NBA 2005

1. Steve Nash: Was the MVP as he led Phoenix to the best record in the NBA.

Nash led the league in assists with 11.5 per game (2.5 more than second place).

He was first team All-NBA, an All-Star and November Player of the Month.

In his first season after coming over from Dallas, Nash helped the Suns to a 33 win turnaround.

Phoenix went from 2^nd to last in the West before the Nash top on the conference with 62 wins. 

The Canadian point guard also finished 6^th in the league shooting 43% on 3s and 88.7% on FTs.

He scored 15.5 points a game, while shooting 50% from the field.

With Nash out of the lineup, the Suns were just 2-5 and 60-15 with him.

In the playoffs, Nash helped finish off a sweep of Memphis with 24-9 (points-assists) in Game Four.

He torched Dallas in round two.

In the six game series win he averaged 30-6-12 (points- rebounds – assists).

The MVP poured in a career playoff high 48 in a Game Five loss.

With the series tied at 2-2, Nash powered the Suns in front with 34-13-12 triple double.

In the clincher, he had 39-9-12. along with 5-8 on threes. He scored eight points in the final minute of regulation, including tying three with just over five seconds left.

Phoenix would take the game and the series 130-126 in overtime.

He averaged 23-10 ast. in the Western Conference Finals loss in five games to San Antonio.

The Suns boasted the best offense in 10 years averaging over 110 PPG.

2. Tim Duncan: He was the Finals MVP for the 3^rd time in six years after leading San Antonio to another tile.

He was first team All-NBA for the eight straight season and first team all-defense for the 7^th time in eight years.

Duncan was 4^th in the MVP voting.

In the regular season he averaged 20 points 11 boards and 2.6 blocks (3^rd in the NBA) in 66 games.

The Big Fundamental had a double-double in 2/3 of his games (44/66).

The Spurs were 2^nd in the West and tied Miami with 59 wins and the 2^nd best record in the league.

Duncan’s presence led the Spurs the Association’s top defense allowing 88.4 points a game.

In his 23 playoff games, he averaged 23-12-2.7. His rebounding was 2^nd best in the playoffs and 5^th in blocks per game.

Timmy dropped 39-14 on Denver in the first round Game Four. San Antonio took the series 4-1.

He put up 25-10-2.5 in the second round series win over Seattle in six games.

Duncan helped close out Phoenix in Game Five of the Western Finals.

He has 31 pts., 15 rebs. and the blocks and shot 14-24 from the field.

With the Finals tied at 2, Duncan’s 26 and 19 helped the Spurs to a dramatic one point overtime win in one of the “Robert Horry game”.

The Spurs won their 3^rd title in six years over Detroit behind Duncan’s 25-11 in Game Seven.

3. Dwayne Wade: Was 2^nd team All-NBA and December Player of the Month.

He was an All-Star and finished 8^th in the MVP voting.

Wade was ninth in the league in scoring (24.1) and tenth in assists (6.8).

He was also 4^th in the NBA in free throws made.

The second year guard averaged five rebounds and 1.6 steals a game.

D-Wade recorded 16 double-doubles and triple double vs. defending champ Detroit.

Wade helped the Heat sweep New Jersey with 34 points and nine assists in the clinching Game Four.

Yet again Wade was dominating as Miami finished a second straight sweep over Washington.

He had 42 points on 13-22 FGs and 16-17 FTs. He also had seven boards.

In the Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit, Miami pulled even 1-1 behind 40-8-6 (p-r-a) from Wade.

He followed it up with 36 in a Game Three win.

The Heat’s star guard injured his ribs in Game Five. The Pistons would take Game Six and Seven with Wade on the sideline.

In the postseason, he 27.4 points, 6.6 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 48% in 14 games.

The Heat had the top record in the East with 59 wins and 101.4 points a game. They finished five games ahead of second place Detroit in the final standings.