Michael Pina has a BA in English with a concentration in Journalism from the University of Delaware. He is currently living in his hometown of Boston. Mike is also the creator of the sports site Mike and Jeremy Like Sports.
Time is winding down. His adversary on this particular night is hunched over, bouncing the ball from his right hand to his left. Poised and waiting for a hero defining moment. Our player in question forces him left, but the younger point guard easily blows by him for what would have easily been an uncontested game winning layup had it not been for a rake of the arms foul. The whistle blows; the perpetrator throws up his hands, shakes his head and looks at the floor. With a little over a second remaining in the game, the attacker heads to the foul line to shoot a pair while the recipient helplessly gazes on, all knowing that in this current moment, the game’s fate is out of his grasp…
Funny things tend to happen in basketball games that are decided by one or two tallies. Every free throw, rebound, millisecond of action matters. Possession after possession are to be treated like the rarest jewels that only one team is able to obtain.
Former Bruin, Hornet, Warrior and current Clipper point guard Baron Davis either never understood this sage fact or has chosen to ignore it. For him, the ball and the opportunity to score is treated in a lackadaisical fashion with a care free “if it falls, it falls” attitude placed on each one of his low percentage shot selections.
It’s not like B.Diddy isn’t talented or that his career has been overtly disappointing. Far from it. In 2007 he was the face of underdog triumph against Dirk and Cuban. His ferocious strength in the aftermath of that historic upset was placed on display when, in what I consider to be the most bone chilling playoff facial of the decade, he took a handoff at the top of the key, blew left past his man in two quick dribbles before springing off the hardwood into a Russian dupe. Of course it had to happen with three minutes left in a 20 point blowout, but that’s the epitome of Baron Davis. He has all the talent in the world but his motor has deteriorated to the point where he looks disinterested from minute to minute, quarter to quarter.
Last night against the Portland Trail Blazers, one of the better teams in the Western Conference, Davis crossed up Andre Miller so easily you almost expected a yawn from the man as he ran back on defense. Nobody makes it look easier.
Maybe it was the Elton Brand situation that made him cold to the game. His leaving the Bay Area to save one of the league’s most embarrassing franchises was foiled when the former Blue Devil spoiled the party, bolting to Philadelphia for more money after a supposed promise to stay.
Davis brings criticism upon himself with well publicized interests that have nothing to do with the game of basketball. A member of the screen actors guild, he probably wouldn’t mind being Will Smith for a day instead of Kobe Bryant. An all-star at 22, Davis looked to have a saran wrap ceiling with a six-inch switchblade in his back pocket. Whether the weapon was dropped, never opened or simply ignored is besides the point.
Now he’s 30, the old veteran on a relatively young team. He shares a backcourt with burgeoning superstar Eric Gordon and before he knows it will find himself as the third wheel behind the former Indiana product and Blake Griffin. His face won’t be on programs anymore and his once upon a time franchise player tag will flail away in the wind. This is the path he’s on, but he’s not quite there. Not yet anyhow.
…the lightning quick enemy in green has missed both from the charity stripe and the Clippers ninth life has been called upon. With one second remaining the ball is taken out on the side, right in front of the scorer’s table at about the three point line. Number one is the only option as he cuts towards his seven foot inbounder. Catching the ball with his back to the basket, he pivots to his right and elevates. The back-rimmed free throws still replaying in his defender’s mind, all that’s left to contest his attempt is a large hand face guarding the “Clip” on his chest. As the backboard lights up and the buzzer sounds, the ball finds itself in its infantile stage. Rising up in a picture perfect arc before gravity says “I got this” and rainbows it back down towards the intended target. There’s no question from the dejected green men walking off the floor and the near 20,000 elated fans in the Staples Center that Baron Davis had done it again.
This sequence from a Dec. 27 contest between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers is a microcosm snap shot of Baron Davis’ career as of late. Should the Rajon Rondo free throws have fallen, the Clippers lose another game at home and Davis retreats to his home to watch “Seven Pounds”.
Who knows what might have been had he remained steadfastly focused on the sport which made him a household name. What is certain, is that whenever he wants to, Baron Davis can hang, dip and roll with the best of them. For him it’s as easy as flipping on a light switch.
