<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When Don Nelson took over the Golden State Warriors last summer, the first thing he did was watch film of all the young players on his roster. He liked what he saw in Mike Dunleavy and Monta Ellis, but he was unsure about Andris Biedrins, who had averaged about four points and four rebounds for the Warriors in his first two NBA seasons. Assistant coach Keith Smart ? who worked on the Golden State staff last season and was retained by Nelson ? assured him that Biedrins would be a factor. "Keith told me that Biedrins could play," Nelson said. "He said to be patient with him because he's so young, but that he had soft hands, quick feet and an active, long body. Keith was right." As much as Smart liked Biedrins, it's tough to imagine that he could have expected the 20-year-old Latvian to be this good this fast. ADVERTISEMENT Just 15 games into the season, Biedrins has become a force for the Warriors. He's averaging a double-double (11.2 points, 10.2 rebounds), and he is controlling the paint for an otherwise undersized Golden State team. In the Warriors' last three games ? which include victories over Utah and San Antonio ? Beidrins is averaging 21 points, 14 boards and four blocks. Biedrins is a big reason why Golden State is off to a surprising 9-6 start. And he's also No. 1 on my list of the biggest surprises of the young season. 1. Andris Biedrins ? The 6-foot-11 center scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a win over the Spurs. Not bad, especially playing against Tim Duncan. 5. Matt Barnes ? Playing with his fifth NBA team in four years, Barnes is the consummate "journeyman," but his play for the Warriors of late has been so good that he may have finally found a home. Barnes has averaged 19 points, six rebounds and four assists in his last three games, and he has made 22 of 35 shots during that stretch. Barnes is Don Nelson's kind of player because of his versatility. He can play multiple positions and handle the ball pretty well for a wing player, so he can make plays. </div> http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ag5T...=yhoo&type=lgns
Might add Roberson to that. The Warriors just had a couple of real ugly losses. Brain-fart flu was going around like the clap at a Tijuana cathouse,yet Roberson,steps over the wreckage and calmly drains shots from the edge of the area code. The Spurs game shows that while an experiment can lead to a great discovery-it also can create a stink forcing all to evacuate and return later with mops and Lysol. Hat's off to Roberson for being the one plus.
I can't wait until Ike gets back, we need post presence and a little more hustle and shot altering. Anyone can look good in garbage time, especially if they want that long term deal. Once they get it, they can fade into obscurity like a lot our training camp invites. Brian Cardinal cough cough
