The parallels between Baron's mindset and Marbury's is frightening.

WARRIORS NOTEBOOK
Davis is looking forward to having fun again


Warriors point guard Baron Davis, coming off one of the most frustrating seasons of his career, says he has a renewed vigor, a re-shifted focus.

``My focus and where I'm headed is where I need to be at this point,'' Davis, 27, said Thursday in a phone interview from his home in Las Vegas. ``I don't think I have to prove anything to nobody accept myself. Last year I was out to prove to everybody I was back. This season, I don't care about that. I've just got a more selfish approach with the things I need to do.''

{("last year I was Marbury. This year I'll be Starbury"}

The reclamation process has started with his body. Davis has taken a hard-line approach to improving his health.

Davis, who missed 28 games because of injury last season, rested the entire summer to heal his sprained right ankle, which at one point he was told might require surgery. He embarked on a strict diet, which includes lots of sushi and no eating out late at night.

Davis said he wants to couple physical development with peace of mind. Portrayed as the center of the Warriors' turmoil, he said he allowed last season's ills to get to him.

There were reports about him not getting along with then-coach Mike Montgomery, about his teammates being upset because Davis had the longest rope.

``I think my personality last year was not who I am,'' Davis said. ``I was more serious, worried, worried about what people were thinking. It taught me a lot. Having a coach like Montgomery who was learning the ropes, we went through a lot of tough times. We went through a lot both on and off the court. All that taught me not to worry about that stuff.''

{Marbury - "I love Larry Brown, he made me a better man"}

The two-time All-Star said last season was ``probably the most inconsistent I had ever played.'' He averaged 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. But he was the only Warriors regular to shoot under 40 percent (38.9) and his volume of shots -- his 15.9 attempts per game were second to guard Jason Richardson -- seemed to disrupt the Warriors' offense.

Davis said the answer is having fun again, which is why he's giddy about the hiring of Don Nelson.

{Montgomery took his joy away}

``Look at Steve Nash,'' Davis said. ``Look at what he did with Tim Hardaway. He gave those guys the opportunity to be who they needed to be out on the floor. I want to play for Coach so bad because I know that once we get on the court, it's going to be wide open. What better situation can a point guard ask for? When I hit the court, I'm going to be the hardest-working dude on the court.''

[i]{Marbury coveting the freedom that Raymond Felton has on an expansion team}
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Anyone who's pumped about the possibilities for the Knicks team coming from a motivated Marbury (that the rarity of that is considered a plus is frightening) combined with a "positive", up-tempo coach offering a lot of offensive freedom combined with a sweet shooting bigman, promising youth and defensive role players, must be equally encouraged about GS's possibilities.

After all, with all their troubles around a discontented and injured PG who didn't get along with his coach or teammates, they still managed to better us by 11 games. And now they have all this optimism too? Look out...

(FWIW, I do think GS has a lot of potential. But they remind me of ourselves and a team like, say, Seattle. I have no problem envisioning any team with a bunch of scorers catching lightening for a season or two. But whether they have the leadership, character and fortitude to handle adversity and pull together as a team, so that any improvement is sustained and progressive, is what remains to be seen.)

lets trade frye for him!

'Motivated Marbury'? Sounds like an oxyMARon to me.

yeah i agree with blueseats, really. it is similar.