Valley of the Suns
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Top Stretches: Remembering Steve Nash At His Best

By Scott Chasen

Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at New Orleans Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-85. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at New Orleans Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-85. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) shoots baskets during warmups prior to playing the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) shoots baskets during warmups prior to playing the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

#3: The Streak, Part 1: November-December 2006

The Suns got off to a rough start in the 2006-07 season, which began with a mediocre preseason. The team split its six games, going 3-3, but perhaps most troubling, the team cracked the 105-point barrier just once, after doing it eight total times in the last two preseasons.

That lack of production spilled over into the regular season, as the Suns started the year 3-6, averaging fewer points per game than they did the year before, and things weren’t getting any easier, as Nash had already missed two games due to injury. Phoenix looked like a dramatically different team from the one that had gone 54-28 the season before, which ended up being the case, but not because they were worse… They were better.

A lot better.

Nash returned with a modest 19-point, 15- assist performance, leading the Suns to a win, which would be the case quite often in the coming weeks. In fact, the Suns would not lose again for more than a month, and after starting the season with six quick losses. the team would not hit the 10-loss total until February, 47 games into the year.

After starting 3-6, the Suns would rattle off 15-straight wins, with Nash posting 10+ assists in all-but three games. Nash shot 40%-or-better from three in 11 of the games, shooting 50%-or-better from three in eight different outings.

Over that stretch, Nash would have some simply ridiculous games, including a 42-point, 13-assist, 6-rebound against the (then) New Jersey Nets, and an 11-point, 20-assist outing against Sacramento. In that time, Nash averaged 0.3 missed free throws per game, despite attempting more than 50 in the 15 games, and he recorded a steal in all but three games.

The Suns hit their stride over that stretch, putting up ridiculous offensive outings, the likes of which have seldom been repeated since. The offense reached totals of 161, 127, 122, 119, 116, 115, 114 and 113 points, while actually playing some solid defense.

The Suns held opponents to less than 90 points on four separate occasions, allowing fewer than 100 points eight times, despite playing at not only the fastest pace in the NBA, but one of the fastest paces in NBA history.

Oh, and when the streak came to an end, it was certainly in spectacular fashion. Nash went for 42 points and 12 assists against the Washington Wizards, but on the other side of things, Gilbert Arenas scored 54 points on 37 shots, giving his team the win in what was certainly a memorable contest.

Next: #2: The Streak, Part 2

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