5 goals over his last 22 regular season games. Wouldn't have even hit 20 goals if he scored at that pace all season.
It's so weird how it's like a tale of two players this year; and there wasn't even any incident that can be pinpointed as a catalyst.
I mean, we have that sudden absence from that one game due to neck stiffness that kinda came out of nowhere and left us all a bit scratching our heads, and that really is the point in which his decline happened; but that's just more a line on a chart then an explanation.
And I had been so excited with what I had seen from him the first 2/3rd's or whatever of this season. He was doing all of those little things offensively that we had been dying to see him do. He was going to the net, battling in front, skating in the offensive zone with a purpose. He just seemed like a man on a mission and was unstoppable -- almost with what we see from Ovi.
And then it changed. It ceased. He suddenly became a carbon copy of what we had seen last season. The skating straight in and firing into the chest etc. All of those things that made him successful up to that point were no longer being acted upon. And I don't know why.
There are always things such as gripping the stick too tightly or just seeming snake bitten that stars go through sometimes when they feel the pressure. We can also say teams started paying attention to him more etc etc. But to me that doesn't quite explain the changes we've seen from him. Because it's his whole approach that's changed.
If you compared tape from the first 2/3rds to the last third, the differences would be so marked and remarkable. They would stand out so much. And it's not like the coaches wouldn't be showing him this tape and how obvious it is that he was then going to the net, or battling along the boards, or getting to the right areas, or blah blah blah, and you would think he'd have an aha moment and be like "oh yeah, I remember all those things I had done" and begin to once again approach things that way.
But that's not what happened. I'm sure he knows exactly the differences in the style he has played between the two segments. Yet that knowledge isn't enough to change it. That's what leaves me boggled. And the thing is; I don't blame him. I honestly think he's doing the best he can. When it was learned he had a nagging injury last year that made him fear the battle, I believed it. When I saw him slay out there this year I was certain that he was back, and that his injuries were a valid excuse for his performance last year. But then it so suddenly regressed back. I don't know why. But would it surprise me that there is something significant nagging him? It has to be. Just like it was last year. We know his capabilities when he feels healthy and see how much it can drop when he's not. And I do believe both last year and this year is Nash unhealthy vs healthy. So I wouldn't find it hard to believe that the latter part of this year was also back to unhealthy. I simply don't know why, or what or to what degree.
I just know the difference in play is stark. I'm not just talking numbers. I'm talking his entire style of play. And I don't think it's by choice. I firmly believe he's doing the best he can, and doing what he can, and I think we all can ***** to the moon about what we want to see him do, or blast him to oblivion for being a playoff choker etc, but I think it's unfair. Because I don't think it's because of any lack of will or desire.
So anyway, yeah, this is one hell of a rambling long ass "tl/dr" post. Guess I just wanted to get all my Nash thoughts out. Cause I'm rooting for him and loved what he had done most of the season. But I worry for him, and can't help wondering if his concussion symptoms are to blame for his once again playing with reservation.