Baron Davis REVEALS "We Believe" Warriors "went out EVERY NIGHT!" | Club 520 Podcast

TL;DR

The “We Believe” Warriors began turning around after Don Nelson replaced Mike Montgomery and Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington arrived, giving the team new energy and camaraderie. Following a loss to Washington, Baron Davis urged his teammates to make the court their party, and promised they could go out every night if they did. Their bonding soon translated into wins over top teams like Detroit; read on for how that chemistry developed.

Transcript

when did it start turning around in Golden state for you I mean uh it didn't uh I mean it was like the last no it did it didn't like like to be honest turn around now I'm telling you bro everybody here knows the story the next year we in the season I'm a backto back player of the week though so I'm like oh I'm feeling good like I'm back in my groov... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Initial struggles under Mike Montgomery led to a lack of team chemistry and hover in performance.
• 😤 New additions like Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington revitalized the team with improved camaraderie.
• 🥳 Off-court bonding and partying created a strong team bond that translated to on-court success.
• 😤 Defeating top teams like Detroit boosted the team's confidence and belief in their abilities.
• 🥺 A focus on team unity and shared experiences led to a successful turnaround for Golden State.
• 😉 The importance of player relationships and camaraderie in building a winning team.
• 😤 The impact of new acquisitions on team dynamics and performance.

Questions & Answers

Q: When did the Golden State Warriors start turning their season around?

The shift began after Mike Montgomery was fired, Don Nelson took over, and Golden State acquired Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington near the trade deadline. The new players helped create the energy and camaraderie the team had been missing.

Q: Why did the Warriors struggle under Mike Montgomery?

Baron Davis says Montgomery approached the team like a college coach who needed control and repeatedly tried to teach veteran players how to play. The Warriors kept hovering and struggling, and Davis also felt poor draft picks prevented the roster from improving.

Q: How did Don Nelson change the Warriors?

Don Nelson assessed the roster after replacing Mike Montgomery, but the team initially continued struggling. The more decisive change came when Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington joined and gave the group what Davis called its missing “juice.”

Q: What trade brought Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to Golden State?

Near the trade deadline, Golden State acquired Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington from Indiana. The Warriors sent Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy, and Ike Diogu in the trade.

Q: Why did Baron Davis think the Warriors should have kept Mike Dunleavy?

Davis says Dunleavy could have been a missing piece during the “We Believe” era. He believed the team would have been all right with Dunleavy because of what that roster still needed.

Q: How did partying and off-court bonding help the “We Believe” Warriors?

Before the trade, Davis says players such as Mike Dunleavy, Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy, and Adonal Foyle did not regularly hang out together. Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington shared NBA stories, gave teammates more people to socialize with, and helped the younger players join in, building camaraderie that carried onto the court.

Q: What did Baron Davis say in the team meeting after the Washington loss?

After Gilbert Arenas made two free throws to beat Golden State, the Warriors held a team meeting. Davis told his teammates that if they wanted to party, they first had to make the court their party and club; if they did, he would go out every night and throw a birthday party at the end of the season.

Q: What gave the Warriors confidence that their turnaround was real?

The improved chemistry began translating into victories, including a win over a top team like Detroit. Beating strong opponents helped the Warriors believe their new camaraderie and approach could produce on-court success.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Initial struggles under Mike Montgomery led to hover in performance and bad draft picks.

• Team chemistry improved with the arrival of Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington, leading to a turnaround.

• Off-court bonding and partying translated to on-court success, defeating top teams like Detroit.