Reebok Entertainment is debuting a new television show called Framed. It airs Friday night at 7:30 on the Independent Film Channel (Comcast 503, Direct TV 559, Dish Network 331). And guess who’s starring in the premiere episode?

That’s right. B. Diddy.

“Framed” is documentary top show that pairs two celebrities — an athlete and an entertainer — and one creates a 30-minute short film on the other. Rapper Nelly will do a short film on Allen Iverson. Actress Regina King (Cuba Gooding Jr.’s wife in Jerry Maguire) will do one on Vince Young. International soccer star Thierry Henry will be “framed” by actress Paz Vega (the housekeeper on Spanglish).

For the first debut eoisode, Baron is teaming up with Emmanuelle Chriqui (Sloan, Eric’s girl, in the HBO show Entourage). She spent two days kicking it with and filming Baron around Las Vegas and Los Angeles. She captured Baron in a whole different funkadelic light.

The trailer is pretty funny. Baron is really on skates in some tight shorts and a young tanktop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZHG9TBZvuo

Andris Biedrins made his fourth start of the season Tuesday night. He came in with just over five minutes left and immediately paid dividends.
Through three quarters, the Warriors were up 79-64 and Biedrins was a big factor. He had 14 points and five rebounds and an assist. He was vital because the Warriors started the game bricking outside shots. Biedrins immediately gave them someone who could finish inside. He finished the quarter with six points, and the Warriors 8-point deficit was down to two entering the second quarter.
Doesn’t it seems like Biedrins always come off the bench and provide a spark? Before tonight, he averaged 8.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in three stints off the bench, compared with 11.4 points and 9.9 rebounds as a starter.
Should the Warriors keep Biedrins in the starting lineup permanently, or make him the sixth man? He’s shown he can be effective both ways. I lean towards starti ng him, and bringing him off the bench against low-post scoring centers, such as Saturday’s game against Miami and Shaq. I don’t like Biedrins picking up early fouls, plus it gives the smaller unit a chance to tire out the opposing big man.

Tim Duncan could play if he needed to. But since the Spurs went 2-0 without him against Dallas and Utah, he obviously doesn’t need to. He didn’t even sit on the bench, instead watched the game from the locker room.
Many Ginobili is playing with a sprained ligament in his left hand. It happened when he was upended by a charge-seeking James Jones at Portland on Dec. 2. He used his left hand to brace his fall, sustaining the injury. His left hand is sore and he feels pain when he shoots.
This is bad news for the Warriors. Ginobili, because of his injury, has pretty much just been going to the basket. He normally settles for jumpers and fade-aways on occasion. But now he’s just putting his head down and headin to the cup. As a result, his last two gamems entering tonight, he was 28-for-31 from the free throw line.
Expect a lot of fouls by the Warriors and a lot of free throws for Ginobili, as the Warriors play defense with their hands.

We know the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz are bad match-ups for the Warriors. Well, the Warriors don’t want to see the Lakers either. This team just owns the Warriors. They know how to play the Warriors.
Why have they had so much success?
* Kobe Bryant. Even though Davis played great defense on Kobe in the first half, Bryant just wears you down. He gets all the calls, so anyone who guards him is going to get in foul trouble. Of course, the Warriors can’t afford for Davis to foul out, so he can’t stay on Kobe the whole game, or after picking up three fouls or so. Only problem is, Davis is the only one quick enough and strong enough and smart enough to defend Kobe (Jackson isn’t quick enough to guard Kobe, if you ask me, he plays defense too high, almost standing straight up, and Kobe is too smart a player not to take advantage of that. Lesson to the kids: get low on defense, squat on that imaginary toilet and keep those arms spread.) Plus, you could argue, no matter who’s on Kobe, he’s going to get his in the end.
*The Lakers know how to slow it down. The Lakers, like the Spurs, don’t try to run with the Warriors. They run when the opportunity knocks, but they want to get into the halfcourt set, run their offense and get the ball down low. They don’t do the get-the-ball-to-one-guy-and-have-him-make-a-play offense until they need to. For most of the game, they hurt the Warriors with ball movement and pounding it inside. The Warriors aren’t nearly as good in the halfcourt set, especially against a good halfcourt defense team like the Lakers. They’re rotations are on point, they’re slow the Warriors down by being physical and they cause problems for bad ball handlers.
*The Warriors don’t play well against them. I don’t know what it is about the Lakers, but the Warriors never seem to play at a peak against them. I do know what it is. Whether its in Los Angeles under the bright lights of Hollywood, or in Oakland where fans crave for victories over the Lakers, the Warriors try to do too much. They shoot themselves in the foot by relying too heavily on the 3-pointer, getting too caught up to focus on defense and playing selfishly as they try to make the big play.
Fortunately for the Warriors, it will only matter if the end up in opposite halves of the playoff bracket. Which is unlikely (both will end up a No. 5 seed or lower), so chances are they won’t meet in the postseason.

