Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:00 pm EDT

Glen Davis in San Antonio? Fine by me


If today seems the polar opposite of my initial reactions to the free agency frenzy from last Wednesday, well, it's because it is.

Things are a little cheerier. And, as my girlfriend pointed out sometime this weekend, "you can catch these stupid fruit flies with a bowl full of vinegar, but you and your brother need to stop leaving half-drunk Schlitz bottles lying around. They love them."

Next up, to half drink a Schlitz? Glen Davis in San Antonio. How great would that be?

Davis completely turned his season around last year. A few months into 2008-09, the guy was absolutely destroying Boston's chances at both ends by firing up missed jumpers, whiffing on defensive rotations, and failing to commit to the defensive glass.

Now, the final aspect of that piss-poor triptych didn't go away. The guy was getting killed on the glass up to Boston's final seven game turn against the Orlando Magic (which, while we're at it, feels like it took place in 1947).

But his defense improved, and his jump shot really came around. Which, while we're quoting family members, progressed to a point where my father was yelling "you can't leave this guy!" at the TV and the Orlando Magic well before Davis hit this shot to beat the Magic. One would suspect my father had a minor investment in Orlando's pro basketball outfit, but the truth is he really just invested in proper pick and roll defense decades ago, and that's a hard thing to divest yourself of.

Now, Zach Lowe went into Davis' improvement in greater detail in this post as the regular season wrapped up, and you'll have to believe me when I tell you that I'm not linking to the post because he writes nice things about me. I'm linking to it because it discusses how average Davis was, over the final 60 percent of the regular season. This is significant, because the man was really poor for the first chunk of 2008-09.

Not the worst thing in the world, for a second round pick in his second season, but worth pointing out. And, for a second round pick in his second season, well worth pointing out as he improved to the ranks of average.

And, while you might not like me seemingly underrating the guy as "average," understand that he really was just that. Because the sheer amount of minutes he took in down the stretch of Boston's season, and the playoff heroics, you're likely overrating him. Don't. The man averaged about 16 points and five and a half rebounds in 36.4 minutes per game during the playoffs. For those minutes, with those few rebounds, that rounds down to average.

Then, armed with this information, don't get down on the guy. Even dismissing the "second round pick" background, a 23-year old power forward working at about average at this point in his career is a fine thing to have. And considering that the San Antonio Spurs are about to sign him to a contract that approximates the league's average salary, then you have to be happy that a great team is likely to get fantastic value in Glen Davis(notes).

So, he can't rebound. This is why Dave Berri can't stand him, and that's entirely fair. To call his board-work "Curry-esque" would be a bit of a slam sent Eddy's way.

Davis pulled in 9.2 percent of all available rebounds during the playoffs, passable for a roster that was solid on the boards during the postseason, but a mark that would have ranked below Grant Hill's(notes) regular season percentage had he strung that together during the initial 82. And Davis' 11.2 percentage during that initial 82 was worse than Carmelo Anthony's(notes) tally.

His defense? It needs work. It'll frustrate the Spurs. But the effort was there. He's not unlike Drew Gooden(notes), in that aspect, as he'll space out and wander from the scripted defensive game plan sometimes. But the Spurs knew this when they went out and signed Gooden last year, and while Drew isn't exactly coming back to San Antonio for 2009-10, his mitigating factors were ably dealt with by a team that knows exactly what it's doing.

The "average" player will only get better, from here on out. Turning into an above-average player with an average contract, on San Antonio's dime.

Toss in the fact that rookie DeJuan Blair(notes) seems to be a Reggie Evans(notes)-type right out of the gate, and you have a Spurs team with scads of options and all sorts of talent. And here's the part where I'm legally required to type "if healthy."

To me, the biggest question regarding Davis' potential trip to San Antonio for the MLE regards Boston's designs.

Do they match? C's owner Wyc Grousbeck has been willing to pay the luxury tax for a winner, and despite falling short to Orlando last spring, Davis helps this team win. I know adding Rasheed Wallace(notes) helps with the interior depth, but Rasheed really hasn't been much for points in the paint since about 2005 or so. Davis can score among the trees. He's not a tree, himself, but he does well moving into the tree-less spaces.

As a general fan, it seems like a win-win. In a day full of good news, let's add Glen Davis to the mix.

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47 Comments

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  1. Steven T
    1. Posted by Steven T Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:10 pm EDT

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    Will every blog story end in a question mark? I guess not
    haha
  2. Joe B
    2. Posted by Joe B Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:28 pm EDT

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    i wish he would stay with the C's, there sheed and kg team up on making him cry again.. C's for eastern 2010 title!
  3. sam s
    3. Posted by sam s Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:41 pm EDT

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    I pretty much agree with you on all points....very well written.
    I would like to add however, that Glenn Davis Offers them some needed youth on that team. And regardless of how bad he played, he is youth that has playoff experiance.
    So he has that going for him.
  4. SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen!
    4. Posted by SCSF- LA where repeats and 3-peats happen! Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:43 pm EDT

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    LMAO 36 year old Sheed will come off the bench....?
  5. freezy
    5. Posted by freezy Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    you boston fans will soon realize that rasheed is a disease...he is the opposite of hard work and has been ever since he showed up in the detroit...he was the reason they lost the finals in 05 and his lack of effort greatly hurt the pistons and the fact they couldnt make it past the ECF hump...thank you for taking him because now that opens the door for new potential and the end of, what seemed like, a enver-ending nightmare...
  6. rbuttercup
    6. Posted by rbuttercup Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

