An MVP Performance
by Ford Macklin
Who says Steve Nash isn’t worthy of the league’s MVP award? His Wednesday night performance at America West Arena was one for the ages. Nash managed to do something only the great Jerry West and amazing Oscar Robertson had ever done- score at least 30 points with no less than 12 rebounds and 12 assists. The Canadian guard ended the night with 34 points- 7 of which were scored in the final few minutes.
As the defensive focus shifted to Amare Stoudamire in this series, Nash has gotten better and better, scoring 27, 48 and 34 over the last three games of the battle. Steve seems to be a born leader and has his teammates believing in whatever he does- be it by passing or taking the shot himself. It really has been a coming out party for Nash this playoff year. Winning the league MVP seems to have made him want to prove himself even more. All of the critics who felt he didn’t deserve his award can eat a little humble pie right now, as Nash is carrying the Suns, while the Heat continue to win without Shaq.
It’s a shame that this Dallas-Phoenix series has to end sometime, as it really has provided us with some electric basketball. The up-tempo style, the intertwined storylines, it’s all been so captivating. Either one of these two teams would represent their conference quite well in June’s final.
