Late Career Players

Although Kobe is playing well in this series, I do think age and wear and tear are affecting his game. I'm not sure the same can be said of two other older players - Steve Nash and Ray Allen. I've always liked Nash and his unique set of skills on the basketball court seem undiminished - perhaps even improved - with age: incredible vision, smart aggressive risk taking on offense, great outside and inside shooting, superior leadership, and generally improving the offense of all the players around him by setting them up for good shots. His weaknesses have always been speed for his position, size, and defense. You definitely lose speed with age, but Nash does not seem diminished as a player due to losing a step or two.

Admittedly, I've only watched Ray Allen play a little this season, but his strength - the most beautiful jump shot I've ever seen, doesn't seem affected by age. His quickness - never his greatest strength - does not seem different to me. He is a smart, savvy player who plays surprisingly tough defense and does not seem worse for wear. I think the gracefulness of his game makes it less difficult on his body than say, Kobe. Kobe is hard on his body. He is strong and fast. He takes tough shots and plays lots of hard minutes and gets messy and dirty both on defense and offense. It takes a toll. Ray Allen doesn't play like that. His game is graceful and smooth. How many times has he been injured in his career?

A side bar - if the fate of the human race depended on one open transition three pointer, you'd have to take Ray Allen, wouldn't you?