Nash said. "One would be for me to stay here in Phoenix. I've had a great 4 1/2 years here. New York, obviously, is our off-season home, so we love the city. It's a basketball mecca. Mike D'Antoni is there so there's a lot of attractive variables. And then Toronto, to go back to Canada to play for the home team, so to speak. "I feel good that one of those three could really be a really strong ..."

Sun Setting On Nash's Value

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December 19

New York Post

columnist Peter Vecsey

"Until Robert Sarver kindly elaborated in the Phoenix locker room after his team barely beat the Knicks' seven-man team (minus two who fouled out), I had no idea the Suns were coerced into relinquishing a first-round pick in the Quentin Richardson-Kurt Thomas exchange. What made the owner's revelation particularly pertinent was that "five feet nothing" Nate Robinson, the upshot of that slot, had just done a 27-point, nine-rebound, five-assist, three-steal, no-turnover nasty number on Steve Nash as Richardson ascended in the scoring column to an inopportune fetid four. What made that remarkable mismatch increasingly unfortunate was it came in the wake of a Daily News report that a Nash-Mike ..."

Nash: 'I feel like I've been traded'

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December 15

Arizona Republic

"Steve Nash never got over that the Dallas Mavericks immediately broke up his 2003 Western Conference finals team by trading Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel, two of that team's top five scorers. Nash practiced Sunday with a Suns team that has two other carryovers from two years ago. It was a day after many Suns attended the opening of Raja Bell's Scottsdale Moody Blues store as Bell played in Charlotte. It was the day Mike D'Antoni was in town coaching a New York Knicks team in preparation for his return to US Airways Center Monday night. "I feel like I've been traded," Nash said, chuckling. "I feel like I'm on a different team because everything's changed so much around here. We have a ..."

Knicks visit Steve Nash, Suns in Phoenix, might woo him in 2010

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December 15

New York Daily News

"The idea of Steve Nash being reunited with Mike D'Antoni in 2010 was being floated long before the Knicks entered the LeBron James sweepstakes. It seems like a natural fit: Nash was the brains and guile behind D'Antoni's up-tempo offense with the Suns. He won two MVP awards and became the point guard every player wants on his team. Plus, Nash and his family live in Manhattan during the offseason. "It's so far away," Nash said Sunday. "I think if you start thinking about that, you can get yourself in trouble. I've got enough on my plate here trying to be as big a contributor and help this team be as successful as possible, especially amidst the transition (from D'Antoni to new coach Terry ..."

Nash drained after trade of best friend Bell

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December 11

Arizona Republic

"The acquisition of Jason Richardson crammed a lot of excitement into a small visitors locker room that the Suns inhabited for their Staples Center visit Wednesday night. But excuse Steve Nash if he can't share the glee. It cost him his best friend, Raja Bell. Just like Nash was separated from Dirk Nowitzki by Dallas owner Mark Cuban's unwillingness to match a Suns offer in 2004, Nash has been split from his basketball buddy again by a basketball decision. The Suns traded Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary on Wednesday to Charlotte for Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley and a second-round draft pick. Before Nash said a word about how he felt about the trade, his flat play with a dead ..."

Nash, Shaq likely out tonight

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December 3

Arizona Republic

"The Suns are shaking things up tonight, partly out of necessity and partly by design. Steve Nash (flulike symptoms) and Shaquille O'Neal are expected to not play in tonight's game at New Orleans. Leandro Barbosa will get hist first start of the season in Nash's place at point guard and rookie Robin Lopez will start for O'Neal for the third time this season. Grant Hill is going back into the starting lineup at small forward, moving Matt Barnes into a reserve role. Hill has been struggling in recent games but the team was 4-1 when he started."

Nash doubtful for tonight's game

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December 3

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Steve Nash is doubtful to play in tonight's game at New Orleans because of flulike symptoms. Nash stayed at the team's hotel here while the Suns held shootaround this morning at New Orleans Arena. When Nash missed last week's home game against Miami because of a thigh contusion, rookie point guard Sean Singletary started in his place"

Nash misses game vs. Heat

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November 29

Arizona Republic

"Suns guard Steve Nash was scratched from Friday's game with a right thigh contusion. Sean Singletary started the game in his place, but Leandro Barbosa saw the majority of time at the position. Goran Dragic also played in backup duty. Nash injured the thigh when he took a knee from Minnesota rookie Kevin Love when he was trying to get through a fourth-quarter screen during Wednesday's victory. Nash expects to play Sunday against New Jersey."

Steve Nash to the Knicks?

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November 23

Arizona Republic

columnist Paul Coro

"Nineteen months. That is how long you can expect to hear speculation about Steve Nash winding up with the New York Knicks. Nash already had an off-season home in New York, participated in Manhattan soccer leagues and has a love for a city that can foster his filmmaking and satisfy his cultural interests. Then Mike D'Antoni, and the system that fit Nash, went to New York, leaving him grappling for a way to thrive with a new coach and in a new offense. The latest fuel for the speculation came Friday, when the Knicks made two trades that cleared $27 million in salaries for 2010 free agency. It's not difficult to see that the Knicks could court several high-profile players, including Nash, ..."

Nash rambles; Blazers break down

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November 23

Oregonian

"The buildup to Saturday night's Western Conference showdown against the Phoenix Suns centered on the future meeting the present. Of the rookie, Greg Oden, facing the veteran, Shaquille O'Neal, for the first time. And while there was certainly much to discuss regarding the veteran -- and plenty to dissect about woeful shooting and team hexes -- Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan singled out another painful catalyst behind his team's 102-92 loss to the Phoenix Suns before 18,422 at US Airways Center: Steve Nash. "I think the guy is Nash," McMillan said. "He is still orchestrating that offense and getting everybody involved and (regarding) time, score and situation, he is probably as good as ..."

