When the Lakers win, there's not a peep to be heard about the Hall of Fame point guard who Mitch Kupchak finagled from the Phoenix Suns on the Fourth of July. When they lose, it's "withhold your judgment for now, this team isn't all together yet."
Which isn't exactly inaccurate. Nash has played all of 50 regular-season minutes in Purple and Gold, just under 43 minutes of which were spent with L.A.'s ideal starting lineup (i.e. with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace).
And all of which came under the thumb of Mike Brown, who has since been replaced by Mike D'Antoni, alongside whom Nash enjoyed so much success with the Phoenix Suns.
The thinking goes, then, that Nash will be some sort of savior for these Lakers once his fractured fibula heals up. He'll have the Lakers offense humming, since he knows D'Antoni's offense like the back of his hand. He'll allow Kobe to be the efficient slasher he was at the outset, since he'll be the one handling the ball and creating for others. He'll inject energy back into the lifeless Pau Gasol, playing beautiful basketball music along the way. He'll partner with Dwight to form the most potent pick-and-roll combination in the NBA.
Heck, he might even fashion a useful second unit out of the likes of Jordan Hill, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks, who've essentially taken turns showing up to the arena thus far.
That's a lot to ask of or expect from a 38-year-old who hasn't played basketball since colliding with Portland Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard on Halloween (and won't be back for at least another week). Mike D'Antoni, of all people, should know that.
Yet, it's D'Antoni who, after Tuesday night's sloppy loss to the Indiana Pacers, seemed most prepared...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
