Hobbled Nash a pain for Suns
Just thinking about it makes me cringe.
It happened during a pickup game with co-workers when I jumped up for a rebound only to land on the side of my foot. Of course, stupid me, I was not wearing proper basketball shoes and when I landed I immediately rolled over my ankle.
F#$CK!
The pain was so sharp I literally saw stars. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I was somehow able to hop around and finish the shift I?d been on. Another stupid move.
Afterward, I limped to the locker room and took off my shoe and sock. My ankle had swelled up so much it looked like I had a baseball under my skin. X-rays later revealed a small crack in one of my ankle bones. I have not played a pickup basketball game since.
Anyone who has ever played basketball has surely rolled over their ankle, and it?s one of the worst feelings in the world.
On Monday, reigning NBA MVP Steve Nash rolled his right ankle after he ?stepped on someone?s foot? late in the third quarter against the Hornets.
Nash left the game with the Suns losing by four points. At first he thought he might be able to return (likely because of the adrenaline), but he didn?t.
No doubt once he saw the grotesque swelling in his ankle he decided it would not be a wise move to try to return. Regardless, the Suns rallied and ended up winning 101-88 as 4-point road favorites.
It was Phoenix?s 11th straight win. During that stretch they have gone 7-4 against the spread (ATS) and have seen seven games top the posted total.
After the game, Nash reportedly had his ankle wrapped up and had difficulty putting his shoe on. As of Tuesday, he was listed as day-to-day.
The Suns currently hold the top spot in the Pacific division and are scheduled to host the defending NBA champion Spurs on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
Losing Nash for any length of time would be a huge blow to the Suns, who have relied on their star point guard to carry the team while their top scorer Amare Stoudemire recovers from offseason knee surgery.
Even if Nash is able to play, it?s hard to say how effective he would be, especially against a physical team like San Antonio. Even a minor ankle roll can significantly limit an athlete?s speed and mobility.
Nash currently leads the league in assists averaging 10.9 apg, and he is second on the team in scoring with 19.4 ppg. Many NBA observers feel he is poised to repeat as the league MVP.
The wild-haired Canadian?s favorite target has been forward Shawn Marion, who leads the team in scoring at 22 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounds with 12.3 rpg, second-most in the NBA.
Led by Nash and Marion, the Suns have the most prolific offense in the league averaging 108.1 ppg. Defensively, however, they have been one of the more generous teams having allowed 100.8 ppg, sixth-most overall.
Oddsmakers have adjusted their lines to take into account the Suns? high-scoring offense and softer defense. Through 59 games this season, a little more than half (31) have gone OVER the posted total.
Against the spread, the Suns? surprising success without Stoudemire has led to one of the best betting records in the league at 34-25 ATS.
With or without Nash, it should be interesting to see how the Suns respond to the Spurs. San Antonio has the best record in the Western Conference (as of Tuesday) and a big factor in their success has been their stingy defense.
Although they?re scoring just 95.2 ppg (20th overall), the Spurs are allowing the fewest points in the NBA at 87.9 ppg.
Not surprisingly, San Antonio has seen fewer games go OVER the total this season: 25 of 59 games have gone OVER. Only the Clippers and the Pacers have seen fewer games go OVER (24).
The Suns and Spurs have met twice already this season. San Antonio won the first game in November 97-91 failing to cover as 9.5-point home favorites. The score fell below the 199-point total.
The Suns won the second game at home in early January, 91-86 in a game that was a pick ?em. That score also fell below the total, which was set at 194.5 points.
In other action on Thursday night, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets visit Philly to take on A.I. and the Sixers (8 p.m. TNT). The Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in their past 10 games.
In their first meeting of the season, the Sixers won 108-106 as 4-point road dogs. The score was OVER the 208-point total.
In a third game on Thursday, the Portland Trail Blazers host the Dallas Mavericks (10 p.m. ET). The Blazers are 2-11 ATS in their past 13 games.
These two teams have played twice this season and the Mavs have won both times. In the first game, Dallas won 95-81 covering as 12-point home favorites. The score fell below the 192-point total.
In their second meeting, the Mavs won 95-89 in overtime failing to cover as 7.5-point road favorites. The score was UNDER the 192-point total.
