OAKLAND Warriors forward Jermareo Davidson, who was called up from the NBA Development League in January and signed for the rest of the season, said he felt bad for center Andris Biedrins as he carried him into the locker room.
But his concern for his teammate only temporarily overrides the hope that comes with Biedrins' sprained right ankle. Davidson, depending on the severity of Biedrins' injury, is now in demand. "I've been basically sitting and waiting for my chance," Davidson said. "I just have to do whatever I can to be ready, bring energy, just high-intensity role-playing: talking on defense, quick rotations, helping teammates out."
The Warriors are already thin in the frontcourt, literally and figuratively. Biedrins is out indefinitely after stepping on swingman Stephen Jackson's foot on the last play of the third quarter Friday in Phoenix. According to a team official, Biedrins won't be back before the All-Star break, which starts Friday. So that's at least three games he'll miss, including tonight's home affair against Utah.
Second-year forward Brandan Wright's dislocated left shoulder will keep him out until after the All-Star break. With backup Ronny Turiaf now starting at center, that leaves Davidson, whom Warriors coach Don Nelson views as the only other center on the roster.
But Nelson suggested he has more trust in rookie power forward Rob Kurz, who Nelson thinks could also play some center.
Nelson even said rookie forward Anthony Randolph is available, though that hasn't seemed to be the case lately.
Randolph hasn't seen any time in the last three games. Nor did he play at New Orleans on Jan. 30. Or against visiting Cleveland a week before that. Randolph has totaled 50 minutes over the last 10 games, totaling 23 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and three turnovers.
"Yeah, I look at it as an opportunity," Randolph said. "I look at every day as an opportunity. I'm just trying to work hard, show the coaches that I'm ready."
The Warriors are no doubt going to miss the 13 points and 11.8 rebounds Biedrins brought to the table. But Nelson doesn't anticipate losing too much with Turiaf starting at center.
Nelson said Turiaf is the better defender, certainly a better shot blocker. Though Biedrins is the best at catching and finishing the pick-and-roll, Turiaf gives the Warriors someone who can step back and hit the midrange jumper.
Nelson said what was going to pose the real challenge was what happens behind Turiaf, as the backup power forwards would be forced to play center.
But is Davidson ready? Can Kurz handle it? Can Randolph convince Nelson he deserves to be on the court?
Their first test could come against a bruising power forward in Utah's Paul Millsap and a sizable though perimeter-oriented center in Mehmet Okur.
"I hope so," Turiaf said. "I hope so and I think so."
Otherwise, the Warriors have to go Hoop-It-Up style and run forward Corey Maggette out there as the man in the middle.
"That may happen," Nelson said, "depending on who we're playing."
If there was a good time for the Warriors to lose another starter, this is it. Biedrins has 11 days between now and the first game after the All-Star break, Feb. 18 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. After that, the Warriors play just two games over eight days. So if Biedrins comes back for the Feb. 27 home contest against Charlotte, he will have had some three weeks to recover and will have missed six games.
In the grand scheme of the season, that's fairly miniscule. But for the Warriors' young big men, who have been licking their chops for a chance to play, six games might feel like an eternity.
Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanews group.com.
