Steve Nash, Suns Fire Back at Phil Jackson

Steve Nash responded in good fun to Phil Jackson's comments earlier this weekend, giving some jabs towards Jackson himself.

The Lakers head coach's comments from last week complained that Nash was carrying the ball throughout the playoffs.

"You can't carry the ball like [Nash] in practice," Jackson said last week in an interview with reporters. "You can't pick that ball up and run with it."

Yesterday, Nash and the Suns fired back.

"I've been in the league for 14 years and I don't know if I've been called for a carry yet," Nash said. "It's news to me. The best coach in the league, Greg Popovich, didn't have a problem with it last week."

This last line was clearly a light jab at the Lakers coach. Following Game One of the series against the Spurs, in which Nash dominated, he said, "it's nothing personal."

This round, it looks like it will be.

Spurs head coach Alvin Gentry also responded to Jackson's comments, saying that Jackson is just trying to stir up media attention and pointing out the Lakers allegedly throwing elbows throughout the playoffs.

"We spent a lot of time today [at practice] ducking elbows on post-ups. So it all works out."

Amar'e Stoudemire wasn't so light-hearted in his comments on the Lakers play throughout the postseason, and on Jackson's comments in general.

"Watching the Lakers play, there's definitely a few elbows that are being thrown, in all seriousness," he said in an interview with reporters. "But we've just got to play smart, and not really get too much into it."

Gentry stated that he is not concerned about the referees changing their style based on Jackson's comments, calling them experienced and professional.

He also denied carrying on this verbal war with Jackson for much longer.

"It's not a mind game, it's going to be decided on the court. The team that plays the best is going to win the series, and it doesn't matter how many mind games, or what out's there. That's just the way it is."

Well, that may be the way it is, but the current way is much more entertaining.