The two-time NBA MVP is holding out hope of playing this Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors after participating in a full-contact practice for the first time since suffering the leg fracture, but it appears that Nash believes Christmas Day against the New York Knicks is more realistic via Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com:
Nash said “it’s more likely” he’ll return to the court on Christmas Day against the New York Knicks than Saturday against Golden State.
“There’s no plan. I just want to get through today, see how I feel in the morning,” Nash said. “If I’m able to practice (Friday), see how I feel Saturday, we’ll just see how it goes. But I think Christmas is probably the most realistic.”
So even though Christmas might come as earlier as Saturday for the Lakers in terms of getting Nash back in the starting lineup, the most likely scenario is seeing team opening up their present in the former of the superstar point guard on Tuesday against the Knicks. Regardless of whether or not it’s Saturday or on Christmas Day, Nash finally appears to be ready to lead this team once again after playing in only two regular season games this year.
The real question will be whether or not Nash will have the impact under Mike D’Antoni in Los Angeles that he had while with the Phoenix Suns. Nash won two MVP awards and had the distinction as the league’s best point guard without much debate under D’Antoni in Phoenix, similar results are need with both teaming up once again in Los Angeles in order to turn this team around before the season completely gets out of hand in terms of completing for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.