At this pace, Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash is on pace to pass his way into the record books.
Nash, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player the past two seasons, extended his stellar start to 2006-07 — and quest for a third consecutive MVP award — with another steady outing in the Suns’ 99-89 victory over the Heat on Wednesday night …
But in lifting Phoenix to its 12th consecutive victory, including its seventh in a row on the road, Nash also is beginning to raise a legitimate question throughout the league: Can he possibly do it again? Could he become just the fourth player in NBA history to win the MVP award in three straight seasons? …
A third MVP trophy would put Nash in the company of three Hall of Famers for a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Larry Bird won the honor a third straight time in the 1985-86 season. Bill Russell (1960-63) and Wilt Chamberlain (1965-68) also won three in a row.
Nash entered Wednesday’s game averaging 20.3 points and a league-best 11.3 assists, both career highs.
When Nash won the first time, everyone cheered that a play maker beat all the big scorers. After #2, Nash got fainter praise. “What about Dwayne Wade? What about Kobe?”
So far I’m voting for Steve again.
Steve Nash is used to being underestimated. His Canadian high school coach Ian Hyde-Lay “contacted 30 American universities to no avail.”
It was almost luck that Santa Clara University head coach Dick Davey finally offered him a scholarship. Nash only went 15th over-all in the NBA draft.
Steve Nash – wikipedia
Rick McCharles 