In fact, problems from Nash's injury still linger. As this season gets under way, Nash is dealing with nerve damage stemming from the leg injury, he told ESPNLosAngeles.com . He feels both tingling and hurt "in different scenarios."

"I'm still extremely optimistic," Nash said. "I just think maybe the level of health is different. It is going to be a day to day struggle for me and that's something I'm up for though, and I'm optimistic that if I don't have any freak situations again I can try to get on top on all of these things.

"Really, I'm still fighting things that happened because of the broken leg, with all of the nerve issues. So, it is what it is. I'm optimistic still that I can get to the highest level I can get at this stage. I think if (Sunday) night is an indication if I can get up another level or two, I'm going to be pretty effective."

Nash is fresh off his best game of the season. He had 13 points and six assists in 29 minutes in a Sunday win over the Atlanta Hawks. Before that, he hadn't crossed the 25-minute threshold and sat out the second game of a back-to-back to open the season.

It's an improvement on Nash's last season, when he missed 32 games and later sat out the last two postseason games. He took multiple epidurals to get over hip and groin injuries, but couldn't get healthy enough to play. He's still struggling to reach full health.

"I still feel that almost every day all over," Nash said of the nerve discomfort. "It's not just in that spot [in his left leg]. It's like the nerve system and nerve roots are on guard.

"So the whole system in a way is different now. It's just a little more sensitive and you face different things because of it. So, freaky, freaky thing, but I can't complain. I'm still playing basketball and I'm still effective and I can get better physically and my game will come around the more I play."


HEAT CHEMISTRY ISSUES


The defending champion Miami Heat did not get out to the start many expected, but the team contends it was not because they've fallen on hard times.

Their chemistry is just off, as Heat star Dwyane Wade expressed in a colorful description.

"Let me give you an example," Wade said Sunday, according to ESPN.com. "If you're in a relationship with a woman for a long time, you start getting comfortable. You stop doing the little things that you should do, that you did in the beginning. It's just like a relationship. We got a little comfortable. Now we have to get back on that edge a little bit."

Miami started their season with a decisive win over the Chicago Bulls, yet fell into back-to-back losses against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. They rebounded Sunday in a win over the Washington Wizards, with James and Wade searching for answers prior to the victory.

"It's just getting back into it — not taking what we have for granted," James said, responding to Wade's comments. "We've been together so long, you start to think we can go out and make it happen instead of talking through it. We lacked that the last few games. We got a handle on it today, and we know what the issue is."

Wade believes it's just a matter of being on the court and developing timing.

"Get back to talking, communicating and having that connection, before it gets to that point where we get too far away from what we need to do," Wade said. "Talk about it, knowing what you do wrong and try to go out and correct it — when you get your next opportunity."

It's still early in the season, and James isn't worried about the Heat's position going forward.

"We're not in panic mode right now," James said. "The best thing about our team is (when) we see something that needs to be fixed, we fix it. We get right into it. We don't let things linger too much. We both sense it. We've all been together for a while, so we know."


SANDERS' FRUSTRATIONS


Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate last year, playing his way into a four-year, $44 million contract.

That player hasn't be on display this season, not because Sanders has taken a step back, but because it's been hard for him to stay on the court, as NBA.com's Steve Aschburner details.

Sanders, the player the Bucks appeared set to be build around, is playing only 17.3 minutes per game this season under new coach Larry Drew. And the bulk of that has come in the first half, well before games are decided.

Sanders has played in only 15 second-half minutes, Aschburner notes. In three games, he has yet to play more pass the seven-minute threshold in the second half.

“I feel like I’m capable of being in the game at the end and helping my team win, coming up with blocks and rebounds,” Sanders told NBA.com. “I haven’t been able to get my rhythm out there. I understand foul trouble situations, but tonight I wasn’t in foul trouble.

“Last year I finished so many games. I feel like that’s when I lock in the most. But I haven’t been able to get in the game to finish. That carries over to the next game. When you sit the last three quarters of each game, I can’t have no carryover. And it’s hard for me. I’m still a young player. It’s only my eighth year playing basketball.”

The Bucks are heavy on big men, but Sanders is easily the best of the group. And come next season, when his new deal kicks in, Sanders will be the team's best-paid player, which would be a problem if he were still having trouble finding playing time.


WITTMAN FINE


Washington Wizards coach Randy Wittman has been fined $20,000 by the NBA for using profane language during a postgame news conference.

Wittman swore while discussing the Wizards' 109-102 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The coach was particularly upset with his players' defensive effort in the game. Among his comments: "You've got to respect the game, your opponent. ... Everything you get is 'No, we're OK.' We're not OK. We're 0-2. We're not OK."

The Wizards have since dropped to 0-3. They play the 76ers again on Wednesday.


AMARE'S STATE


New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire will make his return to the basketball court Tuesday when his team takes on the Charlotte Bobcats, according to ESPNNewYork.com.

Stoudemire, who sat out Sunday, will be handled with caution, as he has dealt with chronic knee injuries throughout his career. The Knicks' medical staff has suggested coach Mike Woodson limit Stoudemire to 10 minutes per game, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

The Knicks power forward has had three knee surgeries performed in the past 12 months, and he also underwent microfracture surgery to his left knee in 2005.

The decision to suit up Stoudemire could be handled on a game-to-game basis, even though he previously said irratic schedules have hurt his ability to build a rhythm.

He officially returned from offseason knee surgery against the Bulls on Oct. 31, when he played 11 minutes and shot 2-of-3 from the field.

Contibutors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press