24-year old center Andris Biedrins is a legit center at 6′11″, 240 pounds and he brings the toughness the Warriors really lacked last season under the basket. Last season was a waste for him due to injuries and he also got into Don Nelson’s Dog House which is a bad combo for any player. Biedrins played in only 33 games (29 starts) for the Warriors last season and he averaged 23.1 minutes, 5.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. The Warriors need a healthy and focused Biedrins if they are going to improve in 2010-11. He has played in 351 games (212 starts) in his career with the Warriors (6 years) in which he has averaged 24.1 minutes, 8.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. The Warriors could look to trade Biedrins over the summer but I think the smarter way to go is to just start him because they need his rebounding and defense.

25-year old F/C Chris Hunter started this season in the D-League. But due to a rash of injuries along the front line he got a call from the Golden State Warriors and he has played just well enough to stay. Hunter has played in 29 games (2 starts) for the Warriors this season and he is averaging 9.6 minutes, 2.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Hunter probably won’t get a lot of playing time any time soon as Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf are now healthy and Anthony Tolliver is playing well since signing with the Warriors.

F/C Ronny Turiaf is a good defensive player and he’s a solid rebounder which is two areas that the Warriors are weak. But, he has been injured most of the year. He has played in 21 games (6 starts) for the Warriors this season and he is averaging 19.0 minutes, 3.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Warriors would be smart to give him more minutes but I have a feeling that instead they will offer him around at the trade deadline.

The Golden State Warriors can put a lot of points on the board and can be an exciting team to watch, but they play terrible defense and are killed on the glass nearly every game.  They are giving up league-highs in points per game (111.8), field goal percentage (48.8%), opponents’ rebounds per game (46.7), and rebounding differential (-8.7).  The Warriors due lack size, but defense and rebounding has more to do with effort than size, so they are just not getting physical enough.  When you give up over 110 points per game and are getting out-rebounded by nearly 10 boards per game, you are not going to have a lot of success.  It doesn’t matter how many points Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, and Stephen Curry score, because when you can’t defend and rebound you are not going to win.  The lack of defense and rebounding are the reasons the Warriors are 12-28 this year.

The Warriors need Troy Hudson to step up so they can keep Baron Davis fresh this season but he’s doing a poor job this month. Hudson has played in 4 games this month and he has averaged 14.0 minutes, 2.8 points, 1.0 rebound and 2.0 assists per game. He also is shooting poorly as he is only hitting 22.2% from the floor this month.