Although I want to blame Nellie for overusing him when he was injured, Andris needs to stop playing ball for Latvia in the summer. He's done it for a few years in a row and he looks exhausted out there. I hope he comes back and makes a few free throws just so he doesn't break the record for worst FT percentage of all-time.
I think the only similarity between Bynum and Biedrins is that they each only played one full season, and earned a big contract from that, and then haven't quite lived up to it. Biedrins might as well take the time to rest up and fully heal. He's only 24 and has a lot of time left in his career if he can keep his body from working against him.
Even though AB hasn't lived up to his contract, it's not like he hasn't been working hard to do it. He was injured and he continued playing. Second, he had to endure Don Nelson talking trash at him and he hasn't come out and said that he wants to get traded in some magazine. Third, he doesn't get the same amount of PT that he probably would get under a coach that emphasizes defense. I think AB could live up to his contract under a coach that emphasizes defense or at least tries to instill it in his players. If he can be moved, then he'll likely be traded next season .
How about being forced to play out of position his entire career? If you look at the history of the Warriors something you see every year are the amount of injuries this team faces. I think it goes hand in hand with playing small ball and getting physically beat up by larger players. You can get away with it for stretches of a game, but being undersized by 20 to 25lbs every night will eventually takes it's toll on your body. This franchise needs a cultural change and it has to start with a defensive minded coach. Nellie ball is a failure. D'Antoni ball is a failure. Size and defense are what it takes to win in the NBA and the Warriors don't have either. I'd really like to see Jeff Van Gundy coach this team and for them to deal small for big. The management was foolish not to unload Maggette this year. He was actually well enough for teams to overlook his toxic contract and there were plenty of takers. I think Biedrins will make his mark being an impact player on the defensive end and if he can figure out how to shoot free throws he won't be a liability on the offensive end. Jeff Van Gundy would be a great motivator for him.
