Isiah Thomas vs Steve Nash - Who was the better player?

[Duncan21formvp]

Give me Nash every single time. I don't want a mentally retarded person to lead my team despite how good of a basketball player he is.

Wouldn't that apply to someone who doesn't make good decisions on the basketball court?

[icewill36]

He most certainly was a reason.


2005
D'Antoni puts Nash on Parker with no weak side help. Games 1 and 2, Parker lights up Nash for 29/7/2/2 on 13/22 shooting and 24/5/3 on 12/20 shooting. D'Antoni finally realizes in game 3 that Nash can't guard Parker alone and gives him the weak side help, but Duncan goes off for 33/15 with 3 blocks, 15/16 with 2 blocks, and 31/15 with 3 blocks.

2006
Nash goes off for 27/16 in a game 1 win. Game 2, Terry drops 18 on him followed by 19 the next game. Suns win game 4 and in game 5, Terry puts up 14/9. Game 6 with the Suns leading in the 4th, Terry drops 19. In 3 of the 4 losses, Nash allowed Terry to put up 18, 19, and 19.


So yes, his inability to hold down Tony Parker and Jason Terry(neither were elite offensive players) is what cost them.

interior defense was the suns problem. they were too small up front with a PF playing C, and a SF playing PF.

you do not need a good defender at the PG position to be great defensively or to win a title... just look at the lakers. fisher cant stay in front of anyone, but that doesnt matter when you have two 7 footers protecting the basket.

[IGOTGAME]

Isiah was a better player and better point guard. Isiah is so underrated on this board.

The Suns played like that because of Nash. They catered to Nash. No team that plays like that is winning the title.

[D.J.]

point guards wont change game outcomes with their defense like an interior player. and they look a hell of a lot better defensively when tim duncan plays behind them

Defense starts at the perimeter. If you're allowing your guy to blow right by you to score or create for others, that hurts you just as much as having weak interior D.

interior defense was the suns problem. they were too small up front with a PF playing C, and a SF playing PF.

you do not need a good defender at the PG position to be great defensively or to win a title... just look at the lakers. fisher cant stay in front of anyone, but that doesnt matter when you have two 7 footers protecting the basket.

No one is saying their interior D was strong. But if Nash was able to do his job, perhaps the interior D would not have received as much blame. Guys like Amare, Diaw, and Marion may not have been able to defend 1 on 1 in the post, but they at least could rebound. Nash couldn't even guard a folding chair.

[Shepseskaf]

Isiah Thomas.



Next question.

Basically.

Even posing the question is an insult to Zeke.

[Legends66NBA7]

Basically.

Even posing the question is an insult to Zeke.

According to him, Isiah is the 2nd greatest point guard of all-time.