Swagger.
At one time, it was an integral part of the Baron Davis persona. See how he lifted up his jersey and mean mugged around the court in that video? How he made the crowd go crazy? Had that extra lean in his step? That’s swagger right there. Hell, even the announcer caught some swagger by osmosis and defiantly asked viewers “Do you believe NOW?” and then proceeded to trash talk AK47 by telling him “Put THAT on your flat-top!” What a completely surreal moment; the ragtag Warriors winning a big playoff game, led by Baron Davis.
When Baron signed as a free agent last year, that memory was fresh in most Clippers fans minds. He was brought on to revitalize a seemingly stagnant and somewhat boring team with plays like the one shown above. The optimism around the signing was overwhelming. Boom Dizzle, he of incredible swag, was coming to lead the Clippers back to the playoffs.
Well, we all know what happened next. Brand skipped town, B-Diddy went J-Craig, and fans suffered through one of the worst seasons in recent memory. There were no baseline jams, no mean mugging, jersey popping or shoulder brushing. Just losses. Baron endured endless scrutiny, taking the brunt of the blame for the unfulfilled expectations that came with his large contract. Even though Baron was statistically a good distributor (7.7 APG), it was his lack of aggressiveness and propensity to fire up contested threes that drove fans nuts. Although Baron was a former Slam Dunk Contest participant, he finished with only three dunks all year. Matt Bonner, an Arnovitz favorite, unbelievably managed to dunk more times than Baron last year.
Fast forward to this year. Thanks largely to some lottery magic, the optimism is back again this summer and new hopes and expectations have been placed on broader shoulders. If things go as planned, Blake Griffin will eventually become one of the leaders of this team. Griffin may appear to be the best suited to lead right now because of his outstanding work ethic and charisma, but that just isn’t the way the NBA works. Back in 2004, a delusional Ricky Davis said, “I thought LeBron James was just going to be another addition to help me score”. While this quote was (hopefully) in jest, it’s probably not far off from the veteran mentality around the league. 20 year old players, no matter how talented, don’t just take over a locker room instantly. They have to pay their dues first.
So who is the leader of this club? All things considered, it has to be Baron. Playing point guard requires some leadership qualities in itself, but when you’re also the most talented, most accomplished, and highest paid player on the team, it requires buckets of it. The point guard is the literal and figurative head of the team, but in many ways also the heart of it. If you need an example, look down the hall at Derek Fisher. Yes, Phil manages the egos, and Kobe may talk the most (ok, he definitely talks the most) but it’s Fisher who is the guy that sets the example for the non-ridiculously talented on how you’re supposed to play and the level of intensity that is needed on a nightly basis. Kobe yaps, Phil zens, and Fisher “does”, and that’s the formula. It’s simple, and it works.
Of course, for the Clippers, it’s never that simple, and much more is required to have a mentally stable team. The stigma that surrounds the Clippers can easily take on a life of its own if it goes unchecked. Last year it went unchecked, and the Clippers were mentally and emotionally beat in many games before the tip. This year’s Clippers squad looks better on paper and in theory, as they have some lunch-pail type players (Camby, Gordon, Griffin) and no real malcontents (although Ricky Davis still lurks). Missing, however, is a leader with irrefutable, visible confidence. Simply put, the Clippers need the Baron Davis in that video.
Some leaders prefer to lead vocally, while others lead by example. Sam Cassell just happened to do both, which is part of what made him so great. Andre Miller happened to do neither, which is what made him, uh, not so great. Based on Baron’s recent past, we know he is capable of leading…but is he willing? The immediate future seems to depend on that.
22 Responses
Baron Davis thrives in freelancing. Unfortunately Dunleavy won’t let him do that kind of emotional stuff. Sam Cassell had that unique personality to carry the team. Infact the entire team would follow him instinctively even if he’s not inviting it.
STOP. Yes, just stop… that’s what this team thinks and instinctively feels about Baron Davis. They really don’t trust this guy nor they want to follow him.
Undoubtedly it’s ERIC GORDON. I don’t think even GRIFFIN wants to take that mantle away from Gordon.
Gordon has that rare qualities. He has heart, Intelligence, talent, respect to his team and teammates. And he’s only 20.
[Reply]
Posted on July 25th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Great post… and you should defininitely embed Night at the Starbury for every post, KA is a fool for fearing Night at the Starbury… a FOOL I SAY.
[Reply]
Posted on July 25th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Chris Bosh is a leader and he’s also pretty cool with baron, and mabe if he wants to play center we could dump kamans contract and let camby’s expire so we could see if he’s interested into coming to LA in 2010.
[Reply]
adadhs Reply:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
I was just looking at some of his highlights and it looks like he plays center half of the time.Saw him against howard, okafor, biedrins. One play was against turkoglu. kind of reminds me of griffin’s position flexibility.
[Reply]
Posted on July 25th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Totally unrelated to the post, but with Andre Miller joining the Blazers… I expect the Sixers to make a run for Sessions. Teams typically do not like to start rookie PGs, and chances are that is how the Sixers feel about their 1st round pick Jrue Holliday.
Speaking of the Blazers, why didn’t they make a run at Sessions? They had plenty of money, and he has plenty of promise. His ball distribution skills would complement Roy, and Aldridge, and the Blazers need not worry about his so-so shooting since they won’t need him to shoot.
