Imagine a situation where you're part of a sales team trying to convince a Fortune 500 client to agree to a long-term deal to purchase your company's products.
The morning of your presentation to the client's decision-makers, your top presenter admits she’s not on her "A-Game".
Considering her overall body of work, does the rest of your team limit their role in the presentation?
Golden State Warriors Coach Don Nelson was faced with a similar scenario Monday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Baron Davis was 2- 13 at the half, and his team was trailing by 14.
Nelson decided to sit Davis for the rest of the game, later explaining to reporters, "He was the worst player on the floor, and I told him to take the second half off. He was 2-for-13, we were down 14 points. I said, 'Hey, let's relax and play some young guys.'"
Lo and behold, the Warriors did come back only to lose the game—and their playoff chances—in the fourth quarter.
But would putting in Davis, who was the leader of their surprising '07 playoff run, have resulted in different circumstances?
I say yes.
Yes, Davis was having an off-night from a shooting standpoint. But He's also a veteran point guard who understands how to make his team better without scoring.
As the triggerman, he had several offensive options to choose from (Azubuike, Jackson, Ellis, Croshere...even I can't believe I said the last option). If Nellie had instructed him to serve as a distributor more than a scorer, it could have resulted in better offensive flow.
Also, Davis has a scorer's mentality.
I seriously doubt he was going to go 2-26 for the game. A couple lay ups here, a jump shot there, and people forget he's the second incarnation of John Starks or Rob Williams in a gotta-have-it game.
I still respect "Nellie" as a coach.
He won a playoff series with Tom Tolbert at the pivot and Ralph Sampson as the backup.
But he has had questionable relationships with his stars (Spreewell and Webber come to mind). If this was a personal thing with Davis, he could have picked a better route to address his frustrations.
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5 months ago
Couldn't agree with you more Marc. What a TERRIBLE decision by Nelly. Anyone who's ever watched the NBA can remember times when a star was struggling in the first half, only to explode in the second. You would think a man that has been around as long as Nelly would understand that. There must be some personal reason for the benching. Hands down, you NEVER bench your best player in a must win situation even if he's shooting 0-20.
5 months ago
Well, what if the Warriors would have won the game. Would your standpoint would have changed?
YES! for sure! He had an off night. I love B-diddy, but he had an off night and the Warriors werent producing enough when he was on the floor.
It's okay..The season was over for the Warriors since that Denver game. It's okay...warriors have to build for next year. I hope they a great player in the draft, because the Warriors defenitely need a back-up power forward and a play to come off the bench that can score.
5 months ago
Thanks for your comments guys. This would make for a good debate. I still stick with my opinion, but if they get a top 3 pick next year Golden State will be SICK.
5 months ago
Golden State won't get a top 3 pick and they won't be nearly as good as last year since almost that entire roster is a free agent this summer. Re-signing Monta Ellis has to be more of a priority than re-signing Davis. He's younger, quicker, and as far as we have seen, less injury prone.
5 months ago
Hey..I agree..but Davis is the franchise player. I would be devestated to see Jason and Baron go in two consecutive years...that would be just unbelievable! For me, right now, Monta and Davis have to be re-signed. I cant tell you that Monta is not an important player, I would be dumb for saying that. But...Baron is twice as important for me, as a player and leader.
5 months ago
Davis' agent has already said that Baron likely will not opt out of his contract.
The Warriors will do everything they can to resign Monta and Biedrins. I would say that Biedrins is a lock to come back. Signing Monta could get a little tricky if Memphis offers him a vastly inflated deal.
In regards to the benching...
Nelson should have put Baron back into the game with about 5 minutes to play (when it was clear that the momentum / lead were starting to slip away). It was a stubborn move, and one that I'd be pretty upset about if I thought there was ANY CHANCE that Memphis could take down Denver in a must-have game for the Nuggets.
But I'm guessing that Nelson signed off on the season after Denver took down the Rockets...
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