Nuggets’ Blake a ‘poor man’s Steve Nash’
Web Posted: 04/24/2007 12:18 AM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News
When Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris approached Steve Blake on the practice court five minutes before a January scrimmage session, Blake knew he was headed elsewhere.
The two already had talked about Blake’s relatively meaningless role under then-Bucks coach Terry Stotts. Milwaukee was headed nowhere in the Eastern Conference, and while Blake had not demanded a trade, he let Harris know he’d be receptive to a deal.
When told he was headed for Denver, Blake couldn’t help himself.
“I just started smiling,” Blake said.
If Blake’s glee insulted Harris, the GM didn’t let it show.
“I think he kind of knew I wasn’t fitting in well in Milwaukee and would like to move on,” Blake said. “So it worked out for both of us.”
Denver’s trade for the former University of Maryland star who has become the Nuggets’ starting point guard had roots in the blockbuster deal that brought Allen Iverson to Denver. The Nuggets tried to pair Iverson and 5-foot-5 Earl Boykins in the backcourt, but they didn’t mesh.
Vice president of basketball operations Rex Chapman focused on acquiring Blake, who helped the Terrapins win the 2002 NCAA title.
“I’ve always liked Steve,” Chapman said. "I think he was an underrated, underappreciated guy in this league. He’s won on a big stage. (Maryland) didn’t have a great team, but he and Juan Dixon led them to a title.
“He’s a fighter. We joke that he’s a poor man’s Steve Nash. He does things that help you win.”
Blake may not look like an NBA starter — Chapman called him “a skinny little white kid” — but Iverson respected his toughness even before he became a teammate. Now, Iverson admires his game even more.
“In this league, everybody has talent, or you wouldn’t be here,” Iverson said, “but not everybody has the heart. That’s one thing I noticed about him from the beginning. I’d rather play with somebody with heart than talent any day.”
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The trade for Blake has worked out better than Denver coach George Karl expected. He signed off on trading Boykins, one of Denver’s most popular players, and Julius Hodge for Blake.
“You have to tip your hat to Steve Blake,” Karl said. “I don’t think any of us thought he could do for us what he’s done.”
Blake’s performance in Sunday’s Game 1 victory over the Spurs was typical of his work since he joined the Nuggets on Jan. 11: Direct the fast-paced traffic that is Denver’s offense while biding his time awaiting his offensive opportunities.
He didn’t take his first shot until the second minute of the second half, but he made 3 of 6 shots in the final two periods, including a 3-pointer in the early stages of the fourth period.
“Everyone else was making shots and the ball was moving well,” Blake said of his shot-less first half. "In the second half, shots started opening up for me.
“There are a lot of great players around me, so my job is just to get the ball moving and get everyone involved and make everyone happy and just be an option.”
Blake didn’t know what to expect after he arrived in Denver to replace Boykins, one of the NBA’s fastest players and the bench player Karl used to quicken the pace for a team that already played faster than most.
“That’s all he stressed to me when I first got here: ‘Push the ball, push the ball. Get guys involved.’” Blake said.
Soon enough, though, Blake found a spot in Denver’s starting lineup. He still tries to push the pace, but now tries to be a true offensive facilitator.
“That’s stayed the same,” Blake said of keeping the Nuggets running as often as possible, “and I’ve tried to become a defensive stopper as much as I can and keep everyone happy and involved in the game. Then knock down some shots sometimes.”