National Basketball Association

Nash, Stoudemire in symbiosis again

Published Jan. 6, 2010 4:07 a.m. ET

foxsports

GAME TIME: Suns 118, Rockets 110

Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire are not the highest scoring duo in the NBA. Their combined total of 39.1 points per game is surpassed by Gasol-Bryant (47.0), LBJ-Williams (46.5), and Arenas-Jamison (43.4).

However, the Suns' latest victory over Houston demonstrates that Nash and Stoudemire have the most advanced symbiotic scoring relationship of any of the other point-making pairs.

Last season, this devastating combo was wrenched apart by a pair of unfortunate circumstances: Stoudemire missed 29 games with serious injuries. But even more significant was the presence of Shaq in the low post as Terry Porter and Steve Kerr decided to put the brakes on the Suns' uptempo offense and play grind-it-out, half-court basketball.

Suddenly, Nash became a perimeter player who was unable to work off high screens set by Shaq because the opponent’s center would simply retreat into the paint and close the middle. In the same fashion, Stoudemire’s sphere of influence was also drastically curtailed. But with Alvin Gentry resurrecting Mike D’Antoni’s quick-hitting, get-out-and-go game plan, both Nash and Stoudemire have room in which to operate and are back in synch with each other.

In the game at hand, Nash and Stoudemire combined to score in several ways:

• Eleven screen/rolls resulted in a dunk, two free throws, and three short-range jumpers for Stoudemire; and three mid-range springers for Nash. That’s 16 points in 11 plays -- or 1.45 points per play. A winning parlay either way.

• Twice Nash’s defender cheated toward a screen offered by Stoudemire, and Phoenix’s stellar point guard faked moving toward the screen, then drove straight to the hoop for another pair of deuces.

• A drive-and-drop delivered by Nash to Stoudemire registered another two points in the lane for the big man.

• A drive-and-kick by Nash created two open jump shots for Stoudemire, who converted one of these.

• An entry pass by Nash into Stoudemire led to an easy post-up score against 6-6 Chuck Hayes.

• That’s a total of 26 points directly created by Nash and Stoudemire working in tandem.

In addition, when Houston’s defense tried to adjust to another high S/R, an assist-pass by Nash enabled Channing Frye to drop an uncontested 3-ball.

Also, three more S/R combinations involving Stoudemire and Nash gained no advantage for Phoenix.

On the debit side, Stoudemire missed an 18-foot jumper generated by a screen/fade in concert with Nash. And Stoudemire also missed a layup when he cut to the hoop in the wake of another drive-and-drop by Nash. Still another S/R led to a turnover pass by Nash when Stoudemire zigged instead of zagging.

All told, that’s 24 plays directly involving close cooperation between Stoudemire and Nash. For the game, they each played several minutes on their own recognizance and combined for a total of 51 points.

An even more telling set of statistics is this: While Phoenix’s winning margin was eight points, they outscored Houston by 21 points when Nash and Stoudemire were on the floor at the same time.

More attuned to one another than bacon and eggs, mom and apple pie, or yin and yang, Nash-Stoudemire play in near perfect harmony -- and are the dual carburetors that are powering the Suns' surprisingly successful season.

STRAIGHT SHOOTING

From this corner of the basketball world, these are currently the 10 best players in the league:

1. KOBE BRYANT has been nothing short of phenomenal. His routine game-winning heroics have even surpassed the sky-high standards he has previously established. No contest for the top spot.

2. LEBRON JAMES is having another fantastic season. His immense skills have even been enhanced by the noticeable improvements in both his perimeter shooting and his team defense. But Kobe consistently plays better defense, is still a superior shooter and is a full-time miracle worker.

3. DWYANE WADE’s shoulders must be sore from carrying the load of Miami’s otherwise abysmal offense. If only he had a reliable jumper he could easily break through the glass ceiling.

4. CARMELO ANTHONY commands the widest variety of offensive skills in the league. He’s equally dangerous in the low post, on the wing, up top, on the run and along the baseline. Defense and consistency are his only drawbacks.

5. PAUL PIERCE’s numbers are down, yet he remains the Celtics’ best two-way player and their most dependable go-to scorer. PP could be the most underrated superstar extant.

6. STEVE NASH is once again free to run, gun, stun and have fun. The Suns' retro game plan has reinvigorated the soon-to-be 36-year-old Nash to where he’s dancing and delivering as well as he did during his MVP seasons.

7. PAU GASOL’s intelligence and versatility transform the Lakers from being a very good team to being a great team. He is easily the most skilled of the NBA’s big men.

8. TIM DUNCAN’s skills are somewhat diminished yet he remains the centerpiece of a Spurs team that won’t approach its peak effectiveness until the playoffs are nigh.

9. DWIGHT HOWARD is a ferocious rebounder and omnipresent shot-blocker. But his inept free-throw shooting and his still-crude offense make him more of a Duper-man than a Superman.

10. KEVIN DURANT plays no defense but is an increasingly dynamic scorer.

Next time, the second 10 best.

VOX POPULI

I personally don’t think that the Cavs can win the championship even with the addition of Shaq. Do you think that not winning the title would ensure that LeBron left Cleveland? For me, the only teams that LeBron would consider would be the Lakers and the Knicks. What do you think James will do?
-- Angelo Anolin, Philippines

I tend to agree with you about the Cavs' poor chances of succeeding the Lakers. However, should they advance to the Finals and extend the series to at least six games that might provide a sufficient sniff of a ring for LBJ to re-sign with Cleveland.

If he does change uniforms, it’s difficult to see him with the Knicks. Despite their recent success, the Knicks have a long, long way to go before they could have a legitimate shot at a championship — and I doubt that LeBron is willing to endure any more seasons of rebuilding and of trying to find the right complementary players to suit his specific skill-set.

It’s also difficult to project Kobe, LeBron and Ron-Ron getting sufficient ball-time to satisfy them all. I could see James succeeding Kobe, but not teaming up with him.

Since LBJ is already an international celebrity whose fame and financial prospects are certainly not handicapped by his playing in Cleveland — and since he’s a Midwest type of guy anyway — I fully expect him to stay put.

TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY

Back in the day, I had an accurate half-hook, an above-average jumper with about 18-foot range, pretty good baseline-to-baseline speed for a big man, and enough strength to establish and secure optimum position in the low post.

What I didn’t have was hops and anything more than modest athleticism.

To make up for my shortcomings, I set moving screens, used my shoulders and hips to displace opponents, and I followed the dictum of Mike Fleischer, my old coach at Hunter College, who once told me, “Elbows are like Christmas gifts. It’s better to give than receive.”

Just the other day, I was comparing physical ailments with an old basketball buddy, Greg Dodge, who once was an all-state schoolboy guard.

He had gained some weight, his feet hurt and there was a perpetual crick in his neck.

My complaints included my arthritic hips, mangled fingers, oft-broken nose, plus bone chips in my elbows.

Dodge laughed at my last complaint. “I wonder how that happened,” he said.

“My trouble,” I said, “is that I played too long. If I had quit five years earlier, I would have been much healthier today.”

As always, Dodge had the last word: “If you had quit five years earlier, a lot of guys would have been healthier today.”

If you have a question or comment for Charley Rosen, please email charleyrosen@gmail.com and he may respond in a future column.