Baron Insurance....Please!

by ClipperJake on Aug 15, 2009 8:09 AM PDT

Recently I had considered writing something scathing about Baron because I felt way too many people consider him a top 5 point guard or make these predictions about 40 wins(or eighth seed) based on him being an elite player. Well, after the reading the times and daily news this morning I was a bit encouraged because at least it sounds like there was some admission of fault, self loathing, and motivation. I do have to take it all with a grain of salt though, it seems like through his career it's always something minus two seasons with the Warriors.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-clippers-davis15-2009aug15,0,4434687.story

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/ci_13107224

Over the last seven seasons Baron has missed less than 30 games or shot better than 40% twice not exactly consistent with someone considered elite. Of course the two seasons where he didn't miss 30 games and shot over 40% he played in Nelson's abandon D run and chuck offense surrounded with guys like Stephen Jackson, Monte Ellis, Jason Richardson, hell even Harrington shot well from three and has put up some pretty good scoring numbers. (and yes I know Harrington is a complete idiot, to this day I laugh out loud thinking about him slapping backboards... If it wasn't for that the Clippers were a 17 win team)

Point being, I don't think you can call a season where the so-called leader of the team misses 30+ games and/or shoots sub 40% while taking a ton of shots a good year. But that's exactly what he's done many more times than not. And the only time he hasn't turned in one of these bad years (can't call them sub-par because they happen more than not) he played in a Nelson system surrounded by vets that could get you 20 and Ellis a kid that could get you 20.

So where is this team if Baron throws in another stinker??? Is Telfair who also shoots sub 40% the guy that keeps the team a float? Kaman and three young starters going to get it done (and yes I do like the young players but you can only expect so much)? I'm just saying if they don't get sessions or a backup PG better than Telfair we're all counting on a guy that can't be counted on. If this team struggles early Camby and/or Kaman could both be dealt and then the race to the bottom begins again. Season ticket holders left holding the bag!

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nice reality check

keeps us down to earth

by cantthinkofagoodname on Aug 15, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions

I dunno...

after reading this article, i actually have a lot more faith in him to make a comeback and have a good year. what do you guys think?

by AtotheZ on Aug 15, 2009 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

im sorry

i realized you have that link in your post, but i guess i share different feeling than you. I feel a bit more optomistic than you but i guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens

by AtotheZ on Aug 15, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I frankly can't see how he and MDSr can coexist

by Jax on Aug 15, 2009 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I hear ya...

I’d love to see it workout… But is frustrating when a more offense would play to Baron’s strengths and probably Thornton’s too! If the Clips ran a little more maybe that Baron contract wouldn’t look so horrible… I was actually stunned to hear that he and Davis were getting together to watch film. Let’s pray that’s a good sign!

by ClipperJake on Aug 16, 2009 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

lol i dont think anyone thinks baron davis is a top 5 pg considering there is CP3, Dwill, SN, CB, GA TP, DH, RR, DR, JN, and JC all way ahead of him.

top 10 might even be a stretch.

In Kobe we trust!

by robi s on Aug 15, 2009 1:13 PM PDT reply actions

Robi s..

You might need to spell out the nmes instead of abbreviating them.. I’m currently haing trouble..

Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve nash,

Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!

by JackduhSun on Aug 15, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

CB= Chris Bosh?

Lol i barely know half of theses abreviations. Whos JC? Jose Calderon?

by ItwillbeFATAL on Aug 15, 2009 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought Chris Bosh too

Maybe robi s just proved BD is a top five guard since his initials are more recognizable than the others. And no, Jose Calderon is not “way ahead of him.” Baron leads in points, assists and dunks (3 dunks to 2).

by Polish Rifle on Aug 16, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Good point...

I should clarify before last season he was definitely considered a top 5 pg and I think there are some Clips fans that think of him in that light. Since then Rose has hit the scene Billups stock has gone back up and Rondo had a great playoffs. I tend to agree with you which prompted my post, I think there are a lot of people that sort of fixate on BD at his best which is why I wanted to point out how infrequently it happens… To a much smaller scale it reminds of how a ton of people thought Mike Tyson was still good even when he really stunk because they couldn’t let go of how great he used to be.