--Perry
BetWWTS
Just thinking about it makes me cringe.
It happened during a pickup game with co-workers when I jumped up for a rebound only to land on the side of my foot. Of course, stupid me, I was not wearing proper basketball shoes and when I landed I immediately rolled over my ankle.
F#$CK!
The pain was so sharp I literally saw stars. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I was somehow able to hop around and finish the shift I?d been on. Another stupid move.
Afterward, I limped to the locker room and took off my shoe and sock. My ankle had swelled up so much it looked like I had a baseball under my skin. X-rays later revealed a small crack in one of my ankle bones. I have not played a pickup basketball game since.
Anyone who has ever played basketball has surely rolled over their ankle, and it?s one of the worst feelings in the world.
On Monday, reigning NBA MVP Steve Nash rolled his right ankle after he ?stepped on someone?s foot? late in the third quarter against the Hornets.
Nash left the game with the Suns losing by four points. At first he thought he might be able to return (likely because of the adrenaline), but he didn?t.
No doubt once he saw the grotesque swelling in his ankle he decided it would not be a wise move to try to return. Regardless, the Suns rallied and ended up winning 101-88 as 4-point road favorites.
It was Phoenix?s 11th straight win. During that stretch they have gone 7-4 against the spread (ATS) and have seen seven games top the posted total.
After the game, Nash reportedly had his ankle wrapped up and had difficulty putting his shoe on. As of Tuesday, he was listed as day-to-day.
The Suns currently hold the top spot in the Pacific division and are scheduled to host the defending NBA champion Spurs on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
Losing Nash for any length of time would be a huge blow to the Suns, who have relied on their star point guard to carry the team while their top scorer Amare Stoudemire recovers from offseason knee surgery.
Even if Nash is able to play, it?s hard to say how effective he would be, especially against a physical team like San Antonio. Even a minor ankle roll can significantly limit an athlete?s speed and mobility.
Nash currently leads the league in assists averaging 10.9 apg, and he is second on the team in scoring with 19.4 ppg. Many NBA observers feel he is poised to repeat as the league MVP.
The wild-haired Canadian?s favorite target has been forward Shawn Marion, who leads the team in scoring at 22 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounds with 12.3 rpg, second-most in the NBA.
Led by Nash and Marion, the Suns have the most prolific offense in the league averaging 108.1 ppg. Defensively, however, they have been one of the more generous teams having allowed 100.8 ppg, sixth-most overall.
Oddsmakers have adjusted their lines to take into account the Suns? high-scoring offense and softer defense. Through 59 games this season, a little more than half (31) have gone OVER the posted total.
Against the spread, the Suns? surprising success without Stoudemire has led to one of the best betting records in the league at 34-25 ATS.
With or without Nash, it should be interesting to see how the Suns respond to the Spurs. San Antonio has the best record in the Western Conference (as of Tuesday) and a big factor in their success has been their stingy defense.
Although they?re scoring just 95.2 ppg (20th overall), the Spurs are allowing the fewest points in the NBA at 87.9 ppg.
Not surprisingly, San Antonio has seen fewer games go OVER the total this season: 25 of 59 games have gone OVER. Only the Clippers and the Pacers have seen fewer games go OVER (24).
The Suns and Spurs have met twice already this season. San Antonio won the first game in November 97-91 failing to cover as 9.5-point home favorites. The score fell below the 199-point total.
The Suns won the second game at home in early January, 91-86 in a game that was a pick ?em. That score also fell below the total, which was set at 194.5 points.
In other action on Thursday night, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets visit Philly to take on A.I. and the Sixers (8 p.m. TNT). The Nuggets are 7-3 ATS in their past 10 games.
In their first meeting of the season, the Sixers won 108-106 as 4-point road dogs. The score was OVER the 208-point total.
In a third game on Thursday, the Portland Trail Blazers host the Dallas Mavericks (10 p.m. ET). The Blazers are 2-11 ATS in their past 13 games.
These two teams have played twice this season and the Mavs have won both times. In the first game, Dallas won 95-81 covering as 12-point home favorites. The score fell below the 192-point total.
In their second meeting, the Mavs won 95-89 in overtime failing to cover as 7.5-point road favorites. The score was UNDER the 192-point total.
--Perry
BetWWTS
