http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/ sfl-skolnick26apr26,0,7855481.column?coll=sfla-sports-heat Sports columnist --------------------------------------------------------------- Ethan J. Skolnick SKOLNICK: Beware the Baron, even when he limps Published April 26, 2004 NEW ORLEANS -- All that stands in the Heat's way of the second round sat on a table after Sunday's Hornets walkthrough, wearing Tony Montana on his chest, an easy smile on his face and his little friends (Ice and Tape) on his ankle. Baron Davis' Scarface shirt said something profane, but also something about "Respect." This was interesting, considering the All-Star would spend the interview session insisting on less respect than usual. The self-deprecation came one day after the gimpy guard recorded 21 points, five assists, four steals and one total domination of counterpart Dwyane Wade to help close the series deficit to 2-1. He even dunked in the first half, before injuring his knee and elbow, stepping on Lamar Odom's foot and sitting a few minutes of the second. The dunk surprised him, especially when he was waiting all game for his left ankle to give. "Not going to see much explosion out of me." He said he was still trying to find angles to the basket to score, "because I can't jump over anybody right now." He said he told the team Saturday, "I'll be lucky to make it through this series," which resumes Tuesday in New Orleans and which he expects to remain a defensive struggle. "If I was 100 percent, who knows? I'd probably be the one to get hot. But I'm not." He said much that might buoy Heat fans, whose only concern, other than a healthy, dynamic Davis, is overconfidence. Only a dozen NBA perimeter players can take over a series by themselves, slicing up defenses that know their every set, tendency and weakness, by cutting through the clutter of bumping bodies. The Heat has skill in numbers, but it doesn't have that guy yet, hoping only that Wade becomes him someday. The Hornets have Davis, the only NBA player ever to finish a season in the top six in points, assists and steals. But Davis has a limp. And the Hornets have to keep leaning on him. Brian Grant and the Heat's quick helpers are making Jamaal Magloire miserable in the low block. Jamal Mashburn is out. The other Hornets are role players. That's why Davis took 15 of the team's 37 shots in Saturday's first half, even while short-handed or, rather, short-legged. "In Game 1, he was playing on one leg, and [Saturday] he was playing on a leg and a half, so we're making progress," coach Tim Floyd said. Even at less than his best, Davis played physically enough to make his primary assignment, Wade, finally resemble an overwhelmed rookie (2 points, 0 assists, 6 turnovers). Sunday, Heat coach Stan Van Gundy called Davis "a very, very underrated defender." Even at less than his best, Davis impressed teammate Darrell Armstrong with his leadership. When Armstrong saw Davis leave in the third quarter, "I thought he was done, to be honest with you." Davis returned, to run the offense, jaw at officials, encourage teammates. "His toughness was out there," Armstrong said. Even at less than his best, Davis is the only player Heat fans still must stress about. Don't worry about Wade. If he flops offensively again, the Heat's other options can help it advance. Plus Wade has a short memory of failure, except whatever will help him the next time. Sunday he spoke of adjusting to blitzes designed to make him relinquish the ball. He understood he hadn't been aggressive enough: "Coach showed us today, and I learned from it and I'll attack more next game." Worry about the player Wade plans to attack, and has to defend, whose mere presence teammates could find more inspirational than anything Floyd can say to them. Worry about Davis because, the longer this endless series goes, the better the chance he starts to feel a little better. And Heat followers might recall how close one perimeter player can come to stealing a series. Remember Penny Hardaway, then of Orlando, in 1997? Armstrong does. He was Hardaway's teammate. The injury-ravaged Magic lost the first two games by 52 points. Then Penny took over. "It was just another level," Armstrong says. "It was just amazing. 42, 41, then 33." Penny's 42 and 41 won Games 3 and 4. The 33 were nearly enough, until the Heat's Hardaway, Tim, hit a 3 over Armstrong to close the five-game set. Two lessons apply now. The first? Armstrong recalls many assuming it was over after the Heat romped to a 2-0 lead. The second? Great players can overcome almost anything. Davis isn't nearly as healthy as Penny was and has only a bit more help, but he's healthier than Detroit's Grant Hill was when the Heat swept the Pistons in 2000. So the Heat is right to worry he's playing possum, while acknowledging the limp. "Then again, he goes and dunks the ball," Odom said. "I'm not sure, but he's a great player, and great players know what to do in the playoffs." As long as he's playing, respect him most. No matter what he says. Copyright c 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel --

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