I like BD better than last year, but last year was really tough to take. He seemed to have a lot of juice right out of the gate, and I think losing that Phoenix game was a big hit to our leaders morale at the time, but obviously the better his weapons play I believe the more investment he’ll put in. Need a healthy Gordon, Thornton to continue what he’s doing, and hopefully that’ll be enough before Griffin gets back.

Don’t apologize for going for it, sg. You did an excellent job. We all prefer to draft off of SP’s hard work, but sometimes it must be nice for him to follow up after somebody else takes a shot. It’s hard to maintain the effort and enthusiasm when the team is struggling and up and down, so SP can use the help I’m sure. I know I’ve been bummed out and slacking off. A piece like this one is welcomed by all of us.

So let’s break it down a bit. I’m pretty sure that the quote was about the team and how they would be doing after 20 games, rather than just BD himself. But that was before the Griffin injury, and well before Gordon was out. So I don’t think that it really applies, except that of course 20 games is 20 games, so there’s no getting around it.

I like the theory that a big story behind BD’s totals and statistical, quantifiable performance is about his teammates. Basically, I think he worked hard and showed up in a good, productive, determined frame of mind, and his own play has been fairly stellar. It was a devastating blow to lose Griffin right before the opener, taking away the x factor that was supposed to elevate the team a number of levels above last year’s debacle. Losing Gordon shortly afterwards created a threat that the whole thing might go down the tubes again. The Clips responded fairly well to Gordon’s absence, with Thornton stepping up and Camby coming on strong. But Baron has led the way and he has been consistently good, far improved over last year. His leadership has been severely tested by the setbacks during these first twenty games, the first one occurring before the team was even out of the gate, and he has done well. The conflicts with Dunleavy from last year seem to be gone. BD seems to know that a certain type of play, and level of execution, is expected of him, and everything follows from that. And he’s done a good job on those counts. Not perfect, but he has been solid. And it’s more than enough that, with Gordon coming back, he’s shown now that he can handle his own role and the pressure and expectations that come with it.

If the “let’s see where we are after 20 games” was nullified by injuries, we can change that to two upcoming steps: let’s see where the Clips are by the time that Griffin comes back, and then let’s see what happens when he finally joins the lineup. Gordon is a key element. The team evolved quite a bit in his absence. It’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of weeks, with him back, but the games getting tougher at the same time.

The one thing that I’d still like to see BD tighten up is the turnovers. Dunleavy mentioned in today’s LAT, I believe, that turnovers are the one thing that have been critical and debilitating in the Clippers’ mostly mediocre play over the first 20 games. And BD is directly involved with that. He has always been turnover-prone, I believe, but it was offset by his athleticism and explosiveness. Now, in his more “contained” mode, he is still turning the ball over on occasion with lazy, routine passes. These aren’t errors of risk and explosiveness, and if he can cut them out it will help the cause. The team overall will be improved if they can take care of the ball just a little bit better, and that starts with BD.

Meaningless 3’s at the end of games…

That forced shot at the end of the 3rd quarter really irked me.

At the end of the last year he looked like a below average NBA player, He’ll never be a star again, and at his contract he should be, but at least he’s trying hard most nights and at least a high middle of the pack starting point guard.

Baron Davis is a disease.He never won anything in his carear. He is self centered and out of tune with his teammates.Nelson loved that Donleavy got him out of his hair.You make an excuse that he was out of shape last year after taking down 60 million dollars. They had to bring in Lucas as his personal coach. Sterling you also are stupid to let this happen. Get rid of Kaman with Davis and use Griffin, Gordon with Camby as a nucleus to build a team.The savior Gordon will be 21 on Dec 25. Gordon’s father does not want Gordon to play for the Clippers and who blames him. Don Mclean is another one with his stupid opinions to get rid of.Donleavy clean house.