Any of you basketball enthusiasts want to predict a score for the Lakers-Warriors game?

While every other Warriors pulled up short or opted for the circus act rather than taking Shaq on head-up, Andris went straight at the big fella. Nor should he. Shaq is not a shot blocker, unless you put it in his face. Plus Andris is so quick off his feet and has such great touch around the basket. You have to love Andris’ heart and effort. He has never backed down from a battle. He never tries to step outside of himself and play a game that’s not his. He never even celebrates. He just what he does.

One quarter into the game, Miami looks like the team expected to win. Dorrell Wright and Dwyane Wade are tearing the Warriors offense apart. The Heat made 14 of 21 (66.7) shots in the first quarter, the Warriors 9 of 26 (34.6).
Fortunately for the Warriors, they were down just nine. Oh, wait. Now it’s up to 16 two minutes into the second quarter, 48-32. Timeout Warriors. Miami now 18-for-27 (66.7), the Warriors 10-for-30. The scary part, the Warriors are 10-for-10 from the line and 2-for-6 from 3-point range — so they’re not just chucking away, but driving to the basket, and still losing.
They better get it together, because this would be a bad loss.

Hear me out, before you go crazy.
Yes, he’s a half-court player who would slow up the Warriors tempo. Yes, he’s getting $20 million this year, and $40 million over the next two seasons. Yes, he’s aging and out of shape.
But … it’s Shaq!
Can you imagine Shaq in a lineup with Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington and Kelenna Azubuike? If that doesn’t float your boat, how about Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins coming off the bench? It’s not like Shaq, also a poor free throw shooter, won’t fit in.
Before you think about how much slower the Warriors will play with Shaq plodding down the court, think of how many fast breaks Andris Biedrins finishes. Very few. The Warriors don’t need Shaq to lead the break or finish it. They would just need him to clog the middle, throw some bows and make something happen when they dump the ball down to him. If the break doesn’t work, by the time Shaq gets down the court, there’s still some 15 seconds left on the shot clock. How much better would the Warriors half-court offense be if the defense had to pay attention to Shaq?
The Diesel certainly isn’t happy in Miami. Check out this quote in the Palm Beach Post of Shaq demanding he wants the ball:
“I shouldn’t have to communicate that. We have to find a way to get me the ball. I don’t shoot jumpers, and I’m not a pick-and-roll player. If I can get my touches, I’m going to do what I do.”
You know Pat Riley’s frustrated with him and would be listening to offers. He’s probably about ready to rebuild and need the cap space. They’d probably take him for Al Harrington and Mickael Pietrus. They may even pay part of his salary. Whatever the Warriors lose in cap space, they would get back at the gate. Oracle would be sold out every night if Shaq was in orange & blue.
Remember, the Warriors have to get through San Antonio and/or Utah to get to the Finals. They need a banger to duel with Duncan and Boozer. That’s unavoidable. There’s no better banger than a motivated Shaq, which he will be if his team is in it come March.
You convinced yet? Neither am I. Interesting thought, though.

“Do you have any insight about some of the words spoken between Monta and Baron as Monta was headed to the bench(or any other teamate)about the last shot he hoisted? Is Monta developing lil attitude problem within the team?” – Andrew

I assume you’re talking about Monta’s illadvised hoist at the end of regulation against Orlando. I was covering that game, so I was so into writing my story, I didn’t even see it. Plus, they moved us up pretty high. A couple years ago, when we were courtside, I would’ve heard it. I’ll be sure to ask Baron, though I’m sure he’ll say they were words of encouragement.
But I will tell you this. Stephen Jackson tried to cover for Monta, which I thought was … cute. We asked Monta how that last play was supposed to go. He said the play was designed to get the ball to Jax, “but that didn’t happen.”
We asked Jax how that last play was supposed to work. He said it was designed for Monta to make a play. Of course Monta and I think Nellie had already said the play was for Jax. Not only that, everyone could see the play they run, and Jax was waiting/calling for the ball once he got his man on his hip.
We asked again, “So that play wasn’t designed to get you the ball?” He conceded a little bit, but still protected Monta. He said Monta had the option of making a play or giving him the ball.
From my experience, the only time players protect teammates is when teammates make a mistake. In his support of his teammate, Jax revealed that Monta blew that play at the end. Which we all knew anyway.

Welcome to the Times’ new blog. “Hoop Junkie” has been terminated as Geoff Lepper and I partake in this duet, “Inside the Warriors.”
Now you have both of us bringing you Golden State information and answering all your questions. If you do have a question for one of us, you can post it on here or email myself (mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com) or Geoff (glepper@bayareanewsgroup.com). Denote it as a “blog question” so we know to post it, and the answer, at “Inside the Warriors.”
If you haven’t already noticed, I am putting the best comment from the week in the newspaper in our NBA Sunday package. So let ‘em rip.