The OT: Nash Comments Back At Phil Jackson thread refers to the gamesmanship going on between Phil Jackson and Steve Nash prior the Western Conference Finals.
Phil Jackson did the same thing in the series against Oklahoma City, questioning whether Kevin Durant gets more than his share of calls. It’s a great ploy, it gets into the head of the referees, and more importantly it gets the player wondering. That’s what you want from your opposition, you want them thinking about something else beside what they are trying to do. Bill Russell was master at it.
Steve Nash does carry the ball at times, but as many posters point out, so do lots of established superstars, and Nash knows it. Nash is getting plenty of bravos in the thread for hitting back that Jackson is not the best coach in the league, but really, that’s going to have zero effect on Phil Jackson. It’s not like he’s going to change his style, it was too generic a criticism. Now, if he’d said something about Jackson being unable to control Kobe Bryant, allowing his selfish ways to often destroy the team chemistry, now that might have had an effect.
The best example of gamesmanship I ever saw was before a soccer game between England and Scotland, when the English manager said that Gordon Strachan was unstoppable, and could singlehandedly beat England if he set his mind to it with his ability to beat multiple players off the dribble. So, what happened? Strachan spent the entire game trying to beat multiple players off the dribble, and lost the game.
Coach Gentry and player Stoudamire indicated that they won’t be suckered into Jackson’s psychological games, but Gentry then went on to retort anyway. "We spent the day ducking elbows on post-ups, to see if we could duck elbows on post-ups. So it all works out, it all works out."
But these are all just words so far. The proof of the pudding will come Monday night when we see a) if it affects Nash’s play (turnovers would be a good indication, ineffectiveness to penetrate might be another) b) if it affects the refs calls (I doubt it will) c) how Nash reacts if he does get called for carrying.
Of course, the ultimate proof is who wins the series. I like the Suns, but it’s going to be really tough. In the other series, for the second time in a row, I’m rooting for KG and the Celtics for the simple reason I think LeBron is a bitch, and the sooner everyone realizes he’s more interested in propping up his ego that leading a team to a championship, the better; and because I think VC is another bitch, although not on the same level.
My ideal situation would be Phoenix over Celtics, 4-0. I know that’s not a scientific analysis, but the truth is, the fun I get out of basketball is never about being right, unlike most fans on RealGM. I just want the good guys to win, and I hope one day the Raps are the good guys.