Nash says run, Porter more cautious

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November 9

East Valley Tribune

"Steve Nash doesn't think the Suns are running enough. Terry Porter agrees. But the reasons why it's happening are where the fork in the road appears. Nash feels the Suns have become too reliant on their inside game - however potent - and need to keep a happy medium with the old Phoenix style to be most effective. The Suns have had moments in each of their first four wins when they slipped back into familiar habits and used it to build scoring runs. "When Shaq plays the way he is (29 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's 104-96 win), it's great," Nash said. "We're much more deliberate. I just hope we find the versatility and balance. When Shaquille isn't on the floor, we're not a team that's ..."

Nash, Shaq, Hill chosen as Suns' captains

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November 2

Arizona Republic

"The Suns players voted for Steve Nash , Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill to be the team's captains. "That says a lot about what the guys think of you," Suns coach Terry Porter said. "You've got to lead in the locker room. You have a voice in the game and in the huddles." Feel-good

Coming from Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Porter found the Portland environment to be the perfect fit as a NBA rookie because of the fans' booster club, after-practice cookies and homemade blankets later for his newborn. He may be 13 years removed from his decade with the Trail Blazers, but the club's revival still feels good. "I feel very proud about that now," he said. "Anybody who's ever played with ..."

Nash out Monday after hurting ankle in practice

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October 20

East Valley Tribune

"Steve Nash's status for Monday night's preseason game against Charlotte was still up in the air - until he landed on his gimpy right ankle on the last play of Sunday's scrimmage. Nash rolled the same ankle that he hurt during Wednesday's Suns game in Atlanta and kept him on the bench for Friday's loss to Denver in Syracuse, N.Y. He looked like he was moving well in the scrimmage before he landed wrong just seconds before coach Terry Porter called an end to more than three hours of film and court work. An obviously frustrated Nash limped around the court for a few minutes before gingerly heading up the steps to the locker room. Now, the final week of the preseason will be about getting ..."

Suns' Nash sprains ankle again

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October 20

Arizona Republic

"Suns coach Terry Porter hoped to use the team's final three preseason games this week as dress rehearsals with regular-season starting lineups and rotations in place. Health issues have turned his goal into a moving target. Guard Steve Nash is doubtful to play in Monday's home game against Charlotte after spraining his right ankle Sunday for the second time in five days. On the final play of practice Sunday, Nash landed on Alando Tucker's foot on a breakaway layup. He sprained that ankle Wednesday when he came down from a jump shot on an Atlanta player's foot, prompting the team to hold him out as a precaution until Sunday. As Nash goes back out the revolving door and Alando Tucker ..."

Nash's ankle gives backups chance

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October 17

Arizona Republic

"NBA point guard training just entered Phase 2. Suns guard Steve Nash's sprained right ankle put it there. The sprain, suffered Wednesday at Atlanta, was mild to the extent Nash wanted to return in the preseason victory, practice Thursday and play in Friday night's Carmelo Anthony homecoming game against Denver at Syracuse, N.Y. But in a move that is precautionary and proactive, Nash's wishes were denied and he will sit out the game to help his health - and rookie point guards Goran Dragic and Sean Singletary in the long run. Dragic started Wednesday's second half but Singletary, a NBA Development League candidate, handled the point for the game's final 16 minutes. The diminutive guard, ..."

Ankle sprain sidelines Suns Nash for 1 game

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October 16

East Valley Tribune

"The Suns are utilizing their grand plan with Steve Nash earlier than they had hoped. Nash suffered a mild right ankle sprain in the first half of Wednesday's 102-100 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Suns GM Steve Kerr said the injury isn't serious, but the Suns won't take any chances with the two-time MVP when it comes to turning small problems into bigger ones. Against his campaigning, Nash didn't go back into Wednesday's game. He will sit out practice today and also miss Friday's game at Syracuse University against the Denver Nuggets. While the Suns have shelved an early summer idea of resting a healthy Nash in some games, they are determined not to let little problems become big ones with ..."

T.O. tempting to Nash

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October 11

Globe and Mail

"On the eve of his 13th NBA season, Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash knows he's closer to the end of his playing days than the beginning, and he can easily envision finishing his career in Canada with the Toronto Raptors. "I've enjoyed my success in Phoenix and would love to stay here," Nash said this week in an interview. "But if not Phoenix, playing in Toronto would be a dream come true in many ways." The 34-year-old point guard says he wants to play for at least four more seasons. He has one season and a team option for a second left on his contract with the Suns, most likely making him a member of the vaunted free-agent class of 2010, joining the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the ..."

Nash set to keep playing into 2012

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October 7

Arizona Republic

"It was as if the Steve Nash retirement ceremony plans were under way the moment the Suns landed Goran Dragic, Nash's heir apparent. Until Suns broadcast analyst Scott Williams asked Nash last week about his plans beyond his current contract, many had begun to assume Dragic would take over for Nash in 2010. Nash's plan is to play through 2012, at least. People forgot where Nash drew motivation from after signing a six-year, $66 million deal in 2004, sparking a club turnaround. Nash was driven to live up to the Suns' expectations for him, but he also was motivated to earn his next deal after Dallas owner Mark Cuban passed on matching the Suns' offer, explaining in his blog that "it was only ..."