Writes the Daily News’ Frank Isola and Kevin Armstrong, “Ideally, the Knicks would have Nash as their starting point guard next season with Jeremy Lin serving as the understudy. The addition of the two-time MVP would go a long way toward making the partnership of Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony a successful one.”
The N.Y. Knicks have had issues all season at PG. Steve Nash can help solve most of them. Photo: Danny Moloshoki/Reuters
We totally agree. And we understand why Amare Stoudamire has begun making his pitch for Nash public.“Everyone knows that Steve loves New York and that New York loves Steve,” Stoudemire told The New York Daily News. “I love Steve. It would be great to have him here next year.”
The move just makes sense! Think about it…Without Nash next year, Jeremy Lin, who will probably be $5 million richer this summer when he’s offered and accepts the mid-level exception from the N.Y. Knicks, would ultimately be the starting PG. So with an aging and broken down Baron Davis more than likely getting set to retire after blowing out his knee during the Miami series, that would leave Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby, assuming they’re still with the Knicks, to back up Lin.
It would also leave one of them to become the starter in case Lin should experience any after affects from his surgically repaired left knee or suffers any other injury. Then it would be a case of history repeating itself wouldn’t it? If the 2011-2012 season has taught the Knicks anything, it’s that they need an authentic and productive point guard on the floor if they have any hopes of being successful.
Enter one Steve Nash. He’s experienced and is the epitome of a floor general the Knicks so desperately need. He clearly would not need to play 40 minutes a night with Lin coming in off of the bench. And Lin, who’s been quietly compared to Nash, would represent a great spark with fresh legs which is just what the doctor ordered.
Picking up Nash would also solve T.M.P. (The Melo Problem). If you remember, Anthony wasn’t too thrilled with Linsanity because with Lin on the floor the ball didn’t go through him; it was either distributed or Lin drove the lane or took jumpers. Nights like Wednesday in Game 6 when Carmelo took 31 shots and Amare 7 won’t happen with Steve Nash playing the point. When Amare was in Phoenix the tandem of Nash, Marion, and Stoudamire worked pretty successfully and there’s no reason to believe it wouldn’t flourish with Nash, Melo, & Amare.
Lastly, there is an intangible that Nash brings to the table that will prove to be invaluable to the Knicks as a whole, and that’s his leadership. I would expect Jeremy Lin to be a much better and smarter point guard under Nash’s tutelage, and since presumably the starting role will be his at some point, what better teacher could he possibly ask for besides the future Hall of Famer?
FANTASY FURNACE 