Minutes Taking Toll on Davis

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND -- In every game so far this season, coach Mike Montgomery has been faced with the decision of resting point guard Baron Davis or giving his Warriors the best chance of winning.

Though Davis has been battling a strained left hamstring and trying to get into game shape, Montgomery often has chosen winning. That has meant a lot of time on the court for Davis, who played 45 minutes in each of the past two games. Not an ideal pattern for a team planning to be in the playoff mix in April.

"I don't think he could last," Montgomery said. "I don't think anybody could."

Davis now has played 40-plus minutes in six of the past nine games, though he had two games of 30 or fewer minutes during that stretch (29 minutes in a blowout loss to San Antonio and 30 in a blowout win over Toronto).

Davis said he has wanted to stay in the games so he could get in better shape. The Warriors were using the one day they had between games, if that, to rest and Davis wasn't able to put in much work on off days.

"I was real adamant about staying in the game, helping my conditioning," Davis said after practice Monday. "Now that we do have time off, it's going to be easier to do some conditioning work, get my body some rest."

The trick is going to be finding Davis some rest. With swingman Mickael Pietrus out, Davis' backup, Derek Fisher, has played most of his minutes at shooting guard in Montgomery's small lineup. Fisher hasn't been as available to spell Davis, though he might handle the ball a few possessions when they're on the court together, giving Davis a short break.

Montgomery said he might turn to rookie Monta Ellis, with the right lineup of course. Ellis isn't ready to run the point, but he could play alongside Fisher and allow Montgomery to keep the small lineup. Ellis played next to Davis in Wednesday's game.

Montgomery has been reluctant to give rookie Aaron Miles minutes at the point. Save for the two blowouts, he hasn't played more than nine minutes since totaling 24 in the first two games. Miles, who has totaled five minutes the past two games, said he knows he can and needs to step up his game.

"If needed, I'm ready. That's what I'm here for" Miles said. "I feel like I can play better. I don't like it when the lead goes down when I'm in the game. I want it to at least stay the same, and if we're down I want to be closer."</div>

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