[orangedays]

I may not have watched Mark Aguirre play but I've been around long enough to remember (and be reminded of) games like these:

2001 - Western Conference Semifinals

G1: Spurs 94 - 78 Mavs
2 pts (0-4), 6 asts, 2 rebs

G2: Spurs 100 - 86 Mavs
10 pts (4-9), 7 asts, 4 rebs

G3: Spurs 104 - 90 Mavs
11 pts (4-12), 4 asts, 3 rebs

G4: Mavs 112 - 108 Spurs
10 pts (4-11), 14 asts, 5 rebs

G5: Spurs 105 - 87 Mavs
11 pts (4-7), 3 asts, 2 rebs

Mavs eliminated 4-1

2002 - Western Conference Semifinals

G1: Kings 108 - 91 Mavs
12 pts (4-12), 5 asts, 5 rebs

G5: Kings 114 - 101 Mavs
12 pts (4-9), 9 asts, 4 rebs

Mavs eliminated 4-1

2003 - Western Conference Finals

G2: Spurs 119 - 106 Mavs
12 pts (4-11), 8 asts, 4 rebs

G3: Spurs 96 - 83 Mavs
10 pts (4-9), 9 asts, 4 rebs

G5: Mavs 103 - 91 Spurs
14 pts (5-11), 6 asts, 4 rebs

G6: Spurs 90 - 78 Mavs
6 pts (3-10), 11 asts, 4 rebs

Mavs eliminated 4-2

2004 - First Round

G1: Kings 116 - 105 Mavs
13 pts (5-14), 8 asts, 2 rebs

G2: Kings 83 - 79 Mavs
13 pts (6-20), 9 asts, 5 rebs

G3: Mavs 104 - 79 Kings
7 pts (3-6), 5 asts, 5 rebs

G4: Kings 94 - 92 Mavs
11 pts (4-11), 9 asts, 7 rebs

Nash upped his production heroically in G5, as all of our players did. But we lost a Sacramento series 4-1 that you know and I know we could have won. Resultant? Sufficient doubt was planted within the organization of the Mavericks' (in)ability to move forward with Nash as our PG and we let him walk. Look, I loved Stevie as much as anybody (you included) when he was here. But Steve didn't return that love chum - he crashed and burned when we needed him most - consistently. It's not a lack of respect on my part, it's a recognition of the reality that Nash just did not cut it for us.

Over 4 seasons, from 2001-2004, the Mavericks exited the playoffs to the tune of 4-1, 4-1, 4-2, 4-1. Look at Nash's stats chum, do they look at all familiar? (Remembering, obviously, that I had stated that Nash's NJ line was an extreme example). I have listed 15 out of the 21 playoff games Nash has played in since 2001. No 0 pts, 0 asts, but you do not have much recourse if you're going to try and argue that Nash's numbers don't look downright awful.

Your status as a Nash apologist is well-documented and you can label me a band wagon jumper all you like - but history supports me in demonstrating that when the spotlight's on and the season is on the line - Steve Nash will fail. He'll put up decent numbers in the regular season, and he might even do well in a playoff game or two...but you put a Jason Kidd or Mike Bibby on him, and you will watch a disappearing act worthy of Vegas. The Suns steamrolled through last year's playoffs because they played Memphis (Jason Williams?) and Dallas (Jet?). It's not surprising they were on cruise control. But chum, the sooner you realize that Nash leaving is a positive, the sooner you can stop lamenting his absence and start focusing on the fact that this Mavs squad is better off as a result.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Steve Nash leaving the Dallas Mavericks could very well be a key reason for our winning an NBA Championship in the very near future. And I will call it now; you wait and see - if the Suns play the Kings in the First Round, they lose the series. Mike Bibby will absolutely smother Steve Nash and we will all be reminded of why (and be thankful of the fact that) Steve Nash is no longer a Dallas Maverick.