Breaking Down How Steve Nash Will Run the Lakers’ Princeton Offense

The Los Angeles Lakers are undergoing a series of changes that will make this season's club all but unrecognizable.

And, no, those changes aren't merely the product of roster changes. The additions of Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison will give the Lakers a new look to be sure, but the new offensive scheme will even cast holdovers like Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in a new light.

Increased use of the so-called "Princeton offense" simply means that Los Angeles will employ more motion, both in terms of ball movement and player movement.

Lakers fans who remember facing the Sacramento Kings in the early 2000s will remember this system all too well. 

But will the new system put a crimp in the styles of guys like Steve Nash, who have already become so accustomed to a different brand of offense, replete with a run-and-gun tempo and plenty of pick-and-roll situations? 

Head coach Mike Brown doesn't sound too concerned (via ESPN LA's Brian Kamenetzky):

The way that we’ll put it together, Steve’s going to have an opportunity—he’s going to quarterback the team—and so he’s going to have an opportunity to come down the floor every possession, and in early offense play pick-and-roll if he wants to. It’s up to him, based on where he decides to take the ball or a call that he makes or an action that he does; it’s up to him to get us into some of the looks of the Princeton offense. 

Leaving those decisions to Steve Nash isn't such a bad idea. There's arguably no one in the game today who's better equipped to make on-the-fly calls. 



Nash is as adept as anyone at running the pick-and-roll and knowing when to run it in the first place. His ability to read the defense, understand personnel and adapt to situations sets him apart even from other skilled passers.

He also has a couple of big men who ca...

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