Clippers Training Camp - Baron Sits Out First Practice
by Steve Perrin on Sep 28, 2010 1:34 PM PDT
in News
Email
PrintThe Vinny Del Negro era began today, with Baron Davis watching from the sidelines. As a precaution stemming from his lack of conditioning, the drills today were conducted without Baron. Instead, Baron did individual conditioning before and after practice, but was limited to observer status during the practice proper.
Brian Cook, Craig Smith and Randy Foye were also held out of portions of the practice as VDN seems to be taking a go slow approach at the beginning of camp. Coach doesn't seem concerned, insisting that if there was a game tomorrow, all the players who were held back today would play, including Baron. They're taking it 'day to day' with Baron, and no one will say when he might have his first full participation.
So this puts yesterday's comments about Baron's conditioning in a slightly different light. Assuming they knew that Baron would be held out today, the team wasn't going to be able to soft sell the situation - it was going to get talked about eventually. So in that case it was wise to get out in front of the issue. The first game of the season is four weeks from tomorrow, and there's more than enough time for Baron to get into game shape. He's also 31 years old with a history of some fairly significant injuries. Even if he was in perfect shape, he's the kind of player who would likely sit out a preseason practice from time to time. Still, it doesn't send a very positive message to start a new regime, a new era with a supposedly new attitude, with the team's highest paid player spectating.
As for the rest of practice, Coach seemed pleased. It's the first day so they're just getting started, going over terminology and philosophy. He highlighted positive energy during the practice and felt like it was a good session overall.
Asked about the presence of two veteran bigs in camp as unsigned free agents, Del Negro admitted that he was probably not going to be comfortable going into the season with only two centers on the roster. That's good news for either Jarron Collins or Jake Voskuhl - but probably bad news for Willie Warren or Marqus Blakely. Neil Olshey, like his predecessor Mike Dunleavy, would prefer to keep a roster spot open going into the season, meaning an opening day rostrer of 14. With 12 fully guaranteed contracts and either Collins or Voskuhl, there's only room for one of the remaining rookies.
We spoke to Blake Griffin some as well. He was understandably excited to have completed his first official practice since being injured almost a year ago. Asked how excited he was to play in a pre-season game in one week, he said "Not nearly as excited as I am to play in a regular season game." That day is four weeks from tomorrow.
The Clippers have another two hour practice this evening at 5 PM. The rest of training camp has two-a-days on Thursday and Saturday, and single practices tomorrow and Friday. I guess we'll find out soon enough how many of those eight practices include Baron Davis.
97 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Thank you for the report
Are the situations of Cook, Smith, and Foye due to recovery of injuries, and are they all knee related?
It seems like going for 14 players will be a tough situations for the rookies. It’s hard to just pick one additional member to come along outside the 1 center.
by ClipperTheorist on Sep 28, 2010 1:45 PM PDT reply actions
I imagine Brian Cook is still busy celebrating his return to LA
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
by Erik O on Sep 28, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
This is the real reason Baron's growing his beard out
self defense
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
Walton looks Very Jealous
Get your lips off my man! KOBE how could You?
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Brian Cook is dedicated
Don’t you steal my kisses Shannon Brown!
Smith and Foye and Cook
Smith and Foye both had off season surgery. I don’t know of a specific reason for Cook, but he only played 44 minutes last season and was waived in Feb, so he hasn’t had a lot of full court ball in a while.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Sep 28, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
The Cook signing was the only thing that Hollinger got right in his preseason Clipper review
I have no idea why L.A. did this. None. Cook has been terrible for the past three years; I can’t imagine they needed to guarantee a second year to win a bidding war.
Fortunately for Hollinger, this didn’t take a lot analysis.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Heh
the 2nd year is the truly baffling part. Again, what incriminating photos does Brian Cook have on the front office?
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Sep 28, 2010 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Club Optimism here.
Maybe it’s a good thing that the staff and front office are no longer trying to sugarcoat excuses that we’ve been fed for a number of years. Maybe this is the start — now it’s letting players know when they’re not in shape that it’s not accepted. During the season it could be accountability for on-court effort and play. If I’m not mistaken I don’t remember the Dunleavy era calling out players much, other than a few snide comments here or there. So who knows … maybe telling us yesterday and today that Baron is out of shape will give us a little more transparency.
