A sendoff for the ages for Captain Canada in the valley

If this doesn’t give you goosebumps, you need to check your pulse, like immediately.

Yes, they do love their Steve Nash out in Phoenix and who can blame them and if Thursday was the last time he wore a Suns uniform, he went out with the love of the fans ringing in his ears.

Now, I can’t begin to guess what Captain Canada might be thinking about his future because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know, either.

And if you read this delightful Q and A transcript with My Man Coro of the Arizona Republic, you will get some tremendous insight into the mind of a mature, grounded, self-confident young man.

Nash is truly at a crossroads in his professional career and he will take some time to truly examine all his options and won’t ever jump willy-nilly into his next contract, as well he should.

I don’t for a second believe chasing a championship will be first and foremost in his mind – the “Winning and being competitive and being part of a good environment, those are the top” quote hammers that point home.

I will say this without equivocation: The team that lands Nash this summer will be getting one of the greatest teammates in any sport in any era and should count themselves lucky. Few and far between is the high-profile, immensely-talented athlete who cares more for his teammates and organization than Nash does.

And maybe that is what drives him, he likes environment and company more than anything, he has to appreciate the people around him – in the locker room, the front office, the stands – to get the most out of his incredible talent.

I know I have this serious Man Crush on him as a player and a guy, but I think that’s an attitude shared by many, as we saw first hand in Phoenix last night.

Really, Bryan: Three years, maybe $30 million. Take your shot. You won’t regret it. Maybe it won’t work but it’s time to make a bold move. Honest.

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Oh yeah. If you want to talk Nash and playoffs and the HOTH you’re in for a treat. Seems an hour has opened up Friday at noon and we’ll be here for one of our too-infrequent chats, please stop by, it should be a gas. But if you can't, there's the mailbag and you can get in it by clicking here with your heartfelt thoughts.

And don’t forget we’re here for the final IGBT of the regular season tonight at 7. Yes, 7; they switched the game time from 8 p.m., bless their hearts.

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Okay, wanna finish off the awards?

Why not.

Three to go and although I do have a vote for the three all-NBA teams, I’m not about to bore you with those.

So, let’s go.

Rookie of the Year

Duh!

Now, I am soooooo much a Rubio fan it’s not even funny; the kid plays with a style and a flair and a competency that you have to appreciate, right? That said, blowing out a knee mid-season kind of takes him out of the running, right? At least for first.

Which leaves us with, first to third …

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland

And I will say this: It’s good that I talk to people and watch some games because if all I had to go on were games I saw in person, there’s really no way I could vote for Kyrie Irving. In games against Toronto, he’s been entirely pedestrian but on other nights, he’s been quite good.

When the season began, this was his award to lose. He didn’t.

Ricky Rubio, Minnesota

I don’t care.

The rest of the candidates have been so underwhelming, this is almost a Second By Default. And when careers are done, it won’t have changed. This is not a great class of kids.

It’s not Kenyon Martin No. 1 and a bunch of others, but it’s not far off, I don’t think.

Kenneth Faried, Denver

If Rubio was second by default, what do you think of this pick of a guy who didn’t do a thing until the last month or so of the season. Suppose Isaiah Thomas could fit in here but I like the guy from the winning team better.

 

Sixth Man of the Year

There are those who see this as something of a consolation prize: “You should be starting but here’s a trinket for your trouble.” But that’s not how it is, we know rotation balance is significant and there are guys who are quite okay with coming off the bench.

And, really, this was as easy as the rookie of the year vote:

James Harden, Oklahoma City

Sure, he’d start in a lot of places but he finishes games and that’s what’s important and he brings some semblance of calm to an Oklahoma City team prone to costly turnovers.

Oh yeah, he might have the best beard in sports and that has to count for something.

Lou Williams, Philadelphia

Not too often a Sixth Man leads his team in scoring but imagine where the offensively-challenged Sixers would be without this guy.

Al Harrington, Denver

Not a big fan, personally, but on a deep Denver team he’s a solid contributor off the bench. I could probably convince myself to with Jason Terry here.

 

Most Improved Player

Okay. This as nebulous and confusing as it gets. Does a guy improve solely because he gets more playing time thanks to the way the roster is constructed? If that’s the case, there might be a dozen candidates.

This was, and is, a tough one; not even sure I’ve convinced myself which way I’m going to go but I’d better hurry, the league ballots have be in tomorrow at the latest.

Jeremy Lin, New York

I know, I know, I know. I would have liked a larger sample size and I would have liked more time for Lin in a more structured and disciplined offence but we didn’t have it. He is vastly improved – or simply got in the right place in the right time. If he regressions, can we can a least improved player award next year and a do-over.

Talk me out of this one folks, I’m not sure this is the name I’ll submit.

Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers

Maybe it was only relative good health and fewer cases of utter knuckleheadism but this guy when from questionable to being one of top two centres in the league (no, not Dwight, Marc Gasol is the other).

