Post by Lebron23 on May 1, 2007 6:47:06 GMT -5
EXCHANGES OF THE GUARDS
Magic Johnson's mentoring helps Warriors' Davis, who shares qualities with ex-Lakers great
04-24) 04:00 PDT Dallas -- Magic Johnson called it. He called it nearly 15 years ago. There was something about the young Baron Davis that registered with Magic, something worldly and forthright. It was a spark that formed a bond, lasting right up to Sunday night, when Johnson sat in the TNT studio and revealed that Davis is "like a little brother to me."
This goes back to Davis' days as a sophomore at Crossroads High School in Santa Monica. He'd grown up in awe of the Southern California basketball scene: UCLA and all that history. The Forum. The fast-breaking Lakers, and the incomparable Magic Johnson. Bound for UCLA two years later, Davis spent his afternoons around the Bruins' gym, a hangout for the best players in town. He remembers this one particular day that changed his life.
"All of a sudden, here comes Magic," Davis said in Dallas as the Warriors prepared for Wednesday night's Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Mavericks. "He goes, 'Hey, Baron.' I'm like, wait a minute, he knows me? Are you serious? I went right over there."
Magic was always hip to the up-and-comers. He was so impressed with Reggie Miller as a raw, skinny kid at UCLA, he invited him to join Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler and the rest of the NBA legends at his annual "Midsummer Night's Magic," an affair that made the annual NBA All-Star game look weak and uninspired in comparison.
It seems that Baron Davis always had that look, even in his mid-teens. It wasn't just the talent, but the presence. "I didn't need to get Magic's autograph," Davis recalled. "It was so cool just meeting him. We got to be very close. He always followed my career, took me under his wing, showed me the nuances of the game, basically molded me into what I've become. He's a pillar of my life."
In his role as a TNT analyst, Magic could only marvel at the signature game of Davis' career: 33 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists in a performance that drove Dirk Nowitzki into the shadows and threw panic into the Dallas basketball community. When I asked Warriors executive vice president Chris Mullin for comparisons among NBA point guards, he quickly dropped Magic's name.
"Different styles, yeah, but I'm talking about influence," Mullin said. "There's a lot of Magic in him. Just that on-court dominance, the way he conducts himself. The way he can beat you passing, scoring, inside or out. Just a huge influence."
Coach Don Nelson, who played against the great Walt Frazier in the glory days of the Knicks and Celtics, nodded in agreement when I mentioned Frazier. "Yeah, some differences, but not bad," he said. "Just because of how clever Frazier was, how he imposed his will on you." Frazier was more of a lock-down defender -- that's every night, all night -- and was a bit more rigid in his offensive repertoire, but the two share a stately, almost regal look, right down to the facial hair.
"I'd say Timmy (Hardaway) is in there, too," said Mullin, mentioning yet another guy who simply had to have it, opposition be d**ned, and got things done on sheer desire. "But the big thing with Baron, for me, is what he's done to get here."
There was the matter of temperament, a somewhat sordid reputation that stayed with Davis right up to the moment of his trade from New Orleans to Golden State. He was known as trouble, a potential problem for coaches and teammates, a guy too iron-willed for his own good. That didn't scare off Mullin. "If someone doesn't do that, they're called bland," he said. "And if you do, you're 'brash.' You can see what a leader he is on this team, and that's what makes a superstar. I'm so proud of the way he's handled the responsibility that comes with that."
These two off-days are a godsend for Davis and his surgically repaired knee. He's not completely healed, but he'll be ready for another 44 minutes in Game 2, if that's what it takes. "Don't be fooled by the knee brace, the long socks, the treatment," teammate Stephen Jackson said with a smile. "He's ready to get the job done."
Caution? There simply isn't time. "If he breaks down during the playoffs, we lose," Nelson said. "If we don't play him, we lose. (In Game 1) I wanted to sit him down for three or four minutes. It turned into one minute. Just couldn't leave him there any longer. You know what? It's worth the gamble. I'll burn him up."
The brilliance of Davis' Game 1 performance was its variety. He hit his share of three-pointers, but he was also on constant attack, such a smart idea with the Mavericks playing without their centers. He could have had 45 points or more if some of his hard-charging shots had rolled around the rim a bit more favorably. Davis, Jackson and Al Harrington exploited this weakness so often, Dallas coach Avery Johnson can't be sure what he wants to do with Erick Dampier or DeSagana Diop in Game 2.
While the Mavericks frantically search for a leader in the coming days (Nowitzki faces a skeptical jury), that won't be the problem for the Warriors. "Baron is a guy I'd trust with my life," Jackson said. "He's that guy you want with the ball, the go-to player beyond any doubt. He's the head of our monster -- and you can't play without your eyes."
Come summertime, Davis will restore his Magic Johnson connection. The "Midsummer Night's Magic" -- which once had a final score of 202-201, with Jordan right at the heart of things -- is now operated by Davis, with help from Paul Pierce and Gilbert Arenas. The fund-raising project is now called L.A. Stars Weekend, and as Magic will tell you, it's in good hands. The little brother is a full-grown man.
Source: www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/04/24/SPGD4PE1UK1.DTL
That is why Dirk Nowitski who is compare to a young LARRY BIRD cannot dominate the series because he is seeing a young Magic Johnson in the person of one dominating BARON DAVIS.
