Biedrins Contributing To Rebuilding

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OAKLAND - At 66 years old, Warriors coach Don Nelson might not be around to fully enjoy a future renaissance by the team, but he's certainly trying to lock in the foundation for such a revival.

And one of the building blocks still can't legally drink.

At the age of 20, third-year center Andris Biedrins has gone from being a project to an integral part of Nelson's rebuilding scheme.

"We have two players, one is 20, one's 21, one's a center, one I'm going to make a point guard," Nelson said recently, referring to Biedrins and Monta Ellis. "Those are the hardest two positions to find, and we've got two 20-year-olds there. So I'd be crazy and I'd be remiss if I didn't take advantage of that and get those guys ready to go as quickly as possible."

Many observers expected Ellis -- clearly the Warriors' quickest player and best perimeter defender by the end of last season -- to make an impact this year. Biedrins, however, was still an unknown quantity, his flashes of brilliance often obscured by his well-chronicled struggles at the free-throw line.

Last year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Biedrins became the first player in 15 seasons -- since ex-Warriors forward Larry Smith did it for the Houston Rockets in 1990-91 -- to attempt at least 150 field goals and 50 free throws and come up with a field-goal percentage (63.8) that was more than double his free-throw mark (30.6).

So far this season, Biedrins has raised his free-throw shooting 16 percent. More surprisingly, his field-goal percentage has also spiked, to an absurd 77.4 percent (24-for-31). He played a season-high 31 minutes in the Warriors' 111-79 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, scoring 13 points on an assortment of looks from inside 7 feet.

Every night, it seems, Warriors fans are treated to multiple versions of the same play: A Golden State player, often guard Baron Davis, beats his man off the dribble, forcing the opposing big man to help, then deftly delivers a pass to the wide-open Biedrins for a layup or two-handed flush.

"A lot of it is he remembers where he's supposed to go in those situations," Nelson said. "Baron knows where that guy's supposed to be, and (Biedrins) is there every time."

Biedrins pointed out that his partnership with Davis is still evolving.

"I just read the situation. Where he goes, I just go opposite," Biedrins said. "When he drives, if I'm not in (the right) spot, then when we run back, he says to me, 'OK, next time be on time there and I'll pass it to you. Keep your hands ready.'"</div>

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