I just thought someone should point out how infrequently Baron has a great year and the conditions necessary for him to have a great year like having Nelson as a coach, surround him with a bunch of shooters, and throwing in a contract year doesn’t hurt either…Sadly I’m not sure the clips have all(or any) of thos factors going for them.

I think you’d agree that if instead of last year’s stinker he had a third straight Warrior like season he’d be right there at 5.

by ClipperJake on Aug 16, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

i still dont think jameer nelson is really that good a point guard. same with gilbert arenas assuming that is who GA is. Same with DH (devin harris i’m assuming).

I think if baron is in the top 10, he is like #10. he’s really border line at this point. but he’s as good or better than arenas, devin harris, jameer nelson and the like. those guys just dont get injured and they are on teams that play their style.

I figure unarguably better than baron are:

chris paul,
deron williams
derrick rose
jose calderon
steve nash
chauncey billups
rajon rondo
tony parker (though i’m not convinced he’s really that much of a pg)

the rest of the guys i think you can all lump together i figure

baron, jkidd at this age, tj ford, jameer nelson, devin harris (i dont care how much he scores, i suppose he is like tony parker, in the “not really a real pg” land with gilbert arenas), arenas, andre miller, etc.

I mean as much as people dont like baron here, would you trade him for jameer nelson (nelson makes almost as much, is like 5’10 and is not as good a passer) if they made the same amount of money?

by hans007 on Aug 15, 2009 1:45 PM PDT reply actions

yes I would rather have Jameer Nelson vs. Baron last year.

by andrewexd on Aug 15, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Rajon Rondo?

Thats argueable…

Mike Smith on Eric Gordon: "The Clippers may have found their go to scorer."
On a second note, I want Novak back!

by JackduhSun on Aug 15, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Rondo averaged a triple double in 14 playoff games

Definitely yes

by d2s4ui1 on Aug 15, 2009 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

If by "almost as much"

you mean “half”, then ok.

by d2s4ui1 on Aug 15, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

People I'd trade Baron straight up for (taking age and contracts into account)

Assuming we could somehow make the salary numbers work:

Paul, Williams, Rose, Calderon, Rondo, Parker (I wouldn’t be too excited about it b/c he’d be heading into his 30s by the time Griffin/Gordon fully develop, but still), Nelson, Harris.

And Sessions at the midlevel!

by d2s4ui1 on Aug 15, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

This team is depending too much on what kind of season Baron Davis will have, and I´m not very comfortable with that. Last year he was such a bust that I don´t want to hear any more promises.
Given that a franchise has enough space to pay for one or two superstars, and Baron´s getting paid to be one, if he doesn´t perform, I´m afraid that we´re screwed for the long haul. That unless MDSr becomes Executive of the year, and after getting R Sessions on the cheap, he finds a sucker to take on BD´s contract .
But let´s all hope Baron can be the leader the Clippers need in their chase of the playoffs. That way everything will be more simple.

Am I the only Clipper Fan in South America?

by edu_argentina on Aug 15, 2009 2:13 PM PDT reply actions

Same

Get Sessions, then pull a Houston mid-season and trade the veteran (in their case Alston, in our case Davis) to some contender. In our case I’d even be willing to just take on random dead-weight contracts (it’s unlikely they’d all last 4 years like Davis’).

I mean think about it…in 2 years we’ll have a 32 year old PG with injury problems with 2 years, 28.5 million left. Chemistry issues notwithstanding, isn’t that worse than Randolph’s “toxic” contract this year?

by d2s4ui1 on Aug 15, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Now I understand Dunleavey's obsession with Sessions

He’s the best PG that is realistically obtainable by the Clippers. And if Baron bombs or goes down due to injury, Sessions could fill the void as a facilitator better than anyone else we currently have on the team.

"Excellence...is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle

by Cliptomaniac on Aug 17, 2009 5:07 PM PDT reply actions