Steve Nash being in LA is probably the best thing for the Lakers who hope to challenge for that ring. The announcement by the Lakers to move to a Princeton Offense may be the best thing for Nash to help Kobe and company to get that ring and look good doing it ...
Steve Nash has been named the among the best pick and roll players in the NBA right now and it's not tough to understand that. With his ability to hit the cutter off the pick, get to the rim or hit the outside jumper he has become 2K version of John Stockton, with some flavour of course. So can you imagine an offense that makes him that much more effective?
It's called the Princeton Offense and it will definitely make Nash more effective and then some this season.
If you haven't already read the story, the Lakers will be looking to employ the famed Princeton Offense this season and Nash will be among it's moving parts. All I can say is "Yikes!"
Now for all of you that aren't aware of what exactly this particular offensive scheme entails then check out this simple tutorial by Coach Eddie Jordan, who coincidentally will be an assistant coach with the Purple and Gold this season. Knowing what the scheme is, even in passing in essential to understanding why this is a boon for Stevie.
Now don't get too bogged down in the many variations of where the ball goes and who sets the screens where, just know that in this set there is a) lots of ball and player movement, b) it's meant to keep everyone and the ball moving and c) this is not a set that relies heavily on players A to B to C resulting in D type situations.
The Princeton Offense does have set positions where players are supposed to be and does need players to follow a basic set of movements but what this offense really relies on is the basketball IQ of the players that are running it. And this is what will make this the ideal offense for Nash and these Lakers.
This set will be what you could call an audible type offense in football - changes on the fly. Princeton gives the players two or three available options within the set, and that is only within the first a small portion of the set motions. Check out this video to see what I mean, it gives a pretty good idea as to the many directions the ball can end up.
Now of course, basketball IQ is a key to this of course and the guys that would be starting for LA have a bit of that. The IQ offers variations and this allowance of a certain degree of freedom will not only open the game for all the Lakers but Nash also.
Let's face it, Nash isn't a spring chicken and the Princeton Offense will not allow for him to play off the ball a little more and even make getting his shot off that much easier particularly with the likes of Pau, Dwight Howard and that Kobe guy in the scheme. Having to work a little less harder on O will help him to not only keep the wear and tear down somewhat but also help save some energy for D, ahem ahem.
All in all, this Princeton Offense will be the best thing for Nash all season in my opinion. He won't have to be the focus of the O for his own team which is great for him plus it still gives him the ability to create and get his own shot off as he sees the defense develop. It will also likely allow for more of those pinpoint passes to cutters (read Dwight Howard) and shooters as well as a few highlight reel alleys now and then. This should result in a more efficient and effective Nash as the season progresses.
Now, let's see how quickly this set up gets him the assists he needs for get to number four all time in the NBA ...
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