"Warriors center Andris Biedrins has a new hairstyle, ditching the spiked top and going with the short, simple look. He also has shed his nickname, Goose, and now goes by "Dre."

More important, he has a clean bill of health, declaring himself 100 percent healthy from hernia surgery, and a new mindset.

"No spikes, no Goose," Biedrins said with a smile Tuesday. "It's a new chapter."

This may be a new chapter, but the Warriors want the old Biedrins. They need the old Biedrins -- the double-double machine who can anchor the defense, run the floor and finish inside.

Golden State's success will be contingent upon Biedrins returning to form and even improving. The new style of play they want -- physical, sizable and defensive minded -- banks on Biedrins.

"Not only am I communicating (his importance), but the team is communicating it to him," coach Keith Smart said. "Saying to him how important he is, how key he is to how we perform. I'm very encouraged."

That version of Biedrins was absent last season, when he was hampered by groin issues all season before finally having surgery in March. He played just 33 games, averaging 5.0 points and 7.8 rebounds, his lowest totals since he became the starting center in 2006.

Biedrins passed his conditioning test Tuesday, and his teammates said he was running the court well. Smart said during defensive rotation drills, Biedrins was moving like a guard."