Biedrins feeling pressure to excel By Marcus Thompson II <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Biedrins is feeling the demands of being a first-round draft pick like never before. With fans eager to see him realize his potential, his team drafting for his position and his burning desire to play, Biedrins said he knows this is hardly the time to chill. "I feel the pressure," Biedrins said. "Definitely." Chris Mullin, the Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations, said the drafting of bruising power forward Ike Diogu was not a sign of disappointment in Biedrins. He said he knew when he selected Biedrins with the 11th overall pick of the 2004 NBA draft that it would take Biedrins time to develop. "He's 19 years old," Mullin said. Biedrins said he isn't at all angry at the Warriors' drafting of Diogu. But he did say he takes it as a challenge. "I know we need some big guy to help us," Biedrins said. "I know rebounding we're one of the last teams in the NBA. I'm not worried about if he can bother me and my position. I'll work hard and we'll see." Biedrins' work ethic has really impressed members of the organization. He's been at it nonstop for most of the summer. He left for Latvia the day after the season ended on April 20. He spent time with his family, hung out with friends and passed the necessary exams to graduate from Rigas 64th High School. He returned to Oakland on June 2 and has been in the gym nearly every day since. Workouts consist of hours of weightlifting and shooting practice and executing low-post moves. The results are starting to show. He said he's gained a few pounds. It's somewhat noticeable in his upper body. He can bench 260 pounds once, which he said is 30 pounds more than what he could lift last season. In Friday's game vs. Portland, he pulled off a sweet up-and-under move from the left low block, losing 7-foot-4 center Nedzad Sinanovic and getting to the free-throw line. Last year, the only way he scored was putbacks and finishes. "That I'm getting stronger will help me a lot in my game," Biedrins said. "I think now I have enough skills, I just have to get stronger." Warriors assistant coach Mario Elie, head coach of the summer league team, is watching Biedrins closely. Elie said he likes the strides Biedrins has made and especially wants to see him work on his facing-the-basket offense, defending the post and improve at the free-throw line. Elie said he's going to continue to run plays for Biedrins to get him the experience working down low. Biedrins was as active and aggressive as ever in the summer-league opener, unflinching at the thought of mixing it up against much bigger players. However, he did have a hard time bodying up against the Trail Blazers' front line, which included Sinanovic, 7-foot-3, 305-pound center Ha Seung Jin and 6-11 forward Kris Lang. There were times when he wasn't able to hold his box out, couldn't get position on the offensive end and succumbed to a stiff shoulder while defending the post. The presence of Diogu -- who the Warriors recently signed to a two-year deal with two one-year team options -- should help Biedrins. Not only would Biedrins get a visual of a formidable low-post arsenal, but he's also has to raise his level of play on the defensive end to contend with Diogu in practice. "Absolutely," Elie said. "We've got a guy who can score in the box. Andris is going to have learn how to contain guys like that in the box." As the roster stands now, Biedrins, scheduled to make nearly $1.9 million this season, likely is going to have to back up center Adonal Foyle. But it figures to be tough to get minutes there because the Warriors often employ a small lineup with power forward Troy Murphy at center.</div> Source
I think Biedrins will start. It is a good article, but Thompson is not excatly a Warriors genius, and Murphy comes in as C when Foyle and Biedrins are tired or are in foul trouble
You gotta love Andris' work ethic. He's preparing like a superior and determined professional. That is very exciting to see. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Biedrins will start. It is a good article, but Thompson is not excatly a Warriors genius, and Murphy comes in as C when Foyle and Biedrins are tired or are in foul trouble</div> I am not sure if he would start though, J-Rich23. If he has some trouble with being physical with these summer league big men, such as in boxing out, as the article mentioned. Then I am not certain that Biedrins would be the player to start at the center spot when the regular season comes around and the players are even better than the summer league guys that he is facing right now. I believe Biedrins will get Pietrus-like minutes from last year off the bench. It's good to see how competition can push people to work hard on their games. Hopefully it will flow into the likes of Chris Taft, Ellis, and maybe more in Dunleavy.
The W's need to continue to show patience with this kid. He's only 19. Most big men take (at least) until their early 20's to become proficient NBA players. He's making fantastic progress, but he's not close to being an NBA starter. No reason to break his confidence, they just need to continue to develop him and put him in postitions where he can be challenged, but also experience success.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Biendris start? I don't think so...right now the starting front looks like Diogu and Murphy.</div> I seriously doubt it. Diogu will be coming off the bench, Murphy and Foyle should be the starters.
There have been strong hints already that Murphy will play more C,Andy's role was growing at the end of last year-but Foyle played his best ball late in the season too. Whoever starts at the beginning of the year,may not end up starting most of the season,and anyways,there will be 3 guys getting plenty of C minutes. The W's will be trying to get Kong in the mix early. They also see that potential improvements to Andy B,Zarko,Ike,Pietrus can improve the team more than a pretty major trade.....well,I hope they see that...so these developing players must get the kind of action that optimizes their progress. I expect Pietrus to be starting before mid season. In a year,Biedrens could be ready to win a starter role,but not yet.
Foyle and Murphy by default. Biedrins is capable of picking up 6 fouls in 6 seconds, so I seriously doubt that he will start next season. Also, Murphy can't defend middle, and I think Mullin is also aware what happened when we had no inside presence, like how we allowed 50% fg literary every night. If not and they put Murphy in C, I believe it will be a quick experiment...
I don't like the idea that any of the opposing 5 could go where they please once they dice up J-Rich, Dunleavy or Fisher and go all the way to the rack.