Good point
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
MDSr.
… Last year said that he was going to discipline and fine players if they showed up out of shape. I think Dunleavy was very vocal about that.
by ChrisS.Oaks on Sep 28, 2010 2:12 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Maybe Baron should just not be out of shape?
Nah, crazy talk.
Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is - Gang Starr
Maybe Baron just has really heavy front teeth
Looking at that pic just makes me wonder if getting some new front teeth might get him halfway to his goal
I'd like to hear other examples about other teams and their players
In particular, how often do coaches single out their players, and how commonplace is it for veterans to play themselves into shape.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Commonplace
It’s not uncommon…. BUT… a guy like Shaq doesn’t get into shape until March or April, but he’s Shaq. Baron should be coming in with something to prove.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Sep 28, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions
baron
i thought he would turn the corner and really be on board…right im so disgusted with baron….its hard for me to read this….everyone is ready to go…ready to lay it all out there and here’s “fatso” sitting on the sidelines……….please get rid of him.
Hmmmmmmmmm
I’m starting to get the feeling you don’t like Baron Davis……………………………………… just a hunch.
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
Where'd you get that sense from?
…I thought he was Baron’s #1 fan.
As the great Confucius once said,
“Don’t judge someone’s opinion about someone else based on like 30 haterade posts they made about that person in which they repeatedly referred to them as ‘fatso.’”
(Also known as the Golden Rule)
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
Confucius was an overweight screwball
Not that you should read anything into that
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Dellago:
Have you looked at the pics? Baron is the same size as EJ. If Baron is fatso, then you have to add EJ to that equation.
SilverClip:
I am right there with you. Since when does the GM and coach give a heads up to the player they are going to front in the media?
Anyone else question why VDN would freely give up info like that on Media day? Especially when it wasn’t solicited?
Maybe he is pandering to the fans/media
with his hiring a question mark, maybe he is doing this to legitimize his hiring?
I’m not worried too much though, it isn’t like there are plenty of reports of him partying. All the reports about Baron have been about doing charity work.
Good call
If you’re going to get out of shape, do it by performing charity work and by adding awareness to the unfortunate gang situation in LA. At least he’s not strutting around South Beach… I wonder how out of shape the Super Friends are, compared to their usual selves?
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
They looked a little flabby on NBATV last night.
How about how LAC Media day got the Snub on NBATV Gametime
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Is Al Thornton still your favorite player?
"Things change when something is taken away from you" -BG32
you can't reason with a troll CJ haven't you learned anything
"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"unknown
It isn't the fact that Baron is carrying extra weight, but rather the fact that he is out of shape conditioning wise.
He needs to get his heart rate up and expand his lungs oxygen exchange to open his blodd vessels to transport blood throughout his body….basically he needs to get a good burn and sweat!
This is a Good sign!
VDN aka Bob Loblaw is a new coach here and in the first official practice why take any chances with BD and risk injury.
Plus who knows how long VDN has been working with BD at the practice facility, and maybe there is more to the story?
Unlike MDsr. burning out players before they can even reach the Reg season, this is Good coaching thus far and it will only get better.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Well it's not a great start
New season and Baron’s health is a question…again. I guess that’s just the reality. Hope Bledsoe is legit…I’m guessing he’ll get his chance to earn some real minutes this year and next.
ESPN Insider is reporting that Davis "has some swelling in his knee and a strained calf."
Actually, they’re getting their info from Lisa Dillman.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
And Kevin Love is undergoing an MRI exam
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Those are both the result of being out of shape...
Baron is such a disgrace as a professional athlete.
I guess you never heard of the name Eddty Curry..
"Things change when something is taken away from you" -BG32
If it was me
Guys like Steve would me, because I would never talk to the media like this. If the club feels the need to hold Baron out of practice, then fine, but just make up some BS excuse as for why you are holding him out (migraine or something.) I just don’t see how the Clippers interests are advanced by announcing that Baron is not in game shape. Let’s not kid ourselves, the expectations are never going to be that high and it’s not like the Lakers where there are hoards of tenacious media folks looking for problems to exploit.
