PHOENIX SUNS

Steve Nash a Laker is weird for L.A. fans, too

Jul 5, 2012, 6:59 PM | Updated: 8:20 pm

Steve Nash is a Laker.

Repeat that phrase again. As a diehard Lakers fan, I never
thought this could or would ever happen. All of us here in
L.A. figured he would retire, ring-less as a Sun.

I for one have always enjoyed the way Steve Nash played
basketball. I never enjoyed how the Suns were handedly
beating the Lakers in the playoffs in 2006 and 2007
because of him. I also didn’t enjoy how Nash won the MVP
in 2005-06 when it should have gone to Kobe Bryant, who
carried a weak Lakers team to the playoffs by scoring 35
points per game.

However, with the way sports is today and with players
switching from team to team, it’s understandable to see a
player of Nash’s caliber move to one of his biggest
rivals. As a fan of all LA sports, there’s only one rival
that I could never root for and that is Barry Bonds.

Sure, it’s going to be weird at first to root for a guy
that you loathed so much, but as long as it’s the best
move for the team and they win games and hopefully a
championship, then this Laker fan is completely onboard
with the move. I’m extremely excited to see how Nash runs
the floor with Kobe, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum (or
possibly Dwight Howard). He’s such a great shooter and
creator; the open looks for those guys are going to be
endless. Who cares if he can’t defend the younger point
guards in the NBA… who really can defend those guys?

As long as Nash holds up, it’s going to be a fun season of
Lakers basketball, especially if they can make some more
moves that I alluded to. It’ll be weird at first, but in
the end it’s going to be fun.

Jason Kleinman is a friend of our own
Adam Green’s — at least, he used to be.
Back in the day
they watched Suns/Lakers playoff games and, well, have had
their differences with regards to guys like Steve Nash and
Kobe Bryant. Time has passed and things are different now,
and while each are members of the media, little has
changed with regards to the rivalry. Except, you know,
Nash joining the Lakers.

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Steve Nash a Laker is weird for L.A. fans, too