Steve Nash the Shooting Guard

Gone is the free-spirited, cowboy with the long hair whipping to and fro as he weaved his way around the court looking to make everyone around him better. In his place, a company man gussied up with a Gatsby-esque Hollywood hairstyle and a stand-in-the-corner until your number is called upon role.

When Nash came to Los Angeles there wasn’t any doubt that he would have to sacrifice a part of his game. In fact, with Mike Brown as the coach and Kobe Bryant as his teammate, Nash understood that he would not be handling the ball anywhere near as much as he had while running the show in Phoenix.

This new reality was clearly evident as the Lakers attempted to run the Princeton offense, which often designated Nash as an off ball screener.

But when Brown was fired two weeks into the season and Mike D’Antoni brought in to replace him, it was the natural thinking of everyone that Nash would once again pick up the mantle of being the main offensive catalyst.

A lot has happened since, but four truths have been revealed as to why the Lakers now focus their offensive attack through Bryant.

Second Half Season Preview: LA

Lakers

It’s been one crazy ride. The most recent development was the passing of owner Dr. Jerry Buss who finally succumbed to his nearly two-year battle with cancer. For those in the know, this was an inevitability just waiting to happen. For the rest of us, this came as somewhat of a surprise—though in this Lakers season, nothing really is surprising anymore.

Rest in peace Dr. Buss—the greatest sports owner in the history of American professional sports and a true visionary who helped mold and create the game that I love.

LA's Lost Season?

The Lakers could turn things around. They could reasonably string together a 15-3 stretch and be right back in the thick of the playoff race and perhaps the "championship contender" conversation that they were featured heavily in during the offseason.

That very well could happen.

But the reality is, with each additional loss, the absolute certainty of the playoffs evaporates into the ether. Let’s not even talk about a championship this year.

The Lakers stink—and moral victories, while offering a glimmer of hope, are irrelevant to this particular squad. This isn’t the Bobcats. This isn’t the Orlando Magic.

Only a month ago, I wrote how Mike D’Antoni was the right man for the job because he was hungrier than Phil Jackson and because Jim Buss wanted him.

Can I recant that proclamation? Because D’Antoni thus far, has not been hungry, has not been a winner, has  not even played his role as prophet of the Seven Seconds or Less religion that he brought to the NBA—a religion he blindly follows no matter how dark and desolate his situation becomes.

The Death of Seven Seconds or Less

Having watched the first two games of the Lakers this season my instantaneous reaction—like many others out there—was one of shock and disbelief. How could the Lakers not be utilizing Steve Nash, orchestrator of arguably the most beautiful style of basketball--Seven Second or Less? Why was this two-time MVP running around and setting picks and spotting up behind the three-point line?

I found myself thinking, “Give the damn ball to Nash and let him do his thing.”