I’m lost on this.
I see a new regime trying to bring a different energy
Where you could call Dunleavy slightly passive-aggressive, I get the sense that Olshey and Del Negro want to be on top of the situation as much as possible. Perhaps a more confident organization wouldn’t micro-manage this much, but the Clippers have no reason to be confident-they need any edge they can get. I think the organization sees the potential in this Griffin/EJ core and are anxious to see that this opportunity nets some results.
In other words, there’s a lot of nervous energy within Sterling’s top Clipper employees.
by ghost_ride on Sep 28, 2010 3:27 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It's a good question
It might just be change for the sake of change, and a different approach just to have a different approach. MDSr was obviously very intense, and he seemed to prize honesty and straightforwardness, but it was easy to tell that there was a big difference between the public and private versions. MDSr’s “professionalism” had a certain NBA insider edge to it. And he also was especially deferential to veterans.
So maybe VDN and Olshey are just trying the approach of “this is what’s going on” and “here is where we are,” as opposed to the old Dunleavy trick of “these things are too complicated for you to understand.” (If Dunleavy ever actually did anything like that.)
But the other thing is that this puts a lot of responsibility on Baron’s shoulders. It makes him the focal point, both in good and bad. I think that’s the way they want it. It’s seems like an intentional strategy. I’m sure they believe that Baron will step up and answer the bell.
by citizen zhiv on Sep 28, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
MDSr prized honesty and straightforwardness? Seriously Zhiv?
MDSr was the de facto GM for six years while they all pretended to all of us that Elgin was the GM.
Then when Falk caught him he professed his innocence, telling us all that he was just the coach talking to EB.
Come on.
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
I said "seemed"
The Elgin part of things was just to keep Elgin propped up as the GM, I would think. But a better question might be how much MDSr was doing and how much Olshey was doing, for the past couple of years. What was Olshey’s role, for instance, in the FElton debacle, and the Baron Davis signing? No honesty and straightforwardness there. The whole thing is still a mystery. I’m not as skeptical about Dunleavy’s role as you are, but it doesn’t matter.
I think my complete sentence shows ample skepticism about MDSr’s honesty, and how we knew the public was never getting the full story.
MDSr wanted to seem honest, straightforward, and professional, and he aimed to bring DTS into line with the contemporary NBA. But he was obviously self-serving, and his genuine “honesty” seemed to crop up most often when it served his own purposes.
I also had a general sense that MDSr played the insider, “you little people don’t really know about these things” card a lot of time.
I was always willing to give him credit for making a lot progress on the professionalism side for the Clippers. But he was wacked out in his own stubborn, controlling way, and I must say I don’t miss him. And we don’t know if the Clippers couldn’t have done just as well or much better with somebody else.
But now we get to start a new chapter.
by citizen zhiv on Sep 29, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
You should ask the Clipper execs what they think of MDSr
Those I’ve spoken with have told me that they think he’s an arrogant SOB who blamed everyone else for his failures. To me not owning up to your own failings is the opposite of honesty and professionalism.
I would imagine that if Steve is actually able to speak to the Clipper brass “off the record” that they’d tell him the same thing.
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Still don't understand how you can hate the man that did so much to improve the organization.
I like MDSr. and appreciate how hard he tried to make us a legit franchise.
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's going down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Sep 29, 2010 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Tho he was long overdue to step down from the sidelines...no question.
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's going down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Sep 29, 2010 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions
No need to put words in my mouth
I think he’s incompetent. I don’t hate him. He would never be able to get us to the next level. EB not signing here should tell you that. He’s not a good coach. He’s not a good people person. Somehow he convinced DTS to part with some money, I’ll give you that. But they should have moved on from him long ago and keeping him around (through that ridiculous contract) just delayed the inevitable and watching that happen was like torture for me.
Most people think he’s a poor coach. There are a few vocal people on this site who think otherwise.
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Although EB not signing may have been a huge blessing in disguise
"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"unknown
I like transparency, so I like what is going on.
