I don’t know why people are so anxious for Baron Davis to make his return with my beloved Knicks. Don’t get me wrong, there is no doubt that he will easily be our best pure point guard if he’s healthy. Yet, he is just another piece that will need to be incorporated into a team that is already unclear on what their roles are. STAT wants to be a ‘stretch four’. Melo has to be a ‘point forward’. Shump is a ‘score-first point guard’ which is better than what Tony Douglas is this year: a ‘score-never point guard’. Fields is a shooting guard who can’t find his shot.
So, what is BDiddy going to do when he walks onto the court for the first time with our talented but confused Knicks? I read quotes from everyone from Isiah Thomas to Tracy McGrady (I know what you are thinking…”why?….”) saying that if the Knicks can get 80 or 90% of the Golden State Baron Davis, then they will be a team to be reckoned with. Specifically, everyone wants the Baron Davis that led Warriors to that big upset over the Mavs. Well, let’s see. Here are Baron’s stats from that playoff run (and yes, I know this is oversimplified, but stay with me):
MPG 40.5
PPG 25.3
RPG 4.5
APG 6.5
Ninety or even eighty percent of those numbers would be an excellent addition to our club, but is not what we need.
Do we expect BD to play 36 minutes a game? Do we want him to be our second leading scorer? How would that sit with STAT? Even if he could, it would not serve to create the on-the-court harmony and team play that is really the only thing holding the Knicks back. Talent they have in spades, but sometimes it looks like the Knicks just met before a pickup game.
What the Knicks need is the Baron Davis that began to age gracefully with the Clips. Here are the stats from the his last season in LA (2010-2011).
MPG 29.5
PPG 12.8
RPG 2.8
APG 7.0
You can probably see where I’m going with this. First, I think we can get 100% of this Baron instead of pining for some version of 06-07 Baron Davis. Second, this is the Baron we want. In 3/4 of the minutes Baron actually increased his assist output while posting a better turnover ration than in that storied playoff run. Yes, his points and rebounds are down, but the Knicks need an orchestrator much more than they need another trumpet.
So, if you agree with me, then you are wondering why I am not dying to get this mature, play-maker into a team sorely lacking one…The answer, as much as it pains me to say it, is NYC. I believe, and I hope I’m wrong, that Baron is sitting at home reading all the prophecies that name him the key to Kingdom of Champions. I worry that Baron’s first impulse will be to come in and embody the star role. He has the personality for it. The media will feed it. Before you know it, no look passes are ending in the stands and long threes are leading to fast breaks in the wrong direction. I know, it sounds pessimistic, but I can see it. Can’t you? Do Melo and STAT pull him back? Are they that kind of leaders?
Before Baron (BB) the team needs to be all grown up. The plays should be developed and maintained after Baron (AB) takes over the point. Everyone’s roles need to be established and reaffirmed BB. For New York to find success on the court this season, Baron Davis cannot be another radical make over to the way the Knicks play, just an upgrade to what will hopefully be an already cohesive unit.