Anyway, I don’t see the Clippers having Sessions – unless they are able to trade Telfair, or convince Sessions that Telfair will be the 3rd stringer.
[Reply]
SamMays Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 9:13 am
The Blazers have a young PG in Bayless that they could have handed the job to. They wanted a veteran to lead the team so Bayless could understudy for another couple years… Had they gone for Sessions, it would have been a slam on Bayless… Portland wanted a sure thing and steady veteran hand…
[Reply]
Posted on July 25th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Wrong clip maybe?
[Reply]
Posted on July 25th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Not being able to rely on Baron being a true leader (except when it comes to being on Twitter and downing donuts) is one of the main reasons why bringing in Sessions should be a big priority.
Baron should be moved next summer and thus open the door for Gordon/Griffin (and possibly Sessions) to become the undisputed leaders of this team. Having a vet who should be the leader but isn’t is a major distraction to any team because it blocks other players that want to and can provide that leadership from taking over that very role.
Remove the faux leader, i.e. Baron, from the pecking order and watch this team blossom.
[Reply]
SamMays Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Absolutely… There is no way Dunleavy wants to have his season held hostage by Baron’s whims… I think he’s going to do whatever he has to to get Sessions. After the way Baron played last year, in terms of skill and effort, the way he tanked on Dunleavy, there is no way Dunleavy can trust him… Hell, I have nothing at stake other than wanting to see good basketball and I don’t trust him. How can Dunleavy?
Sessions represents a backup who is good enough to start. If Baron doesn’t bring it, Dunleavy will have the option of embarrassing Baron by benching him, or trading him (if he’s fortunate enough to find a taker). What’s Memphis up to?
[Reply]
bongstradamus Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I dont even think Memphis would spend money at Wal Mart this off season. They look like they just want to save cash this season, not play basketball.
[Reply]
Posted on July 26th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Just some 2010 trades for kaman.
—If we want lebron or johnson
kaman for brad miller. center, 12mil expiring contract.
kaman for joel przybilla, save us 3.6mil
—if we want bosh,amare
kaman for battier, brian cook. battier will save us 3.5mil & cook is an expiring contract for 3.5
[Reply]
Chris. Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 10:53 am
All of these trade Kaman scenarios leaves us with no center in 2010 aside from Jordan who is not ready to start. Camby is the better trading piece at the trade deadline with the trade exemption (could trade for Joe Johnson or whoever you wanted, and then re-sign them for more with their bird rights which would be the best way to get any of those players).
[Reply]
pel Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 11:55 am
pretzelbilla has 2 years on his contract. Did good while oden was out in portland
[Reply]
Posted on July 26th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Here’s the thing… Leaders emerge during the worst of times, not the best. It’s easy to call yourself a leader when everything is going great. If Baron was truly that leader, if it was really in his DNA, it would have shown itself last season…even while losing. That’s why I totally agree the ERIC GORDON is and will be the heart and soul of this current roster. Baron had his chance and failed spectacularly.
[Reply]
Posted on July 26th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Bill Simmons said it best when he said Barron Davis looked like he was smelling a bad fart everytime he was dribbled the ball up and Dunleavy called a play.
[Reply]
Posted on July 26th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
The Clippers have had some lousy teams and lousy, unwatchable players in the past, but last year Baron put himself up high on the list of most underacheiving, painful to watch Clippers in history, joining Benoit Benjamin, Michael Olowakandi… Hell, I liked watching Andre Miller more…
[Reply]
Posted on July 26th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Sessions is apparently willing to come to LA, but doesn’t want to share the PG time with Telfair.
He did mention he was fine backing up Baron, just not Telfair.
[Reply]
Posted on July 26th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Well said (and well written, too.) Like it or not, Baron is our best shot at a successful 09/10 season. Griffin will be great, but rookies don’t carry teams in this league (Durant had a phenominal rookie year, and that was good for a 20 win season.) Gordon is an all-star in the making, but he’s a complimentary player. Thornton is too one dimensional. If this team is to exceed my (admittedly low) expectations for the upcoming season, it will only happen because Baron plays better than we hope he does.
I want to believe it can happen, but I’ve been a Clipper fan for a very long time.
Lost in all the Richardson/Telfair/Sessions talk is the possibility that Craig Smith could still develop into a very good player.
[Reply]
Posted on July 27th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Clipper Nation needs a good season (praying for many miracles & a new training & conditioning staff to keep our boys healthy!!!!
[Reply]
Posted on July 27th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
man i can’t believe all the hate for bd. pining for andre miller? really? baron wants to be in l.a. he wants to play well. he understands that in order to have a post nba career like his mentor magic johnson you need to be successful on the court and to be loved off of it (strippers don’t count). baron is going to bring his a+ game next year. he knows he has more nba years behind him than ahead of him. last year was a nightmare for everyone. next year everyone gets rewarded. the injured get healthy, the disinterested get focused, those who took 2 steps back (a.t.) leap ahead even those who were wrongly labeled as morons will be wrongly labeled as geniuses. believe it.
[Reply]
Posted on July 28th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
The only way we see this type of Baron is the day Dunleavy is finally gone, or the day he finally decides to shut up.
[Reply]
Posted on July 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
[...] as young, dangerous, fast-breaking, pick-and-rolling, cross-matching, bats out of hell with a swagger never really seen in Clipper [...]
Posted on September 5th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Add A Comment