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    ainge will sign him to what ever contract spurs offer.
  7. sportsnut888
    7. Posted by sportsnut888 Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    BOS would be smart to keep Davis. Have to figure that Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and Sheed will go after the title for the next 2-3 years, then Ainge will have to blow up roster and reload. Having Davis to go with Perkins will bring stability in the long run, and the two of them will only continue to get better.
  8. Hambone
    8. Posted by Hambone Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    Who's grandmother are you dating?
  9. Joe S
    9. Posted by Joe S Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    the celtics don't need sheed or big baby what they do need is somebody else like perkins who is a good rebounder and can get about 10 points a game
  10. Travis
    10. Posted by Travis Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    can you imagine how big baby would fall apart if he wasn't with one of the best franchises in the league? picture his fat ass and slow game in a clippers uniform, hitting up all kinds of strip clubs and hot spots in LA, getting bigger and bigger. he's sorta got it coming to him, doesn't he?
  11. Hoopla
    11. Posted by Hoopla Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Not sure what freezy is on about; Sheed was crucial to their title, and played very hard for a few years. Detroit was a train wreck with AI on board, so he checked out. Not admirable, but that's Sheed.
    I think he'll psych himself up for another run at a title and be a big asset in Boston.
    One thing not mentioned here - he's a very good passer, and can, when his head is in the game, make those around him a lot better. ZBo wasn't anywhere near the same player as soon as Sheed wasn't on the floor with him in Portland.
  12. QuAzY
    12. Posted by QuAzY Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    G. Davis, Duncan, Manu, Jefferson and Parker ... perfect ... cry babies ^_^
    They should all cry together w/ Coach Popo
  13. Anton
    13. Posted by Anton Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Yesss!!!! Yeah Travis he is fat, but he has proven he can produce, although if you put any average player on a winning team, they will be better. Spurs are in the running now though.
  14. coleassman
    14. Posted by coleassman Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Drew Gooden is a better player then both Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace. Hopefully Cleveland can land Drew Gooden.
  15. j
    15. Posted by j Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    Fat Athletes FTW.
    San Antonio Mexican cuisine doesn't make it any easier either, believe.
    http://www.justyler.blogspot.com
  16. MJD sucks
    16. Posted by MJD sucks Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    big baby is a big joke and tim duncan changing his diapers doesn't change the fact that his ego is so easily bruised
  17. whiterabbit
    17. Posted by whiterabbit Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    Wow what a surprise...
    "I'm not putting the guy down" argument.... but you are, either have the gruff to stand by your criticism or don't shay s hit.... really simple...
    Its free agency now so I'm sure we'll be seeing a barrage of blogs poo-pooing every team's move- except for Lebron
  18. Connor
    18. Posted by Connor Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    Good. Glen Davis is finally leaving. Sorry but I honestly can't say I think of him as an average level player; he can hit the midrange j, and sometimes scores on pick and roles, but other than that, what does he have? He gets packed inside; he can't post up; he gets burnt outside and killed inside defensively; plus, he's a big who can't rebound. I liked the Celtics having Scal out there during the playoffs more than Davis. So San Antonio can have him, no big.
    What the Celtics need to do is resign Leon Powe, who can act as a foil to Sheed when they play together off the bench.
  19. Henry H
    19. Posted by Henry H Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    Too bad the Celts let Powe go. Wallace seems to be a cancer - and one at the end of his career, too. I assume Ainge, Rivers and company know the game a tad better than I do, but we'll see what transpires as the season unfolds...
  20. Blank4242
    20. Posted by Blank4242 Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    im not saying he's a great player but during the playoffs he averaged like 18 points per game...... and he could be a leader with rondo and perkins when kg and allen, and peirce leave. yes, i dont think they'd be a good team but still they can become one when all the old men move on and retire. i think he is a pretty bad player, but he is pretty smart on the both ends of the floor. did you see him aganist chicago? and orlando he played some pretty decent games on the defensive end of the floor. and not to mention that he has a decent inside jumper for someone as fat as him. but he should go to the spurs so the suns can finally beat somebody. lol
  21. Lajames W
    21. Posted by Lajames W Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    If (as it keeps getting reported) Boston lets all of there young forwards go and bank on the old guys staying healthy all year; Danny Ainge must really be banking on the luck of the Irish. Sheed, KG, and Pierce are all at the age where injuries and extended stays on the injured list are the expectaion. I can't see how letting Powe and Baby Davis go is anything other than blatently optimistic. Scal and Perk can't carry the C's once somebody goes down. The Celtics got as far as they did by utilizing depth. What's next sign Mcdyess and trade Perkins for Buck Williams?
  22. fado
    22. Posted by fado Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    What I am trying to see is what impact is signing big baby on signing someone better such as McDyess. If Glen Davis is just an extra, then he is good addition. If he is the best we went after and burned our budget, then it is a terrible move. Unless there are trade talks going on to bring in another good player.
  23. lakeshow
    23. Posted by lakeshow Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    The same predictions that I now read about Sheed is exactly what was written about Marbury when he was in NY and acqired by the Celts. Well, it was all a lie and the result of people who know nothing and blindly follow the media's opinions. Sheed will do just fine in Boston, Big Baby in SA and they both will get their arrse kicked by the Lakers.
  24. Billy Goats Gruff
    24. Posted by Billy Goats Gruff Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:44 pm EDT

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    Who cares... more importantly, what is the guy in the lower left corner of the picture thinking or doing? He looks constipated.
  25. rationally_exuberant_guy
    25. Posted by rationally_exuberant_guy Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    The "lower left corner guy" (in the above photo) is pondering a Celtic future w/o BIG BABY.
    BIG BABY to the rescue. Go BIG BABY!! Go Big Baby!!

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