Watson Suddenly Runs Afoul

Earl Watson has replaced Baron Davis in more ways than as the starting point guard and team leader, suddenly contending with foul problems at about the same rate as his predecessor and trying to find a way to balance aggressive play and staying in the game.

Watson has fouled out of each of the last two games, the first time, he said, that has ever happened to him at any level. Not only that, but both disqualifications came late in close games, with 3:34 remaining in the eventual two-point victory over Purdue on Thursday and with 1:02 left in the two-point win over Pepperdine on Tuesday.

“I’ve never had a problem with foul trouble,” he said. “I think it’s because I’ve never had this much attention on me. I could get away with things before. I’ve got to make the adjustment. I’m going to stay aggressive, but I have to stay in the games.”

Before last week, Watson had only fouled out three times in 72 games at UCLA.