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee

A very, very long time ago, I was standing on the court in Milwaukee before a game catching up with Brian James, who was working out some raw kid before game. “This kid’s going to be pretty good,” BJ said, or something to that effect. “Believe me.”

Well, that was during Ilyasova’s first stint with the Bucks and it might have taken a while, but Brian was right.

So, if I do dump Lin – and I might – do I go with Greg Monroe of the Pistons? Ryan Anderson? Paul George? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

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Man, I either nailed these end-of-season grades or not many of you saw them because the rip jobs were few and far between. Good for me.

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One quick note because it’s already started.

Somewhere out there, some buzz was created by some totally bogus report the Raptors had offered an unseemly amount of money to – get this – Sasha Vujacic.

Didn’t happen. Won’t happen. Of this I am dead certain.

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Comments

[coachd]

Hi DOug,
How's this for a fantasy off-season. First, the Raps sign Nash and keep Calderon. Automatically, they have the best and smartest PG tandem in the league. Then, they swing a deal with the Spurs for Corey Joseph who becomes the team 3rd PG and learns from a couple of masters for the next few years. Then, they sign a top-tier free agent to plug the team's hole at the 3 spot (because what top-tier 3 wouldn't want to play with Nash every night). Add Bargs, Derozan, and the 2 incoming prize rookies and all of a sudden you've got a team to be excited about.

[SPR]

Doug, we want to be bored by your All-NBA selections!

Blogger's note: Ha! Okay, tomorrow if I remember. Thanks

[Vince]

Love the scene of Nash getting his dues from a grateful crowd. And in typical Nash fashion, when he checks into the game he chucks his towel on the trainers head...and then proceeds to promptly turn the ball over.

[matt d]

Awesome send off for Steve, he then comes in and turns the ball over, lol. Love the guy, it would be so awesome to see him wearing a Raptors Jersey.....please oh basket ball gods, let it happen.

[JHK]

"Really, Bryan: Three years, maybe $30 million. Take your shot. You won’t regret it. Maybe it won’t work but it’s time to make a bold move. Honest."
I couldn't agree more with you on this, and that doesn't happen very often Doug lol
About MIP, I forgot about Ersan.. he has improved big time.
Probably more deserving than Lin.
But in the end, it will be given to a guy who is playoff bound.

[Felix]

Doug,
For Most Improved, any love for goran dragic or ty lawson??

Blogger's note: Some, just not enough

[ChrisD1]

If we played 'make believe' and the Sasha Vujacic deal actually went through, I dont think the moderators of this forum would be able to handle the venom that would be spewed.

[Vincent Lam]

It might be worth signing Sasha Vujacic if there is a clause in his contract that guarantees Maria Sharapova sits courtside for every home game.

I would put Jeremy Lin at the top of the most improved list. He went from an end of bencher to a starter/rotation player. Plus he revitalized the New York Knicks who, before he went off, was struggling to make the playoffs and stay relevant. Everyone was talking Knicks because of Linsanity. It almost seems like it happened years ago, but that has to count for something.

[striker 77]

Hi Doug,

If Dragic had gotten a starting role and (35-40 minutes a night), from the beginning of the season, I would argue he deserves the MIP..but of course, that is not the case.
I like your picks MIP picks Doug, but I think its gotta go to Bynum. There is something about Lin that is just not convincing...

[LeeZ]

Rip jobs? You want rip jobs? Oh I'll give you a rip job alright! Doug, what are you, crazy? How could you give Gary Forbes a...
Sigh. My heart's not in it. You pretty much nailed it, and much as I'd like to differ (I'm a natural born differ-beggar), I can't. But I will ask you a question: on what basis did you make your grades? I suspect it was on the team's expectations for how the player accomplishes his assigned role, rather than an absolute assessment. For example, if you were to grade Magloire on an absolute basis (i.e. how good a player he is in relation to all other NBA players who play centre), needless to say his grade would be an F, rather than the B (B-?) you gave him. What I think you may have done, though, is to occasionally toss aside the "team's expectations" yardstick. For example, JJ: he improved his shot dramatically over last year. It used to be obscenely atrocious, now it is merely bad with gusts to mediocre. He is attacking the basket much better, he has curtailed his habit of trying to do too much with the ball, and his passing has improved. So, based on the team's expectations of him at this stage of his career (I imagine they wanted to see him improve in the areas I outlined, which he did. I imagine they weren't thrilled that he lost his focus and drive in several games, and that he sometimes got carried away with help defence at the expense of covering his actual man), do you really think he deserved a C-? Personally, I would have given him a C+

Blogger's note: Mostly against their own, and the team's expectations. I think, for him, JJ had an average year all told, hence a C; same with Jose, who, in my opinion, had an average year for him

[Canadian Paul]

Hi Doug. I wouldn't give the MIP award to a second0year player. They're supposed to improve by default (if they're given more minutes).