Baron Clearly make Dirk Nowitski his personal "asintahan" in this series totally unbelievable.
Magic Johnson's mentoring helps Warriors' Davis, who shares qualities with ex-Lakers great
04-24) 04:00 PDT Dallas -- Magic Johnson called it. He called it nearly 15 years ago. There was something about the young Baron Davis that registered with Magic, something worldly and forthright. It was a spark that formed a bond, lasting right up to Sunday night, when Johnson sat in the TNT studio and revealed that Davis is "like a little brother to me."
This goes back to Davis' days as a sophomore at Crossroads High School in Santa Monica. He'd grown up in awe of the Southern California basketball scene: UCLA and all that history. The Forum. The fast-breaking Lakers, and the incomparable Magic Johnson. Bound for UCLA two years later, Davis spent his afternoons around the Bruins' gym, a hangout for the best players in town. He remembers this one particular day that changed his life.
"All of a sudden, here comes Magic," Davis said in Dallas as the Warriors prepared for Wednesday night's Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Mavericks. "He goes, 'Hey, Baron.' I'm like, wait a minute, he knows me? Are you serious? I went right over there."
Magic was always hip to the up-and-comers. He was so impressed with Reggie Miller as a raw, skinny kid at UCLA, he invited him to join Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler and the rest of the NBA legends at his annual "Midsummer Night's Magic," an affair that made the annual NBA All-Star game look weak and uninspired in comparison.
It seems that Baron Davis always had that look, even in his mid-teens. It wasn't just the talent, but the presence. "I didn't need to get Magic's autograph," Davis recalled. "It was so cool just meeting him. We got to be very close. He always followed my career, took me under his wing, showed me the nuances of the game, basically molded me into what I've become. He's a pillar of my life."
In his role as a TNT analyst, Magic could only marvel at the signature game of Davis' career: 33 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists in a performance that drove Dirk Nowitzki into the shadows and threw panic into the Dallas basketball community. When I asked Warriors executive vice president Chris Mullin for comparisons among NBA point guards, he quickly dropped Magic's name.
"Different styles, yeah, but I'm talking about influence," Mullin said. "There's a lot of Magic in him. Just that on-court dominance, the way he conducts himself. The way he can beat you passing, scoring, inside or out. Just a huge influence."
Coach Don Nelson, who played against the great Walt Frazier in the glory days of the Knicks and Celtics, nodded in agreement when I mentioned Frazier. "Yeah, some differences, but not bad," he said. "Just because of how clever Frazier was, how he imposed his will on you." Frazier was more of a lock-down defender -- that's every night, all night -- and was a bit more rigid in his offensive repertoire, but the two share a stately, almost regal look, right down to the facial hair.
"I'd say Timmy (Hardaway) is in there, too," said Mullin, mentioning yet another guy who simply had to have it, opposition be d**ned, and got things done on sheer desire. "But the big thing with Baron, for me, is what he's done to get here."
There was the matter of temperament, a somewhat sordid reputation that stayed with Davis right up to the moment of his trade from New Orleans to Golden State. He was known as trouble, a potential problem for coaches and teammates, a guy too iron-willed for his own good. That didn't scare off Mullin. "If someone doesn't do that, they're called bland," he said. "And if you do, you're 'brash.' You can see what a leader he is on this team, and that's what makes a superstar. I'm so proud of the way he's handled the responsibility that comes with that."
These two off-days are a godsend for Davis and his surgically repaired knee. He's not completely healed, but he'll be ready for another 44 minutes in Game 2, if that's what it takes. "Don't be fooled by the knee brace, the long socks, the treatment," teammate Stephen Jackson said with a smile. "He's ready to get the job done."
Caution? There simply isn't time. "If he breaks down during the playoffs, we lose," Nelson said. "If we don't play him, we lose. (In Game 1) I wanted to sit him down for three or four minutes. It turned into one minute. Just couldn't leave him there any longer. You know what? It's worth the gamble. I'll burn him up."
The brilliance of Davis' Game 1 performance was its variety. He hit his share of three-pointers, but he was also on constant attack, such a smart idea with the Mavericks playing without their centers. He could have had 45 points or more if some of his hard-charging shots had rolled around the rim a bit more favorably. Davis, Jackson and Al Harrington exploited this weakness so often, Dallas coach Avery Johnson can't be sure what he wants to do with Erick Dampier or DeSagana Diop in Game 2.
While the Mavericks frantically search for a leader in the coming days (Nowitzki faces a skeptical jury), that won't be the problem for the Warriors. "Baron is a guy I'd trust with my life," Jackson said. "He's that guy you want with the ball, the go-to player beyond any doubt. He's the head of our monster -- and you can't play without your eyes."
Come summertime, Davis will restore his Magic Johnson connection. The "Midsummer Night's Magic" -- which once had a final score of 202-201, with Jordan right at the heart of things -- is now operated by Davis, with help from Paul Pierce and Gilbert Arenas. The fund-raising project is now called L.A. Stars Weekend, and as Magic will tell you, it's in good hands. The little brother is a full-grown man.
Source: www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/04/24/SPGD4PE1UK1.DTL
That is why Dirk Nowitski who is compare to a young LARRY BIRD cannot dominate the series because he is seeing a young Magic Johnson in the person of one dominating BARON DAVIS.
Baron Clearly make Dirk Nowitski his personal "asintahan" in this series totally unbelievable.