SFC/Knapp: Can Nelson, Davis ever get along again?

There's some scuttlebutt going around WarriorsWorld about this subject
that you all should know about. First, that the major reason Nellie
sat Baron is that he was hung over from doing too much celebrating at
his birthday party the night before the Suns game. (Such an important
game and Baron was out partying??) Second, that Nellie had a get-
together at his Lake Merritt pad after the last game, and the person
there (who's son is a friend of blah blah blah and there's a
girlfriend in there somewhere who allegedly hangs out with Al
Harrington, who is said to be the source of the hung-over part) said
he saw Baron there at the beginning, and there appears to be no bad
blood at all between Nellie and Baron. Perchance what Baron's been
saying in the media (that he is upset but not at Nellie) is actually
true?? Heavens to murgatroid! -AL

================================================== ============

SFGate
Warriors not about to become a one-man show
Can Nelson, Davis ever get along again?
Gwen Knapp
Friday, April 18, 2008


(04-17) 21:42 PDT -- Don Nelson does weary dismay well. He plays it
like an acerbic sage, a cross between Don Rickles and a community-
theater Ben Franklin. He put the act into motion this week when he
wanted to control reporters stoking the code-red scandal over Baron
Davis' benching in Phoenix.

"It would be funnier if it weren't so sad," he said of the media's
frothing, mocking the idea that the unexpected hiatus meant anything
at all.

At a news conference before the Warriors' finale Wednesday, Nelson was
asked whether he would have done anything differently this season,
given the same roster. "Played Baron Davis last game," the coach said,
pausing as he looked over the silent room. "That's a joke," he said,
drawing the kind of laughter his sarcasm usually scores without
explanation.

To paraphrase the man himself, it would be funnier if it weren't so
scary.

The little showdown between Davis and Nelson wasn't all that little,
and it wasn't just about Davis not playing well that night. Nelson sat
him down for the second half to make the kind of point that might have
led to swordplay a couple of centuries ago.

Today, everyone does salary-cap math to determine the appropriate
response. In Davis' case, as of the season finale, that added up to:
"I'm fine in every aspect. I was upset that night, but you know, we
got to do what's best for the team."

Davis might have had other motives, such as maturity, the humility to
admit he was playing terribly and the need to advance the
undersubscribed theory that he can handle critical coaching.

But none of those factors is as bankable as this one: His $17.8
million Warriors deal for next season is richer than anyone else in
the NBA can probably afford to pay him, so there's not much point in
his opting out of the last year of that contract. Holding a grudge
just won't pay.

When he and Nelson delivered their valedictories for 2007-08, the
central line of questioning for both was: Do you want to come back?
Both played coy, as expected, but the real concern went unaddressed.
If they're both returning next year, can their partnership thrive, or
have they entered into a duel destined to produce no winners?

Let's face it, on an NBA rap sheet listing failed and contentious
relationships, both of these guys have extensive priors. They're not
unique in that respect. In fact, if they were more benign, milquetoast
personalities, they'd probably be less successful. But their histories
generated a lot of the heat around the incendiary Phoenix benching.

Did Davis suddenly look at Nelson and see an outline of Byron Scott,
or a hint of Mike Montgomery? Had Nelson seen visions of a vintage,
indulged Chris Webber or an intractable Mark Cuban whenever he watched
Davis defend negligently or put up three-pointers indiscriminately? He
made a highly symbolic peace with Webber this winter, but there's no
truce in the offing with Cuban.

When he was asked whether he would be more likely to retire if he won
the back-pay arbitration hearing against the Mavericks owner this
summer, Nelson said: "you mean when I win."

He is too competitive to let the case proceed discreetly. This is a
matter of pride, as much as money. And that's why his argument about
Monday's game and Davis' "much-needed rest" seemed so odd. He said the
game against the Suns couldn't have saved the Warriors' infinitesimal
playoff hopes. But they still had a chance, and their best player sat
idle as that chance evaporated.

Something mattered more to Nelson than that tiny opening, and if it
was Davis' fatigue, one has to wonder why he kept him on the floor for
39 minutes Wednesday night.

"We had an incredible year. We deserved to be in the playoffs," Nelson
said, when he got around to answering the question of whether, in
hindsight, he could have done anything differently.

He's right, of course. The franchise has been reborn the last two
seasons, largely because of the chemistry among Nelson, Davis and
Stephen Jackson. So why worry about 24 minutes in the second-to-last
game, and about whether one rebuke to a star can undo everything?

