My esteemed colleague Fantasy Junkie started The Andris Biedrins Made Free Throw Watch, tracking whether Biedrins could go the entire season without a made free throw. I was looking over the numbers this morning and it seems like a good time to complement that with The Andris Biedrins Starting Center Matchup Watch.
Jump for watchage!
The Warriors are nearly at the half way mark this season with 38 games now in the books and a lowly 11 wins. Biedrins has only played in 13 of those games. After last season's Troy-Murphy-without-a-jump-shot campaign of double-doubles, the Warriors 9 million dollar center and supposed franchise saving center that so many homers couldn't wait to destroy WE BELIEVE to build around, has put up a weak 5.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg and a whopping 6.5 fouls per 36 minutes. I'm sure you could extrapolate his numbers to per 36 numbers and say he's still rebounding just fine, but guess what? That's doesn't matter. Per 36 numbers aren't a meaningful way to standardize performance when you're racking up that many fouls. There's no way he could ever attain those numbers with his current foul rate- it's against the rules of basketball.
But there's a bigger issue at hand here. Andris Biedrins has been abused by the opposing starting center EVERY SINGLE GAME this season. For a supposed top 5, top 7, top 10, top whatever center- that's a joke. Again, I don't care what the comparative per 36 numbers might say given that alarming foul rate. I also don't even care if Biedrins wasn't the actual Warriors starting center on a given night. That's his role and the role he signed up for when he inked that extension. Sure he's had injuries (like every other Warrior), but again if you're not ready to play, then don't play.
I won't waste words to describe how awful of a season the Warriors "franchise center" is having. That would just result in hysteria in the comments plus a ton of hate mail from the Biedrins fanboys. So I'll just give you the final stat lines and let you be the judge:
vs Houston Rockets
RECAP 0.5 Game #1- Warriors 107, Rockets 108 - The Meaningless Buzzer Beater
Chuck Hayes: 4 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists : 2 turnovers, 1 block, 3 steals
Andris Biedrins: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists : 3 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal
Winner: Chuck Hayes (CHUCK HAYES?!)
@ Phoenix Suns
Recap Game #2: Suns 123 - Warriors 101- The less said the better
Channing Frye: 22 points (8-12 FG), 8 rebounds, 3 steals
Andris Biedrins: 8 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists : 0 turnovers (great passing night), 1 steal
Winner: Channing Frye
vs Memphis Grizzlies
RECAP: Warriors 113 Grizzlies 105 - Yes, YES, and YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Marc Gasol: 12 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists : 0 turnovers, 2 blocks, 3 steals
Andris Biedrins: 6 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, 5 fouls
Winner: Marc Gasol
@ Sacramento Kings
AV Pre-RECAP: Golden State Warriors 107, Sacramento Kings 120- Just don't get blown out?
Spencer Hawes: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
Andris Biedrins: 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block
Winner: Spencer Hawes
vs Boston Celtics
RECAP: Warriors 103, Celtics 99 - 2 Game WIN streak?
Kendrick Perkins: 8 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists : 4 turnovers, 2 blocks, 5 fouls
Andris Biedrins: 0 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists : 2 turnovers
Winner: Kendrick Perkins
vs LA Lakers
RECAP: Golden State Warriors 118, LA Lakers 124- Ain't no shame
Andrew Bynum: 11 points (5-7 FG), 7 rebounds, 0 assists : 4 turnovers, 2 steals
Andris Biedrins: 6 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists : 1 turnover, 6 fouls
Winner: Andrew Bynum
vs Portland Trailblazers
RECAP: Blazers 105, Warriors 89 - Eyewitness Blazer Envy!
Juwan Howard: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 0 assists : 3 turnovers, 2 steals
Andris Biedrins: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists : 1 turnover
Winner: Juwan Howard (um, it's not like it's 1995)
vs Denver Nuggets
RECAP: Warriors 122, Nuggets 123 - Seriously...?
Nene Hilario: 9 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists : 5 turnovers, 2 blocks, 4 steals
Andris Biedrins: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist : 0 turnovers, 1 block, 4 fouls
Winner: Nene Hilario
@ Minnesota Timberwolves
RECAP: Warriors 107, Timberwolves 101 - Lucky #10
Al Jefferson: 26 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Andris Biedrins: 8 points (4-5 FG), 8 rebounds, 5 blocks
Winner: Al Jefferson
vs Sacramento Kings
Golden State Warriors 108, Sacramento Kings 101: GSoM Night 8 FTW!
Spencer Hawes: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists : 1 turnover
Andris Biedrins: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists : 0 turnover, 3 steals, 4 fouls
Winner: Spencer Hawes (This one's actually pretty close and you could make a good case for Biedrins, but what fun what that be? Let's keep the streak alive!)
vs Cleveland Cavaliers
RECAP: Golden State Warriors 114, Cleveland Cavaliers 117 - Warriors can't chew on the Cav's "beefy" frontline
Shaquile O'Neal: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 0 assists : 3 turnovers, 2 blocks
Andris Biedrins: 0 points (0-4 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 block, 2 steals, 5 fouls
Winner: Shaq
vs Miami Heat
RECAP: Warriors 102, Heat 115 – Thanks for the Gift
Jermaine O'Neal: 24 points (11-15 FG), 7 rebounds, 1 assist : 3 turnovers, 1 steal
Andris Biedrins: 6 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 fouls
Winner: Jermaine O'Neal
vs Milwaukee Bucks
RECAP: Milwaukee Bucks 113, Golden State Warriors 104 -- No Quit
Andrew Bogut: 15 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists : 0 turnovers, 3 blocks
Andris Biedrins: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal, 6 fouls (which hurt extra given the Dubs short roster)
Winner: Andrew Bogut
I don't know about you all, but I've got my calendars marked for Sunday January 31st. Warriors vs Thunder in Oklahoma City. Andris Biedrins vs. Nenad Krstic.
Swap out Josh Howard with Andris Biedrins in the above photo on January 31st?
MARK. YOUR. CALENDARS.
via d.yimg.com
