SFGate
WHAT GIVES, GUYS?
Nelson says there's no problem, Davis says very little
Janny Hu, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
(04-15) 23:03 PDT -- For Warriors coach Don Nelson, the mind-boggling
question everyone wants answered is really a no-brainer.
Why didn't he play Baron Davis in the second half of Monday's playoff-
elimination game in Phoenix?
"It was real simple," Nelson said by phone Tuesday. "He was having a
bad game. He was terrible. He was the worst player on the floor, and I
told him to take the second half off. He was 2-for-13, we were down 14
points.
"I said, 'Hey, let's relax and play some young guys.' "
Still, it was a perplexing sight, Davis sitting out the final 24
minutes of a 122-116 loss to Phoenix that officially ended the
Warriors' playoff hopes.
Nelson admitted that his point guard wasn't pleased when informed that
his night was over at the half, but he insisted there was no friction
heading into tonight's season finale - and more im****tantly, into an
offseason highlighted by the uncertain futures of the franchise coach
and player.
"There's no problem between Baron and (me)," Nelson said. "He's
probably upset because he played terrible."
It isn't clear whether Nelson's explanation satisfied Davis, who could
not be reached for comment Tuesday. Davis, however, did post an entry
on his personal blog expressing disappointment over the season's end
and about working hard next year to make sure it doesn't happen again.
At the end, he appeared to make a subtle reference to Monday's early
exit.
"I hate losing," Davis wrote. "I play this game to win, and it's even
harder when I feel like I wasn't able to help my team do that."
Neither coach nor player had been in a talking mood immediately after
the loss in Phoenix. "I gave him a much-needed rest" was all Nelson
offered when asked about the benching, while Davis muttered an "Ain't
your story" to local re****ters as he walked out of the visitors'
locker room.
Davis' agent, Todd Ramasar, said he and his client wondered why Davis
wasn't in the critical game, at the most critical of times, after
carrying such a heavy load all season.
"The same questions that you have are the same questions that I have,"
Ramasar said Tuesday. "Why wasn't Baron on the floor? Was there an
injury, argument, questions, whatever? I've asked the same things.
"There was no injury. Nothing was said. It was a coach's decision,
which is odd ... with so much that hinged on last night's game.
Obviously, (Baron) wanted to be in there playing. He's asking himself
why he wasn't in the game. But it was a coach's decision."
Nelson said the benching also would have applied to Stephen Jackson -
whom the coach sat in the second quarter after a lousy start - if
Jackson hadn't rebounded with a terrific third period.
As for pulling his star players for playing poorly when he hasn't done
so all season, Nelson said part of the reason was the game's reduced
im****tance. He believes the Warriors had no realistic chance of making
the playoffs even with a win over Phoenix, because the Nuggets still
would have to lose to a hapless Memphis team at home tonight.
"We probably had a better chance to get hit with lightning than we had
of getting in the playoffs," Nelson said.
Ramasar said he had yet to speak with Nelson or vice president Chris
Mullin, but the two sides have much to discuss when they do
congregate. Davis can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by
opting out of the final year and $17.2 million left on his contract,
though Ramasar admitted that was an "unlikely" scenario.
"There's no team that has cap space this offseason to offer what Baron
has guaranteed," he said.
Instead, the agent likely will try to reach a contract extension with
the Warriors.
Davis is set for a milestone tonight: his 82nd consecutive game,
marking the first time since the 2001-02 season he has played a full
season, and at 39 minutes per game.
"Right now, he's just focused on fini****ng up the last game," Ramasar
said.
Added Nelson, who plans on starting Davis: "I would like the energy to
be there tomorrow and close out the season right."
E-mail Janny Hu at jhu@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
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