| Baron Davis Is Back Authored by Payam Jahromi - November 13, 2006 - 2:48 pm
The Warriors go as Baron Davis goes.
If there was any doubt about that, the first seven games of this season have put an exclamation on that point.
Baron got off to a slow start the first three games, and the Warriors went 1-2. He’s been terrific the past four, where the Warriors are 3-1.
In the four wins, Baron is averaging 24.8 points (on 50% FG), 8.8 assists, 1.3 turnovers, four rebounds and three steals.
In the three losses, he’s averaging 14 points (on 33% FG), 5.3 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 3.3 rebounds and one steal.
Based on those numbers, and from what we’ve seen the past year and a half, we can agree that for the Warriors to be good, Baron Davis has to be good.
The question is, can he consistently be the player he’s been the past four games, or will he continue to be inconsistent and injury-prone?
No one can answer that right now, but as I said in my column on August 21st
Baron should be motivated like never before, and if he’s ever going to have another big year, this is it.
But it’s not merely his numbers over the last four games that have been impressive. What has stood out for me is how he’s led the team.
The Baron Davis we watched last year was not the same player we saw at the end of the 2004-05 season, when the Warriors finished the season on fire after acquiring Davis in a trade.
That season, Baron was “leading” the Warriors in every way and every other player fed off him. Last season, he had stretches where he put up great numbers, but it never felt the way it did the year before.
Over the last four games, I’ve had the same feeling I had when watching him after the trade. The other 11 players are feeding of Baron and it has helped raise their games, like a quarterback who has the confidence of the entire team.
Of course, a lot of the credit for Baron’s turnaround must be given to Don Nelson, who asked Baron to come to camp lighter and in shape. The coach and the point guard have a great relationship, and Baron has done everything the coach has asked.
It makes a difference when the floor leader has faith in the coach. Last season, Davis and Mike Montgomery probably didn’t see eye to eye. They seemed to get along ok (despite rumors that they didn’t), but I never had the feeling that Baron had faith in the coach’s system.
This season is different. And Warriors fans must pray that Baron stays healthy. If that happens, the playoffs are a definite reality.
Questions or comments, you can reach me at pjahromi@sbcglobal.net |
