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| This guy right here. No, not the guy on the left, or on the right. The guy in the middle. |
Baron Davis may have signed his career away, and lost any shot at an NBA championship. And it’s beginning to look like he notices it.
Davis came closest to being a serious contender with Golden State, and he flourished in Don Nelson’s system, putting up the best numbers of his career.
Then he was presented with what looked like the best opportunity he’d ever have to win a championship.
In very similar fashion to the Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers also looked like they were finally turning the corner. Of course, Elton Brand then missed nearly an entire season due to injury.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Health has been a question for the majority of Baron’s career as well. But Davis and Brand had a unique opportunity, have the best teammate they’ve ever played with, and make the Clippers a contender again.
In the beginning, all parties were sold on the idea. But then something really interesting happened…
After initially telling the Clippers that for $75 million and the acquisition of Baron Davis he would stay (according to Mike Dunleavy), Elton Brand bolted to Philadelphia for $80 million. This of course happened less than a week after Davis was signed to a five-year, big money deal to play alongside him.
In an act of desperation, the Clippers dealt for Marcus Camby. Camby and Al Thornton gave Baron Davis some sort of accompaniment. But the spots four through 15 of the Clippers’ roster are a group of question marks. The players rounding out this squad are either unproven kids or over-the-hill veterans.
I can only speculate that his morale is down. But his numbers thus far are the worst he has put up since his second year in the league, including a career-low field goal percentage.
Although we can only assume that his numbers are a reflection of the awful situation he is in, Davis himself is beginning to air his frustration publicly.
Davis is now expressing his dissatisfaction with not playing in an up-tempo offense (which wildly favors his style of play), instead of being given a different half court set play every time down the court. More interestingly, he sounded as if he was expecting to play up-tempo ball for the Clippers.
This all boils down to one undeniable conclusion: Baron Davis got hosed. The teammate he was promised bailed, the game play he was promised is nonexistent, and now with his new salary he is going to be tough to move.
It’s a tough time to be Baron Davis.
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about 1 month ago
We'll trade the clippers Al Harrington for Baron Davis.
about 1 month ago
I'm glad the clippers are having a terrible season. There announcers during the games and anaylst after the games are so annoying. They boast so much about the clippers, and if one didn't know any better you would think they just one a world championship. The clippers are now 1-7 and after every game they always they say the clippers should have won this game, but they let the other team stay in it.
As for your article I totally agree. Baron is getting points but he doesn't seem to be having the same impact on the game. Who knows, it might just be a clippers curse.
Go Lakers or Warriors, whatever your preference. Or even Sacramento but not the clippers.
from about 1 month ago
Jeremy, why bash the Clippers? Really I mean what have they done to anyone? Announcers have to sound enthused about their team and say positive things. It is marketing, Propaganda, and good business. Think of the movie Major League as a great example. Harry Doyle stretches the truth quite a bit.
about 1 month ago
Yeah Jeremy, rule number one of being a local sportscaster is that you have to play to the home team. I think Mike Breen is the best play by play guy out there, and even he had to praise the Knicks for the last 7 years. People in Los Angeles don't want to hear about how their team sucks. They want to hear that Al Thornton is a rising star, or that a couple of bench players have "a lot of potential"
And Scott...
JUST A BIT OUTSIDE
about 1 month ago
Umm..he got himself into this. But at the same time, he had to go where his dough was at. I hate Robert Rowell that muthaf***ka.
Thanks for the article.
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