This isn't a very frequently asked question. Most of the time it's always Deron Williams or Chris Paul. And ya, those two are the best point guards in the league now. But what about this match up, Tony Parker or Steve Nash?
When trying to decide this, you don't have to worry about age because the question isn't who would you rather have on your team? It's who would you rather have on your team for one season?
Steve Nash is a 2 time MVP and still probably the best passer in the NBA. He can shoot from the outside, take it to the hole, and is a pass first point guard. But he can still make the clutch shot.
Unfortunately, he cannot play defense! This is by far his biggest weakness. The Suns have been criticized the past few years for loading up too much on offense and forgetting about defense. We all know they aren't a good defensive team. Now I'm not saying it is all his fault, because it clearly isn't, but he is a very big reason why they aren't a good defensive team.
Your point guard is your offensive leader, he brings up the ball, makes the plays and pops the majority of the threes. He also is supposed to be a good perimeter defender, which Nash is not.
Nash is a great offensive player, but I would say definitely one of the worst starting guards in the NBA at playing defense. Here are Steve's important stats from last season. 16.9 ppg, 11.1 apg, 3.5 rpg, 0.6 spg, 3.64 tpg and he shot 50.3 percent from the field, 90 percent from the line and 47 percent from the three point line.
Parker on the other hand isn't a great defender, but he is a lot better than Nash. The Spurs have won many championships over the years and Parker has been a big part of their success. Just last season, he helped lead them to the conference finals, which they later lost to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Parker probably isn't as good of an offensive player as Nash, but he can still get it done. He has mastered his little tear drop inside the key which he makes almost every time. He isn't as good of passer as Nash, but is probably a better scorer. Parker is also better at not turning the ball over as he averaged over one turnover less than Nash last season.
His defensive stats aren't fantastic, but hey, neither are Bruce Bowen's. Parker isn't a lock-down defender, but he is good for his size. His stats last season were as follows: 18.8 ppg, 6 apg, 3.2 rpg, 0.8 spg, 2.38 tpg and 49.4 percent from the field. Parker isn't nearly as good at free throw shooting or three point shooting as he shot 20 percent less then Nash did in both of those areas.
Both of these players are two of the best point guards in the league and you could not make a wrong decision with either one of them. For me it is truly a toss up. If I had to chose I would probably take Parker just because of his defensive ability, but I can't say that is a definite choice. It totally depends on who else is on your team, with Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard or Tyson Chandler I'd pick Nash, but in a controlled offense like the Spurs I'd pick Parker.
11 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
black amal 12 months ago
l say steve nash prick. for all he brings to the suns, i think it can be overlooked BUT worked on if hes a defensive liability
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Chef from Chicago 12 months ago
depends on who else is on your team....but of coarse, Nash (for a season) cuz Parkair can't guard a chair either
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Alan Bass 12 months ago
i love nash. he is one of the best players in the league, both offensively and defensively. parker is great, but i'll take nash any day
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Erick Blasco 12 months ago
Like Chef said, Parker is a terrible defender and is worse than Nash defensively. Like Nash, Parker makes up for his defensive shortcomings in other areas, for example, by having incredible speed and athleticism on offense, by having a fearless attitude, by possessing a high basketball IQ, and by lacking any ego whatsoever.
Nash is still a savant point guard with the best vision in the game, makes the best passes in the game (especially with his left hand), has unlimited range, is exceptionally clutch, and is the smartest point guard to have played since John Stockton retired.
Give me either guy and I'll be able to field a potential championship team, but Nash is superior in every way except physical strength.
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Robert Kleeman 12 months ago
Erick and Chef, Parker is not a terrible defender.
He is one of the best defenders for his size in the NBA. Too many people think that playing defense means you stop people from scoring. You hope to do that when you defend but sometimes you can't. Defense means making the other player's shots tough.
When I judge a player's defensive prowess and willingness, I look at the kinds of shots other players get against him.
Bruce Bowen is a great defensive player because, although Kobe Bryant may score 35 points on him, most of those shots will be fadeaways and contested three pointers. If he drives to the basket, that will be contested, too. Making a shot difficult is all any defender can do.
Parker is a far superior defender to Nash. Case in point: the last playoff series between the two teams. Bowen spent much of his time guarding Nash, but so did Parker. Since Nash is a great offensive player he still managed to score, but his shots, on average, were much tougher than Parker's shots.
I remember watching the Spurs play the Nuggets in March (I think) and Parker held Allen Iverson scoreless in the final five minutes of the game. Iverson did miss some tough shots that he can make, but most of his looks were tough. Again, that's all any defender can do.
I would agree with an above post that deciding which point guard to take depends on the surrounding personnel. Nash is a pass-first point guard and Parker is a score-first point guard. Both have their advantages.
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Erick Blasco 12 months ago
Obviously you are correct on defensive principals, but Parker gets blown by easily and puts up little resistance against powerful point guards or screens. Parker is smart at funneling offensive players into help, but so is Nash and Nash fights through off-ball screens better than Parker does.
Most of Nash's success against the Spurs have come when Parker was defending him, while Bowen has frequently locked up Nash and made him look very mortal. This season, Phoenix' lack of spacing doomed them, not Parker's defensive prowess.
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Chris Chan 12 months ago
I gotta go with Nash on this one. Both are great leaders and command their team well. Nash can score and distribute the ball well. Parker's speed easily makes the Spurs offensive game a 5 on 4 after blowing past his defender. Since Nash shoots a bit more and is more clutch. Advantage Nash, despite Parker and his rings.
I don't think either are terrible defenders as the article makes it out to be. Teams just like to use bigger players to post up these smaller guys.
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martin gallegos 11 months ago
I rather go with Tony Parker, because he is a great player and he can get the job done defensively and offensively. He has the ability to score behind the three point line and he is not afraid of driving towards the basket for a layup. He is a tremendous athlete who can lead his team and does'nt make to many turnovers on the court.
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Mark Leno 11 months ago
As a spurs fan i want to take tony parker but while both men are defensive liabilities, nash is a great closer. Parker is not the spurs go to guy maybe not even second behind ginobili and duncan but with the suns nash is there go to guy. Offensively their both great and neither one is much of a face up defender but ill give the edge to nash because hes such a clutch player
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noah harris 11 months ago
Wait a minute, Nash is by himself, Parker has Ginobili, and Duncan, Nash's teammates' are dunkers,all nash's teammates dunk (Not including Raja Bell,and the Brazillian Blur.)
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TJ Zwarych 11 months ago
What are you talking about by himself? Nash has Amare Stoudemire who is one of the best players in the league, he had Marion, he now has Shaq, who can't do much anymore but isn't bad, other then bell and barbosa he also has diaw, etc
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