The Warriors were not exactly big, even with Andris Biedrins playing center. They will become even smaller this week, as Biedrins recovers from the right ankle he sprained in Friday night's loss to Phoenix.
Biedrins will not return until after the All-Star break, team officials announced Saturday. That means he will miss at least three games, starting with tonight's 6 p.m. contest against Utah. Biedrins had played in all but one of Golden State's first 51 games. His absence propels Ronny Turiaf into the starting lineup. Coach Don Nelson seems confident matching Turiaf against opponents' starting centers - such as Utah's Mehmet Okur , who averages 17.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game - but Nelson is uneasy about his depth at the position. Rob Kurz and Jermareo Davidson now become the backup centers. Kurz is really more of a forward and Davidson remains untested, with only 13 minutes of playing time since joining the Warriors on Jan. 5.
"I think we'll do fine moving Ronny into the starting lineup," Nelson said after Saturday's practice in Oakland. "It will be even tougher to rebound against most teams, but our offense will be fine. ... When we sub, we'll have to play one of the big guys who hasn't played much at the 5."
Anthony Randolph , who hasn't played in four of the past five games, doesn't figure to see the court more often with Biedrins out. Nelson views Randolph as a small forward or power forward, saying simply, "Anthony is available. He's just not a center."
Turiaf has made only three starts this season. He's averaging 19.1 minutes per game, a number sure to rise with Biedrins out.
Turiaf said he's not worried about his conditioning, but needs to be more conscious of avoiding foul trouble.
"I have to have a slightly smarter approach," he said. "When I'm playing 25 minutes, I know I can go for every blocked shot. I'll still go as hard as I can, but I'll be smarter about some things."
Shaq souvenir: A day after grappling with Suns center Shaquille O'Neal , both Turiaf and Kurz were still marveling at O'Neal's sheer enormity. Turiaf said he was sore Saturday, from his toe to his jaw to his eye socket, which absorbed an O'Neal elbow.
Turiaf found solace in the autographed shoe O'Neal gave him after the game, for Turiaf to add to his extensive collection. Kurz saw the souvenir and said, "Shaq's shoe is the size of my carry-on bag."
Warriors tonight Jazz 29-22 vs. Warriors 16-35Oracle Arena6 p.m.CSNBA/680Utah won its third consecutive game Friday night, beating the Kings 111-107 in Sacramento. ... Point guard Deron Williams averages 18.5 points and 10 assists per game, making him one of only two NBA players to produce at least 18 and 10 in those categories joining New Orleans' Chris Paul. ... Jerry Sloan has 1,118 wins in his NBA coaching career, fourth on the all-time list and second among active coaches behind Don Nelson 1,296. ... Forwards Carlos Boozer arthroscopic knee surgery and Andrei Kirilenko ankle surgery will not play.