It all depends on who needs what from whom next season. If Davis comes
back with a contract extension, he has the freedom to disregard
Nelson. If he doesn't get the extension, and has to audition for his
next deal, Nelson's every point will become finer and sharper, a
touche rather than a stab in the gut.

As Nelson said, it's sad to be so cynical. It would be much easier to
accept everything at face value, but the coach has taught us well.
That's usually a joke.

E-mail Gwen Knapp at [email]gknapp@sfchronicle.com[/email].

[url]http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/18/SP5L106K4B.DTL[/url]

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

On Apr 18, 10:37 am, Allen <lonewolfb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> There's some scuttlebutt going around WarriorsWorld about this subject
> that you all should know about. First, that the major reason Nellie
> sat Baron is that he was hung over from doing too much celebrating at
> his birthday party the night before the Suns game. (Such an important
> game and Baron was out partying??) Second, that Nellie had a get-
> together at his Lake Merritt pad after the last game, and the person
> there (who's son is a friend of blah blah blah and there's a
> girlfriend in there somewhere who allegedly hangs out with Al
> Harrington, who is said to be the source of the hung-over part) said
> he saw Baron there at the beginning, and there appears to be no bad
> blood at all between Nellie and Baron. Perchance what Baron's been
> saying in the media (that he is upset but not at Nellie) is actually
> true?? Heavens to murgatroid! -AL
>
> ================================================== ============


SOme members of the press would rather fabricate trouble where there
is none, than have a winning team.

Rizzo

"Frank Rizzo" <champ91917@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:58243689-b632-4516-b255-785be8eaf229@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
> On Apr 18, 10:37 am, Allen <lonewolfb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> There's some scuttlebutt going around WarriorsWorld about this subject
>> that you all should know about. First, that the major reason Nellie
>> sat Baron is that he was hung over from doing too much celebrating at
>> his birthday party the night before the Suns game. (Such an important
>> game and Baron was out partying??) Second, that Nellie had a get-
>> together at his Lake Merritt pad after the last game, and the person
>> there (who's son is a friend of blah blah blah and there's a
>> girlfriend in there somewhere who allegedly hangs out with Al
>> Harrington, who is said to be the source of the hung-over part) said
>> he saw Baron there at the beginning, and there appears to be no bad
>> blood at all between Nellie and Baron. Perchance what Baron's been
>> saying in the media (that he is upset but not at Nellie) is actually
>> true?? Heavens to murgatroid! -AL
>>
>> ================================================== ============
>
>
> SOme members of the press would rather fabricate trouble where there
> is none, than have a winning team.
>
> Rizzo

The whole partying thing - was in the Jenkins column this morning too. I'd
believe it, and perhaps why Baron isn't publicly mad at Nellie - because he
knows he screwed up and he doesn't want to be a jerk when he wants a
contract extension. Baron is sitting in a great spot right now, about to
earn megabucks from the W's next year and he played injury free the whole
season to help is eventual trade stock.

On Apr 19, 3:55 pm, "aunt bee" <amybo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Frank Rizzo" <champ91...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:58243689-b632-4516-b255-785be8eaf229@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Apr 18, 10:37 am, Allen <lonewolfb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> There's some scuttlebutt going around WarriorsWorld about this subject
> >> that you all should know about. First, that the major reason Nellie
> >> sat Baron is that he was hung over from doing too much celebrating at
> >> his birthday party the night before the Suns game. (Such an important
> >> game and Baron was out partying??) Second, that Nellie had a get-
> >> together at his Lake Merritt pad after the last game, and the person
> >> there (who's son is a friend of blah blah blah and there's a
> >> girlfriend in there somewhere who allegedly hangs out with Al
> >> Harrington, who is said to be the source of the hung-over part) said
> >> he saw Baron there at the beginning, and there appears to be no bad
> >> blood at all between Nellie and Baron. Perchance what Baron's been
> >> saying in the media (that he is upset but not at Nellie) is actually
> >> true?? Heavens to murgatroid! -AL
>
> >> ================================================== ============
>
> > SOme members of the press would rather fabricate trouble where there
> > is none, than have a winning team.
>
> > Rizzo
>
> The whole partying thing - was in the Jenkins column this morning too. I'd
> believe it, and perhaps why Baron isn't publicly mad at Nellie - because he
> knows he screwed up and he doesn't want to be a jerk when he wants a
> contract extension. Baron is sitting in a great spot right now, about to
> earn megabucks from the W's next year and he played injury free the whole
> season to help is eventual trade stock.

