#32 wrote:I agree... Montgomery was content with laying low in the shadows after the Baron Davis trade last season (which worked well, with Davis running the offense), but this year he seemed to want to snatch back the player's obedience from the floor general, with visible spats becoming obvious between Montgomery and Davis through their riggid, cold, on-court relationship... ultimately climaxing in Davis' refusal to play (or, at least, play to his fullest ability) for Montgomery.
The team worked better in the hands on Baron Davis because Baron was assertive, NBA savy, and willing to call out the big dogs if they made a mistake. Montgomery is the complete opposite; catering to the games of Dunleavy & Murphy (even when they're ice cold), reluctant to speak up at his players, and completely on the surface of another planet when it comes to how he runs the team during a game.
If the Warriors hope to be successful, they need to instate a coach with Davis' general-like approach... not Monty's laid back shoulder-shrugs.
Absolutely. This team needs a head coach to bring leadership to the team. Baron Davis has good savy and has some NBA experience and has had some superb seasons. Though he is not the hero or savior that many, including Mike Montgomery kind of deemed him to be. He is a player that has not yet developed the leadership of a Sam Cassell, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, etc. He also hasn't had the coach like Phil Jackson to teach him how to be the leader on the court. Baron's personallity kind of seems all laid back a little. He needs someone to push him. He doesn't need someone to rag on him all the time, but at least someone to push and especially challenge him. This is a foolish thought, but as a wish, I wish that Derek Fisher could have brought the kind of leadership Sam Cassell is bringing to the LA Clippers(though maybe more like the Blue Devils with Dukies like Brand, Maggette, Ewing, potentially Livingston if he went to college, etc.).
In my opinion, Mike Montgomery depended too much on Baron Davis, along with the starters/big paid players in general. This roster can win. They just didn't have the systems nor especially the leadership to do it. Jason Richardson is great and all. But he hasn't shown that special leadership ability. To be honest, nobody on the Warriors team or in the Warriors franchise has shown that special leadership abilitiy either. Maybe Mario Ellie or Keith Smart may have it. But outside of those possibilities, nobody else does have it.