I’m tired of the club hiding stuff from us fans.
I thought Kim was pretty forthcoming
and that didn’t really help the team. I don’t feel like they’ve hidden too much from the fans, maybe they just haven’t done much this summer…
good point
The only difference is that VDN should command more respect. He has technically never missed the playoffs and never coached a sub .500 team.
by indy818 on Sep 28, 2010 9:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
im not worried about conditioning
…and by looks of the pics it can only be conditioning, unless he’s hiding a pocket “gut” in one of his pockets or his shoe or something. Sounds like we got some people on here complaining just to be complaining or just started Baron behind the 8 ball, in their minds. This reminded me of the post I’m going to put up about current clipper fan pet peeves. 3 reoccuring themes over the last couple of months and years.
Energy * Focus * No Excuses
by Takebb909 on Sep 28, 2010 3:13 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
UGH
How come the media always bashes the Clippers?? And how come the Lakers never have to play on Sunday?? And another thing… why is it that we never seem to get the benefit of any calls?? And why do we have to sit in purple seats at Staples?? And how come Donald Sterling always has to be racist?? And why do we have to wear blue and red all the time?? And how come Kaman is so damn pale?? And why is Baron’s beard so scruffy? AND WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED AT THE END OF INCEPTION? Complaining to complain is fun :)
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
lol
P.S. the Lakers play on Sundays fairly often. Hence, their Sunday white jerseys
nevermind, you’re must be joking about that
Haha
I read something somewhere that we have to play more often on Sunday… or was it Saturday? Whichever day historically results in more losses, we got that day. I think I meant Saturday. But yeah i was joking :P
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
Not sure what the hub bub is about. Baron will be ready
If not, Eric Bledsoe will get a lot of reps and be ready to run the point.
Um no
did you not catch summer league at all? Bledsoe is not even close to being able to run a offense in the NBA. Foye would have to fill in. Maybe the Clips will bring in Earl Watson who practiced with the team the other day.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Sep 28, 2010 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Didn't Earl sign with someone else?
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
With Utah
and it was a guaranteed contract, so it ain’t happening
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent"- Qui-Gon Jinn
Did he?
could be true, just saw a article the other day referring to him as a free agent practicing with the Clippers but it also mentioned the Jazz GM being there.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Sep 28, 2010 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah he did
here’s da link: http://www.nba.com/jazz/roster/
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent"- Qui-Gon Jinn
Let's start a rumor...
Baron is sitting out, because he is part of a trade that is sending Carmelo Anthony to the Clippers, within the next couple of days!
;)
"look, you can find any coach you want, bring him in here and run the situation. But I don't think they are going to do as good a job as I do." -Mike Dunleavy Sr.
that makes perfect sense
…. well except, i’m not sure the best method to up a guy’s trade value is going around saying how fat he is……. must already be signed off, and just waiting for them to pass physicals.
Who else sat out of practice? Maybe it’s a multi-team trade CP3, Dhoward, and Melo.
LOL..
Yes! Perfect!
D-Howard
Griffin
Melo
Gordon
CP3
Let’s do this! :)
I think Foye, Smith, and Cook also sat out, but those guys can’t be traded yet.
"look, you can find any coach you want, bring him in here and run the situation. But I don't think they are going to do as good a job as I do." -Mike Dunleavy Sr.
by CLiPPz WeRD 12 on Sep 28, 2010 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Shame on Baron
Baron, let me know when AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY confirms that you really are in shape, then I’ll buy a game ticket. Shame on you for your arrogance. No one gives a f@#£
of your vision as a producer, they tolerate you because you are an NBA player and have $ to make a film. See how fast your producer opps disappear when your NBA career ends. Sounds like that will happen sooner than you realize.
Actually
I think by giving Baron a free pass in the beginning of training camp, VDN is actually stroking Baron’s ego (sorry, I couldn’t find a better way to state my opinion).
I mean we ALL know what BD is capable of. Why not give him Superstar treatment. It just might bring the skills we need out of him this season. God knows the team has tried everything else to get him going.
doubt it.
