Steve Nash is in Los Angeles Lakers starting lineup

Los Angeles Lakers star point guard Steve Nash was expected to play today after being out since the 30th of March with a hamstring injury, and Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports that Nash will indeed be ready for the Lakers postseason opener today. Nash is in the starting lineup, and he will try and help spearhead a Lakers opening game upset against the stalwart, No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs. The game is set to start in about an hour, and it will be interesting to see what the Lakers do at the guard position.

The Lakers were reportedly kicking around the idea of starting two point guards (Steve Blake and Steve Nash) at both guard spots, and they have decided that they will indeed start both Steves in the backcourt. With Nash being back after having missed so much time, the Lakers will likely limit Nash against Tony Parker, who would absolutely demolish Nash when the Lakers are on defense.

Blake has been hot of late ever since replacing Nash when he went down, and so it makes sense to try and throw the Spurs off with two PGs (Blake was always expected to slot in at the two if both would start, though) and give the best guy playing the chance to shine. Blake has the hot-hand right now, and I have a feeling he’s going to take a solid volume of shots from the shooting guard position. He’s been playing better than Kobe Bryant’s SG replacement Jodie Meeks, so the Lakers are likely going “BPA”. In any case, the big thing here is confirmation that Nash is indeed playing, even if he isn’t going to get heavy minutes as he is eased back in. Against Parker, that’s the best thing to do anyway. The Lakers are going to need all the help they can get in this series against the Spurs.