Expect the Golden State Warriors to regress without Baron Davis during the 2008-2009 season. Not a significant step back, but they’re more likely to win 42 games than 48.
On the court, Davis is one of the few point guards in the league who is capable of truly excelling in a Don Nelson system.
He’s also a guy that wants the ball in his hands in the 4th quarter (not so rare), and makes more than he misses (very rare).
All contending teams has one of these guys:
Celtics: Paul Pierce
Lakers: Kobe Bryant
Spurs: Manu Ginobili
Cavs: Lebron James
Warriors: ??
Off the court, Baron is a dynamic personality that single-handedly re-made the Warriors into a mainstream commodity in the Bay Area. The guy sold jerseys, put fan in the stands, and helped wives, girlfriends, and mothers get through games.
It’s essential that the Baron-less Warriors immediately establish their own personality, as the “we don’t give a sh*t / we do things our own way” days of Baron Davis and company are over.
Ellis, Maggette, and Biedrins are far more basketball players than they are personalities. So perhaps the only way to replace Davis is to win.
The Warriors do have a great young core (one that’s now locked up for the next 5 years), and if they can improve through developing their recent draft picks, and filling in whatever gaps exist in two years through free-agency, it’s not out of the question that they could emerge as one of the new-powerhouses in the Western Conference, alongside the Hornets and Lakers during the next two-three years.
If you haven't already, read Dave's take on the upside and downside of the Warriors' divorce from Baron Davis.
6 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Kevin C. 11 months ago
not much.
here begins the 4-5 year slump in my mind
he was everything in that team
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Yama Hazheer 11 months ago
He was the best player on the team and the superstar the Warriors didn't have for a while. Now we'll have to wait for Monta to mature and be the superstar that the Warriors need to contend in the future.
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Zander Freund 11 months ago
"All contending teams has one of these guys:
Celtics: Paul Pierce
Lakers: Kobe Bryant
Spurs: Manu Ginobili
Cavs: Lebron James
Warriors: ??"
Not to knock our team, but considering we didn't even make the playoffs this year, how can you legitimately call us a "contender," on par with teams who have each made it/won the championship game!?!?!
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Ryan Atkinson 11 months ago
because we won 48 games in the west zander, the cavs are the confusing one...
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John Intrater 11 months ago
great articles finko. As a baron backer im still alright with this move for the warriors in that im in it for the long haul and think the current plan we have will benefit us in years to come. And as much as I love baron and always will, he played his heart out this past year every game of the season like an all star and we still didnt make the playoffs. Monta and beans are our future along with wright, belli and randolph.
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Bernard Stasen 11 months ago
I don't see a 4 year slump. I don't even see us falling off reallt bad from this past season. We got young players with very much talent. Im not saying we will win the NBA Championships but with the athlethism and Talen we have it could be a 42 win season, which might not be good enough for the playoffs but its nothing to hold our heads down about!
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