Baron Davis logs a season-high 27 points to go with 12 rebounds and 12 assists. His restoration is no longer a novelty. Clippers fans have never been treated to a player whose combination of charisma and skill assert this level of authority over a game. Elton Brand’s better games were often dominant, but you knew what he was going to do and you watched him apply those skills with proficiency. Baron’s performances are creative and operatic. I’d forgotten, and it’s fun to remember again and see them up close on a regular basis.
It’s typical that I select the one piece from KA’s brilliant game recap that I want to nitpick to post. In actuality, click over for the usual great combination of video analysis and a look in the effect of missing Camby and Kaman last night.
Now.
Chris Herrington pointed this out via Twitter last night:
Big difference — other than the “evacuation effect” — has been Mayo switch on Davis. 17-9-9 in first, 8-3-3 in second (so far)
Now, am I pointing this out because I spent an hour and a half tweeting at the Memphis Grizzlies to switch OJ onto Davis, and when they did it worked? ABSOLUTELY. There is no sweeter joy in a blogger’s world than being right. It’s like candy for my ego. NOM-NOM-NOM.
I had been saying it all day, even commented (GASP) over 3sob.com about it. Mayo’s the type of defender that pesters you. He’s not going to body you up, or neutralize you. He’s not Shane Battier, but he’s going to work his face off to pester you, to annoy you, to pressure you, and then he’s going to create turnovers off of it. Mayo gets more steals off of non-gambles with perimeter pressure (as opposed to interior/driving swipes, where most steals come from) than any player I’ve seen.
Now, you compare that with Conley, who is long, and athletic, and can defend shots with that body, but isn’t quick or controlled enough to apply pressure.
Baron’s the same Baron he’s always been. Which means, if you pester him, annoy him, make him work, he’s going to shut down. 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists isn’t shut down, but it’s also not tearing a new orifice in the face of my team. Putting Conley on him was saying “here, here’s an easy start to getting to the rim. We’ll challenge you at the point of your release, which is where you’re best, instead of attacking you at the perimeter.”
Now, conversely, Mayo was trying to guard Gordon, which was like trying to stop a bowling ball with silly puddy. Why not put Conley/Tinsley on Gordon and make him try and create versus athleticism/veteran savvy, and have Mayo pester Davis?
Maybe if the Grizzlies had gotten out of traditional positional concepts before the game started, they could have avoided the near-triple-double AT HALFTIME.
One other OJAM note. I feared the Mayo-at-point concept since he was drafted. No way would he be able to effectively run the offense. I was wrong. Not only can he do it, he should be doing it. He’s this weird combo-guard hybrid. Swagger like a shooting guard, control like a point guard. After his last three huge shots in the 4th (three versus LAC to tie, pull-up J over Utah, three over CHA), when he hits them and his teammates go nuts? Mayo calmly turns around and walks to the bench while the opponent calls timeout, looks to his coach, and just… nods. That’s it. Dude’s a killer. And his ability to create for the offense has shown phenomenal growth this year. He’s like Ben Gordon, if Ben Gordon didn’t hold a gun to possession’s heads and ask them if they wanted to die. I’m willing to give OJAM at Point a try.
