Nash, Suns still have it

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Steve Nash has had a strange run in the NBA.

Nash made a couple of All-Star games in Dallas, but the point guard didn't emerge as a superstar until his 9th season, his first with Phoenix. Nash proceeded to rattle off back-to-back MVP's and four straight All-Star games -- he was 23 assists in the 2008-09 season away from recording five straight seasons averaging at least 10 apg (Nash hadn't even averaged 9 assists in his first eight seasons).

The strange part of his story was the timing. Nash turned 30 before his first season in Phoenix, meaning Nash started this incredible run at the age when most players are just leaving their prime years behind them. To put this in perspective, Michael Jordan posted seven of his eight 30+ ppg seasons before the age of 30. Bill Russell won seven of his 11 NBA Championships before the age of 30. Wilt Chamberlain led the league in scoring seven times, all before the age of 30. You get the idea.

And now, entering his 14th season at the ripe age of 35, Steve Nash is continuing his recent trend of spectacular mid-30's play by averaging well over 10 apg through the first nine games of the season. Phoenix is 8-1 and looks even better sans Shaq. This leaves me with a question:

Why?

Is he just so cerebral a player that his decreasing level of athleticism can be made up for with nothing but experience? Is he really slowing down as much as critics say he is? Are Nash's numbers a direct reflection of his offensive system and the players he is surrounded with?

For now I'll have to lean on the "offensive system/players" theory, if only because the 2009-10 Suns look faster and more energetic than last year's version. Nash's best statistical seasons were accompanied by high-scoring offenses and extremely athletic players, so I'll be curious to watch some of Phoenix's new role players. Either way, one thing is for certain:

The Suns are fun to watch again.