Play the right way.
Superstar treatment is against the culture he is trying to build.
by Newton Pham on Sep 28, 2010 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
BD, No Superstar.
He is a fading " FAT " star about to be extinguished my his fatness. His mass can no longer sustain the star status. Perhaps he is a budding star in the Competitive Eating League.
He isn't anywhere close to "fat"
he is only 3 or 5 lbs above his target weight, if he is fat then Gordon must be obese because EJ actually weighs more then Baron
"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"unknown
You said it yourself
don’t feed the trolls.
"Things change when something is taken away from you" -BG32
yeah but feeding them is so fun....
"It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right"unknown
by bestclipfan on Sep 29, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
About time you showed up
Annnnnnd here’s the guy whose only posts consist of Baron-fat-bashing. Previously quoted as saying he weighed 280 lbs, which makes me think you must be an ex girlfriend of his or something.
You’d have a lot to talk about with dellago, I think.
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
i loved qross...except when he took a shot outside of 3ft from the rim!
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
by Lawler's Law on Sep 29, 2010 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Talking about Blakely?
He wasn’t even drafted. Can you be a steal of a draft if you weren’t even picked? Sounds like he was the biggest snub of the draft.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Sep 29, 2010 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Meh, I guess it's your perspective.
I would say Raja Bell, Jose Calderon, Ben Wallace, Bruce Bowen and Brad Miller are all steals in a draft where 60 players were picked and they were not.
He just means terminology
Not really a “draft steal” if you were never drafted. “Biggest snub” implies he was the best player that was ignored by everyone.
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
I would have to defer to the honorable Steve Perrin on this one.
However
A definition from M-W.COM: to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
The player did “come” to the league “unexpectedly”.
Oh, I was talking about the word "draft," not "steal."
Hookd on fonix werkd 4 me!
"I wish I was a baller."
-Skee-Lo
Blakey declared for the draft,
and was eligible for said draft.
but alas was not drafted by a team.
However, he made it on a team “unexpectedly”
Not the same
if Blakely was drafted at any point during the draft he would be limited to negotiating with that one team for the time being. So if you land Dejuan Blair in the 2nd round, you got a steal (team wise) because you got tremendous value for a late (and less valuable) pick. A undrafted free agent could go anywhere so its more of a “find”. Can’t steal free things can you? If I leave a plate of cookies for free outside (with a sign and all) and you take one you can’t possibly be stealing can you?
All of this is wildly premature anyways. He’s not even guaranteed to make the team and comparing him to players like Wallace and Miller is ridiculous at this point.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Sep 29, 2010 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
meh
Can you truly steal a person that signs a contract? Considering he wasn’t on the street with a sign that said free, I don’t agree with your argument.
For example Ben Wallace was not drafted and eventually signed for a very low contract. His output exceeded his salary and IMO this is a steal.
Of course, YMMV, thanks for playing.
A undrafted player
is the NBA equivalent of a guy holding a sign saying free to good home. You can even play on someone else’s summer league team and then get signed elsewhere (see Jeremy Lin).
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Sep 29, 2010 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Steve, will you be at camp everyday? How is your "on the spot reporting" going to look this season?
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
Most days
Didn’t go today….
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Sep 29, 2010 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Mann, I hope Baron knows whut he's doin...=(
"I may work in the mud,but I certainly like to play up in the clouds"
You know, they really should have some sort of body fat contract clause.
It a travesty that Curry can show up overweight several years running and collect his tens of millions no questions asked. On the other hand, I suspect that Baron would probably have made any reasonable bar this year. With him, we’re talking about the difference between good and great shape.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Knows whut he's doin... With his career man....
"I may work in the mud,but I certainly like to play up in the clouds"
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
Related FanPosts on Clips Nation
Related FanShots on Clips Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- David West hilariously denies each and every one of his young fans a high-five (VIDEO)
- Behind the Box Score, where the Miami Heat are moving on to the conference finals
- Kevin Durant is tired of hearing about the Spurs
- The 10-man rotation, starring your Indiana Pacers
- Blake Griffin highlights, ‘NBA Jam’-style (VIDEO)
