Surprise, surprise… it appears that there are problems already in Clipperville. Baron Davis’ arrival with the Los Angeles Clippers was already a controversial affair, as he arrived seemingly to join friend Elton Brand, who then fled to the Philadelphia 76ers. Now after only two weeks of regular season play, B-Diddy is already having problems with coach Mike Dunleavy’s play, which is un-Nellie-like, let’s say.
As Bill Plaschke described:
The Clippers wanted Hollywood, they’ve got Hollywood.
Seven games into the season, they’ve got a flamboyant actor staring down a meticulous director in what eventually could become a battle for the big screen.
The he-said, she-said of it all centres around Baron’s distaste for having to run set plays. He just wants to get out there and ball like he did with the Golden State Warriors, the team he left behind this Summer.
Said Davis: “There’s definitely a disconnect there. I’ve never had so many plays in my entire career.”
Said Dunleavy: “We’re working through it right now.”
Said Davis: “I have to figure out how to fit more into his system, and he has to figure out how to relax his grip.”
Said Dunleavy: “I’m confident everything will be fine.”
Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News describes it as “the move that screwed up two franchises.” He gives 15 reasons, beginning with:
1. Warriors got messed up because they miss Baron desperately.
2. Clippers got messed up because Davis does not fit with Mike Dunleavy Sr.’s structured offense.
The Clippers’ season already seems to be in tatters, with talk of Chris Kaman being offered as trade bait only adding to the B-Diddy drama and the constant fragility of both Davis’ and Marcus Camby’s limbs. Whatever curse was put on this franchise must have been retaliation for something very, very cruel.
They don’t even have Jessica Alba to claim as a fan.
