Del Negro Criticizes Baron's Work Ethic

[Det the Threat]

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro criticized Baron Davis on Monday night after the point guard was scratched with a flare-up of the knee problems that bothered him in camp.

Del Negro attributed the problems to the guard's lack of offseason preparation.

"Baron has incredible amounts of talent and ability," Del Negro said, "but his focus needs to be on staying in condition and playing at a high level. And he hasn't done that for a while, and I know he's frustrated with that, but there's things he has to do to correct that."

Del Negro said Davis had "gotten out of shape pretty badly" over the summer, and while giving him credit for two months of hard work to get into condition, "that should have been a process right after the season ended.

"It shouldn't have happened just two months ago. We all know that. And that's what we're dealing with."

Del Negro Criticizes Baron's Work Ethic

Should we already open a Vinny vs. B-Diddy thread?

[JJ LoDuca]

I heard that Baron's knee is fine, just that he got into it with Del Negro before the game yesterday and Vinny benched him. I like that **** attitude of Vinny's, but is it really gonna work with Baron?

And seriously what the HELL is it gonna take for Baron to get his ass moving? He sulks around the floor like his dog just died and he's all depressed. Blake Griffin, an Olympian in Eric Gordon, a new coach and them FRESH jerseys aren't enough?!

Let the Vinny vs. B-Diddy battles begin.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

If Baron isn't ready to go bench him until he's ready. I wasn't sure if he really had an injury since he seemed just fine physically on Sunday. Bledsoe did bring some energy out there last night but we do need experience at the PG spot for a full game. I hope Baron gets motivated and is finally ready to go.

[BoomFizzle]

I can't say I didn't see this coming. The only coach Baron has actually got along with is Don Nelson because they are similar characters. I believe they met up in Hawaii for cigars after he signed with the Clippers. There was all those rumours about VDN getting into it with people last year. Baron isn't the guy to respond well to that kind of person.

I think EJ could benefit from VDN's approach the most.

[JJ LoDuca]

I agree with Boom about EJ benefitting from Vinny's coaching style, I think Blake will get something from it too. Vinny did great things with D. Rose and Joakim Noah in Chicago....maybe Baron's just too old to hear any of it.

[BoomFizzle]

I agree with Boom about EJ benefitting from Vinny's coaching style, I think Blake will get something from it too. Vinny did great things with D. Rose and Joakim Noah in Chicago....maybe Baron's just too old to hear any of it.

Yeah I mean Baron is older, seems to get down very easily and is a big personality. He doesn't seem to work well under restrictive or authoritarian coaches. The great thing about Don Nelson was he used to allow Baron to get away with certain things but also had a fantastic way of motivating him.

So far I must say I am very disappointed in VDN. Substitutions, lack of passion from the whole team, no offensive sets....

[mj_shoefanatic]

I hope they both can get past their enormous ego's and help this team win some games.

[Tommy Udo 6]

When I read that, it sounds like Vinny is disappointed in Baron's physical condition. He isnt calling him lazy - which would be questioning his work ethic.

I dont recall Vinny ever bad mouthing a player on the Bulls or throwing them under the proverbial bus. The Bulls loved him for it & fought to keep his job.

[Speedlot]

Props to your coach. You guys pay BARON way too much for him to under perform like this.

[scratch21]

im on the coaches side.. Baron can get the eff out

[Recently]

I'm on del negro's side on this, hes just saying what everyone's thinking really. Props to him for actually standing up to baron and saying what he feels instead of coddling him. How baron responds though will probably not be what we want (ie: more dogging it) but i think baron will care more if this continues and public perspective of him begins to get much worse.

[playaloc916]

I'm glad VDN called him out like that. If there was no injury, I'm still glad Baron's catching a little heat for his under performing so far. I think Baron's becoming more of a problem than I thought. I'm starting to lose hope that we'll ever see the prime Baron that we thought we signed, on a consistent basis.

But with the way he's playing, who's willing to take him and his contract on? I really thought he'd be motivated with a healthy Blake tearing things up, but that's not been the case so far. It'll be interesting to see how things pan out after this.

[mike3]

i agree playaloc, i have hope that Baron will get back to his prime PG play but im starting to loose the hope as you said. If there was going to be a time where he was motivated, i was sure this is going to be it, a lot of changes have been made.

I just wish he could get his stuff together! everybody knows he has the talent, its just his attitude/mindset. I like the fact that VDN said this though

[mattfish]

Wow. Although I like that VDN isn't taking crap from his players, this isn't the best way to work with Baron. Baron's ego is too huge to let someone reprimand him and he's not going to respond well to this type of environment. He needed a GSW style environment where he was the man and he had the freedom to do anything he wanted without punishment to do well. While VDN's strategy might work with some players who respond to this kinda thing, he should have already known it wouldn't work with Baron.

Unfortunately, the only way for Baron's attitude to change is to be traded.

[mkwest]

To whom much is given, much is required. Baron has yet to embrace that. I don't mind the coach getting on Baron who happens to be the elder statesman of the team, as well the highest paid player and supposed leader. He is also one of the few on the team that is actually playing in his home town. More is expected of him for those reasons. He knew coming into the season what the coach wanted out of him. Nobody is saying that he can't live his life once the season ends, but there's not much sense in completely dogging it and then having to dig yourself out of a deep hole as the summer winds down. Other players are able to juggle their offseason activities and still be ready to start the season.

[tundraknight]

Obviously when Del Negro just got done coaching Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, who are both work horses with incredible work ethic, and then goes to the Clipps and compares their work ethic to Barons, there's going to be some problems.

Baron as been a talneted yet lazy player his whole career. He just doesn't have that mental tuffness or killer instinct.

I remember Kenny "The Jet" Smith touched up on it during the "We Believe" Warriors versus Mavs Playoff series several years ago.

Same problem with Vince Carter. Just imagine if Vince Carter had Kobe's work ethic and desire to win when Carter was in his prime. He would've dominated the league.