Doug, can Ersan play SF or is he purely PF? Isn't he a free agent this summer?

Thanks.

[JB]

"Oh yeah, he might have the best beard in sports and that has to count for something."

Brian.

Wilson.

[tman]

first J Oneal, then Hedo and then Nash? I hope Brian has learned his lessons....

I'd love Sasha to be sign just to see Sharapova on ACC.. :)

[David in Oakville]

Please don't take offense to this because I think your player assessments are thoughtful and fair.. but my reaction to reading them was "meh", apart from Jose, Bargs and perhaps Davis & Magloire, I don't really care if any of those guys are back with the team next year. It is an understatement to say that Amir was a non-factor this year.

Personally, I would rather watch Nash in the playoffs next year than watch him all year in a Raps uniform. Sadly, I think those are two separate realities.

[Tosh]

Hey Doug the end of the year presser is coming up.
I have no team access so I was hoping you could ask Brian/Casey about Bargnani.

Is surgery an option for his calf?

I heard a rumour recently (sorry no source just pub talk).
The thing is nobody seems to cover this issue and it could potentially be huge with Brian's job on the line.
Any insight you could add would be great.
Regards

Blogger's note: PUB TALK?!?!?! Right.

[Sharkey]

I'd actually like to see your All-NBA team picks. I'm really interested to see where Nash fits. He'll be the PG one one of the 3 teams I'm sure, but does he beat out CP3 for the first-team?

Blogger's note: Will do 'em tomorrow if I remember

[Aural Fine print]

i love the way the video ends with someone in the back ground yelling "Jason have you lost your mind" and the response "they are cheering for Steve Nash".

A night for the ages, with a small domestic dispute at the end.

[ADG]

I like Ryan Anderson for MIP. He grew into the exact player that the Magic need to play their style. Although Lin's rise was phenomenal, the continued relevance of the Knicks after Lin went out is due largely to the change in their system. He can't be given full credit full reinvigorating the team. Also his increased productivity was (as you suggested) a function of increased playing time. .

[David Katz]

As much as I love the thought of Nash as a Raptor...I hope that he doesn't end up with us. I don't want him to waste his time with a franchise that never seems to go anywhere. Then again...I'd hate to see him land with team dbag in Miami.

[white mamba]

Here is what the bball nuts think of your grades:

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1177380

I know you're going to say that you ignored it, but it's there for the reading.

As far as this team goes, hopefully they lose to NJ tomorrow to mazimize full tanking potential - hopefully they never wear that ugly, grenn caouflage unis ever again. Ugh

Blogger's note: Yeah, kids with internet connections and TVs, I care greatly.

[Greg]

Doug ... a C+ for Calderon? On one hand possibly the teams MVP, on the other a C+?

Blogger's note: Yep

[Sean]

Lin was a story and all but the rise and improvement of Nikola Pekovic in Minnesota should absolutely take the prize, in my opinion. Completely overlooked and solid as a rock for the Wolves in this difficult season.

[doug]

that forum that was linked is all well and good but why don't they come on here and state their opinions?/...it's just b-ball talk and opinions, part of it to me is this some of those guys/gals wouldn't know squat about b-ball if pressed, or the intangibles of the game,....like some were questioning Doug's grade of a B for Magliore, they just don't get it or the point Doug was trying to make, which was a valid one....and the other point as to why they don't come on here is they don't want a intelligent discussion, with the internet and "forums" people I find gravitate to sites that validate their opinions or beliefs, they don't want to be questioned or discuss, sort of a reflection to me as society as a whole....it's the my way or the highway mentality, which to me is wrong, I come on this blog to read differing opinions, disagree with them or see and accept another point of view as to me discussion is paramount in everything...but if that "forum" is the sign of things to come then rational, intelligent discussion may becoming a lost art.....ok cheers...

[doug]

we have discussed booing on here and fans cheering for pizza but the Warrior fans crossed the line here in my opinion, for what maybe the right for a 7th overall pick, I hope they lose the coin toss and their pick and this illustrates a strong case why players aren't incapable of tanking and kudos to Chris Wright for busting his butt....

http://www.hoopsworld.com/with-eyes-on-lottery-warriors-fans-cheer-losing-play

[james]

How to describe this moment? Nash arrives for his curtain call and commits a turnover, as others have said. Right after that, Joseph hits a three. A kind of changing of the guard; almost poignant.
Where would the Magic be without Ryan Anderson? In a season of total turmoil, he was indispensable, solid as a rock. He is the most improved player (whatever that means) and I don't think it's close.
In my opinion, the lessons young players could learn from an old wise head like Nash would justify almost any contract the Raptors could offer. I think his presence would also boost attendance and the financial outlay would thus be repaid in short order. Having said that, I am left with one question: What would Casey think? If there is one move I would make immediately with this franchise, it would be to extend both Casey and Colangelo to complete what I see as a five-year plan.