Steve Nash Throwing A Few Jabs At Dwight Howard Too?

[Newzz]

Nash: Howard never wanted Lakers
Updated: July 9, 2013, 11:17 PM ET
By Dave McMenamin | ESPNLosAngeles.com



LOS ANGELES -- Steve Nash was pragmatic when looking back at what he described as a "disaster" of a season that led to Dwight Howard announcing last week his departure for the Houston Rockets: Howard never wanted to be a Los Angeles Laker in the first place.

"Ultimately, I think Dwight wasn't comfortable here and didn't want to be here and I think if he didn't want to be here, there's no point for anyone in him being here," Nash told "The Mason & Ireland Show" on ESPN LA 710 radio on Tuesday. "So, we wish him the best and move on."

Nash, along with Kobe Bryant, were brought in by the Lakers to join their pitch, trying to persuade Howard to stay in L.A. The two-time league MVP was not hopeful heading into the sit-down with the three-time defensive player of the year.

"Frankly, I thought before the meeting, we didn't really have a chance and I'd like to think that after the meeting we had a chance," Nash said.

Nash was reluctant to divulge specifics from the meeting, but acknowledged that Howard voiced some frustration.

"Dwight had some issues with the season," Nash said. "I think it kind of basically goes with what he said to the media that he never quite felt embraced in L.A. He never quite felt supported. That's basically it. I think in some ways you can read into that what you will, but I think he never quite felt comfortable at home and I don't know if that's anybody's fault."

Howard chose the Rockets over the Lakers on Friday after eliminating the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks from consideration.

Nash said Howard had "difficulties assimilating" with the Lakers in his only season with the team mostly because of health issues. Howard was coming off back surgery and also suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder that forced him to miss six games. Nash lumped himself and Pau Gasol as players who also were hampered by lingering injuries that ended up hurting the Lakers.

"When you're talking about three guys you're really going to rely on that aren't themselves, this league is too good [to disregard that handicap]," Nash said.

However, Nash said that X's and O's played just as big a part with Howard as health did.

"He didn't seem like he really wanted to do a pick-and-roll offense, maybe because he had run one in Orlando for so long and he wanted to get in the post more," Nash said.

The 17-year veteran was skeptical that Houston would provide a drastically different offense for Howard to thrive in.

"We'll see," Nash said. "Houston runs a pick-and-roll offense and they are littered with shooting and can maybe space the floor more for him so he can have more opportunities inside with space."

Nash also defended Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, who called for Howard to run all of those pick-and-rolls and play the part of Amar'e Stoudemire, a plan from Nash and D'Antoni's days in Phoenix together.

"I think he's a bright coach and I think he's got a good touch with the team and I think depending on how this roster rounds out, I don't mind Mike D'Antoni in an underdog situation when everybody's kind of written him off," Nash said.

The veteran point guard is preparing for his charity soccer game on Sunday, the Steve Nash Foundation Showdown at the Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center in Los Angeles. He's also preparing for the Lakers to get back on track through a process he knows could take some time.

"The year came and went with unceremoniously being dumped out of the playoffs and here we are rebuilding," Nash said.

That rebuilding doesn't mean bottoming out, in Nash's opinion.

"We got a lot to play for, to try to make our team into something -- championship or not -- that our fans are proud of and feel good about and can't wait to go see out there on the floor every night and try to beat people," Nash said.

That is, as long as the Lakers can actually stay off the injured list.

"A lot of it depends on health," Nash said. "Am I going to be 100 percent? Which I totally believe I wholeheartedly will be. Is Kobe going to be at what level? I wouldn't put anything past him. Is Pau going to be sitting ready for a full season? And Jordan [Hill], after his injury, too. If we're all healthy, and we'll see how we round out the roster and how we come together, who knows what we're capable of. But I definitely start, regardless of any of those answers, finding a way we can be a playoff team and then let's see if we can make something special out of it."

That's my point GAWD....embracing this Laker Way Of Life




#LWO

 

[AkaDemiK]

He didnt throw any jabs...he simply explained the issues dwight had with the team.

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

Dwight obviously never had a father... bu... b... but you guys don't support me wahhhhhhh what a bytch

 

[IGSaint12]

Dwight wanted to do post ups all game but his post game is worst than trash for the amount of touches he gets in the post. Houston is gonna learn the hard way too.

 

[Da_Eggman]

Where are the jabs?

You reaching fagglio

 

[Michael Jordan]

Lmao amputee jabs at best. Try harder

 

[IGSaint12]

Lmao amputee jabs at best. Try harder

Wasn't most laker/kobe haters on this forum saying how much nash should run the offense instead of kobe? Now he is an amputee? LOL

 

[Michael Jordan]

Wasn't most laker/kobe haters on this forum saying how much nash should run the offense instead of kobe? Now he is an amputee? LOL

That wasn't towards Nash..........
Dude claimed Nash was taking jabs at D12, those quotes aren't even jabs. Now picture an amputee trying to throw jabs. None thrown. Get it?

 

[Mic-Nificent]

Some of Dwight's concerns were valid but some of it was just him being a bytch.

How you gonna be surprised that a fanbase hasn't accepted you when you refuse to even hint that you'll resign?

That's like a bytch telling her man she don't trust him around other women when she got a gang of male "friends" that she hangs out with all the time.

Lakers fans were down for Dwight till he started that bullshyt. The only things Dwight had a right to complain about was the Lakers not hiring Phil Jackson and his teammates hanging him out to dry on the defensive end. Everything he brought on himself by being wishy washy about staying, quitting on the team during games, not taking things seriously, and talking shyt about people behind they back.


And I told people MONTHS ago about Dwight not wanting to play the Pick and Roll despite how effective he is at it, so Nash saying it isn't all that surprising to me. Like IGSaint said, Dwight thinks he's the next Hakeem Olajuwon and wants to be a go to post player even though he CLEARLY sucks at it. Feed him the ball in the post and it's gonna result in a missed shot, missed freethrows, or turnovers. If he ain't dunking he aint shyt.

 

[Greenhornet]

Mason and Ireland [Steve Nash] - ESPN Los Angeles

 

[Greenhornet]

those were jabs ... he should have taken them at Amar'e too for fukking up 2 years of his career

 

[Greenhornet]

whats a superman to a dark night?

 

[dunkman6]

I don't think Nash said anything wrong.

I think everyone saw that Dwight wanted to be a Net.

 

[Rev]

I wonder how much Nash wants to be there too. Regrets?

 

[Mic-Nificent]

I wonder how much Nash wants to be there too. Regrets?

People forget that Nash signed BEFORE Dwight, well before. His main regret seems to be that he was never healthy.

People still downplay just how much injuries fukked with the team. Kobe was the healthiest nikka on the team til that final stretch of games.