CENTER OF ATTENTION
By: Andy Lopusnak of Bay Area Sports Drive
November 11, 2008

In yet another slow start for Golden State on the court, there’s nothing sluggish about the all-around play of center Andris Biedrins, who has been the only player to truly earn the moniker “warrior” so far this season. The six-foot-eleven Latvian entered this week leading the NBA in all rebounds categories and was also third in scoring among all centers.

Against the Timberwolves Tuesday night, Biedrins registered his eighth double-double of the season, attacking the basket for 13 points to go along with 15 boards. Dating back to last season, he has had a double-double in 15 straight contests - the longest active streak in the NBA. It’s also the second longest streak since the 1971-72 season for the Warriors (Nate Thurmond posted double-doubles 18-games in a row in 1972).

Prior to Don Nelson taking over as head coach in 2006, Bierdrins looked like he was lost in the NBA - just another failed European prospect that couldn‘t make the adjustment from international rules to the NBA. The Warriors snagged the then 18-year old Bierdrins originally with the eleventh pick in the 2004 draft after he had a stellar two years playing pro European basketball in his native Latvia, a country that was part of the old Soviet Union until 1991 when Bierdrins was six.

When Nelson took over for Mike Montgomery, Bierdrins began a steady improvement. In his first year with Nelson, he led the Association with a .621 field goal percentage. And if he continues his current pace, he’s likely to earn his first All-Star appearance - the first by a Warriors player since Latrell Sprewell went three times from 1994-97. It would be the first time a Golden State center made the All-Star team since Joe Barry Carroll more than two decades ago in 1987.

Through the first eight games of this season, Bierdrins has seen an increase in his minutes, points and rebounds per game compared to any of his previous four NBA seasons. His 17.3 points per game is nearly seven more and his 14.1 boards a contest is almost five more than last year.

Last season, the Warriors started an anemic 0-6 before finishing with the best record of any non-playoff team since the NBA expanded to 16 teams in 1984. This year has been almost equally feeble aside from a wins standpoint thanks mainly to the Warriors shooting from the field (third worst in free throws and three pointers, as well as, sixth to last in field goals. That being said, Golden State is fifth in the league in points scored, averaging more than a hundred per game, largely due to the dominating offensive and defensive play of the team‘s ultimate warrior - Andris Bierdrins.