Baron Davis update: Gone, and for how long?

PHOENIX -- There was good news, apparently.

"The bus got here," Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said, joking.

He was talking with a few of us courtside before the Clippers-Suns game and looked at his Blackberry. I, only half-kiddingly, asked him if he was afraid to look at it these days. Bad news has attached itself to the Clippers and isn't letting go. Not even a new year has changed things.

The latest: Slumping point guard Baron Davis won't be playing against the Suns because of a bruised tailbone. Jason Hart is scheduled to start in Davis' place against the Suns and newcomer Fred Jones is likely to see quite a bit of time at that position tonight.

How long will Davis be out? He is considered doubtful for Sunday's game against Detroit at Staples Center.

Doubtful around here means he probably won't be playing. Day-to-day seems to be week-to-week with the Clippers. And with their woeful record, 8-23 before Friday, injured players aren't exactly rushing to return to the lineup, especially with so little on the line.

"We'll just have to see. He's tried to play with it and got banged up," Dunleavy said. "It's been bothering him on and off since the Denver game [in November] when he took the fall on it. Then he went into a camera the other night in Sacramento."

Not the kind of close-up Davis or the Clippers wanted.

-- Lisa Dillman

Photo: On New Year's Eve, Baron Davis could be found counting down to the stroke of midnight while onstage at the Conga Room in downtown L.A. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Rodney]

The Clippers are a tough team to call. I feel that they wanted to improve in the off season, but I think the pick up of Baron Davis was not the right choice for them. They need leadership at the point guard position. Baron is a shoot first & second & third point. With a REAL point guard, you wouldn't seen already-that Eric Gordon is the best rookie in the league. He is a superstar in the waiting. He can take BIG shots & have the confidence to hit them. I'm sure if Baron wants to go back to Golden State-the Clippers would accept Jamal Crawford & Marcus Williams in exchange..