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Baron: Win More, Care Less

As we all know, Baron is the one player who can take us to the promised land. Without Baron, the chances of the Golden State Warriors making the playoffs is slim to none. Without a proven backup point guard, Baron has to stay healthy and focused, something he seems prepared to do coming into this season. He's changed his approach towards the game this season, he's going to win more by caring less. I wasn't sure what that really meant but it was advice from the Big Aristotle, so I'm sure it's a good thing.

Davis got his new outlook on life and basketball during a summer conversation with Shaquille O'Neal, who gave some interesting advice to the frustrated scorer over lunch in Los Angeles. "He told me that I'll become a great player once I stop caring so much," Davis said. "You know, stop forcing myself: 'You've got to do this. You've got to work out.' If I just love what I do, then everything else will take its course. ... Every time I'm on the floor, I'm enjoying my time. Being injured, it can be taken away. I respect that. I appreciate that."

Also, thanks to eshock who also covered this in the diary Why Davis is still the key. Make sure to check out the rest of the diary for eshock's analysis. It highlights this point:

Golden State's only former All-Star is fit, rested and ready after losing 15 pounds since last season.

What's more is that he's deferring to Nellie in terms of who's team it is. Last year he certainly did't to defer to Monty, and so it's nice to hear him say this and buy into what Nellie is going to build here.

"I don't care whose team it is," he said. "That's just not where I'm at with it any more. Whoever steps up and becomes the leader on this team, that's what it is. I think we're all leaders in different facets of the game. I don't care. It's not my team. It's Coach Nelson's team, and I'm here to play."...

"(Playing) against teams he's coached, I'd always be like, 'Wow, I wish we played like that,"' Davis said. "It's a challenge because it's a style that I've never played. It's something that I'm definitely looking forward to."

Well now he's getting his chance. Baron's saying all the right things this year and even came into camp 15 pounds lighter, so to me, it seems like he's dedicated to playing the right way under Nellie and making this season a playoff season.

Is Baron going to be a new man this year? Have we seen the last of the Baron from last year?

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