I wouldn't sweat the whole Baron v Nellie thing. They have bigger
isssues (AB, Monta contracts, getting the bench some help after
Barnes, MP and possibly Buke are gone.)

"Frank Rizzo" <champ91917@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:00b2940a-feec-4fb6-ae6a-2e8efaaf8fd3@y18g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
> On Apr 19, 3:55 pm, "aunt bee" <amybo...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> "Frank Rizzo" <champ91...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:58243689-b632-4516-b255-785be8eaf229@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Apr 18, 10:37 am, Allen <lonewolfb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> There's some scuttlebutt going around WarriorsWorld about this subject
>> >> that you all should know about. First, that the major reason Nellie
>> >> sat Baron is that he was hung over from doing too much celebrating at
>> >> his birthday party the night before the Suns game. (Such an important
>> >> game and Baron was out partying??) Second, that Nellie had a get-
>> >> together at his Lake Merritt pad after the last game, and the person
>> >> there (who's son is a friend of blah blah blah and there's a
>> >> girlfriend in there somewhere who allegedly hangs out with Al
>> >> Harrington, who is said to be the source of the hung-over part) said
>> >> he saw Baron there at the beginning, and there appears to be no bad
>> >> blood at all between Nellie and Baron. Perchance what Baron's been
>> >> saying in the media (that he is upset but not at Nellie) is actually
>> >> true?? Heavens to murgatroid! -AL
>>
>> >> ================================================== ============
>>
>> > SOme members of the press would rather fabricate trouble where there
>> > is none, than have a winning team.
>>
>> > Rizzo
>>
>> The whole partying thing - was in the Jenkins column this morning too.
>> I'd
>> believe it, and perhaps why Baron isn't publicly mad at Nellie - because
>> he
>> knows he screwed up and he doesn't want to be a jerk when he wants a
>> contract extension. Baron is sitting in a great spot right now, about to
>> earn megabucks from the W's next year and he played injury free the whole
>> season to help is eventual trade stock.
>
> I wouldn't sweat the whole Baron v Nellie thing. They have bigger
> isssues (AB, Monta contracts, getting the bench some help after
> Barnes, MP and possibly Buke are gone.)

I don't think it's a Baron v. Nellie thing. If the partying is true, I
think it was just an incredibly stupid thing for Baron to do irrespective of
Nellie. I'm tons more disappointed in Baron than in Nellie.

Yes, they do have bigger issues. Next year will be Baron's last though,
mark my words. I don't even think he's untouchable in the off season.

"aunt bee" <amybonzo@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:EWuOj.3183$h75.365@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net :

> I don't think it's a Baron v. Nellie thing. If the partying is true,
> I think it was just an incredibly stupid thing for Baron to do
> irrespective of Nellie. I'm tons more disappointed in Baron than in
> Nellie.
>
> Yes, they do have bigger issues. Next year will be Baron's last
> though, mark my words. I don't even think he's untouchable in the off
> season.

I think you're right about next season being Baron's last as a
Warrior. He'll be looking for a big payday, and with Nellie leaving, he'll
head for greener pastures. Which should be fine with the Warriors, who
shouldn't put out the huge cash that Davis will likely get elsewhere,
health permitting.

I don't foresee him getting traded in the offseason, though. Someone would
have to give up $17-18 million worth of players that the Warriors want. Not
impossible, but who would it be?

On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 04:11:33 GMT, preacher <no@noway.com> wrote:

>"aunt bee" <amybonzo@yahoo.com> wrote in
>news:EWuOj.3183$h75.365@newssvr27.news.prodigy.ne t:
>
>> I don't think it's a Baron v. Nellie thing. If the partying is true,
>> I think it was just an incredibly stupid thing for Baron to do
>> irrespective of Nellie. I'm tons more disappointed in Baron than in
>> Nellie.
>>
>> Yes, they do have bigger issues. Next year will be Baron's last
>> though, mark my words. I don't even think he's untouchable in the off
>> season.
>
>I think you're right about next season being Baron's last as a
>Warrior. He'll be looking for a big payday, and with Nellie leaving, he'll
>head for greener pastures. Which should be fine with the Warriors, who
>shouldn't put out the huge cash that Davis will likely get elsewhere,
>health permitting.

I wouldn't like to watch Keith Smart try to manage Baron's ego and his
three point chucking.
--
Greg Lentz