Any word on Bynum's progress

CX44 · Post #1 » by **CX44** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 5:28 am

Has anyone heard anything on how Bynum is progressing from the knee injury? I read a comment by Phil where he said if Bynum comes back this year. Starting to worry that the Gasol trade was done because Bynum may be done for the year.

MAMBAEMD · Post #2 » by **MAMBAEMD** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 5:36 am

I saw Phil's comment too which made me wonder also.
I haven't read or heard anything else on Bynum's return.
Knee patellar subluxation though only needs a 6-8 week recovery period.
I think he'll be back this year about 15-20 games before the playoffs.

Post #3 » by **kno** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 5:53 am

Bynum himself said the knee was still pretty swollen like 3 days ago.

Bucher said "...there's even some speculation that Bynum will miss the remainder of the season" when talking about how Pau wil affect the Lakers' front court.

LAL4Life · Post #4 » by **LAL4Life** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:13 am

Both John Black and Mitch said Bynum is right on schedule in his recovery... I'll take their word over Ric "I-Guarantee-Kobe-Will-Never-Play-For-The-Lakers-Again" Bucher.

Sofa King · Post #5 » by **Sofa King** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:17 am

Right on schedule.

Post #6 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 2:47 pm

I heard on the radio Saturday that he is no longer using his crutches or a brace to walk, but still has a little bit of a swolen knee.

ShowtimeFan · Post #7 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 3:29 pm

Hey CX, this is steve (aka unleashell) great trade eh, man?

how have ya been?

I'm back here and at LG since LakerTalk disappeared...

laters

hermes · Post #8 » by **hermes** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 3:34 pm

snaquille oatmeal wrote:I heard on the radio Saturday that he is no longer using his crutches or a brace to walk, but still has a little bit of a swolen knee.

well thats good
get well soon bynum!

Tommy Trojan · Post #9 » by **Tommy Trojan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:22 pm

Not looking good if we loose Bynum for the season, we will need him during the playoffs

CX44 · Post #10 » by **CX44** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:43 pm

What's up Steve?. Glad you are back. Still hard to believe they got Gasol for nothing more than a bag of magic beans.

One Love · Post #11 » by **One Love** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:48 pm

I read that PJ and Kupcake have indicated he is on schedule but Steve Smith stated be may be out for the season...

Post #12 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:58 pm

Man, if you've lost Bynum for the season, you're still flying high because you've replaced a 13/10/2 player who adds 2 bpg with a 19/9/3 player who doesn't drop off that sharply as a shot-blocker (career 1.8 bpg).

Without Bynum, the chances of the Lakers going too deep into the playoffs this year are weaker, of course, but you've got Pau Gasol... Pau Gasol, at least as of right now, is a lot BETTER than Bynum.

And you know what?

Even if Gasol's acquisition was fundamentally based on the idea that Bynum will be out for the season, what does that hurt? Let Bynum take as long as his knee needs to be perfectly healthy and then come back next year and kill it.

This year probably isn't the year the Lakers would have won the title anyway; best to let Andrew heal, work on integrating Pau into the offense and getting comfortable with him and then put together a big run next year.

And who knows? The Lakers are pretty nasty-looking right now with Kobe and Gasol, especially since they managed not to give up a single impact player besides Kwame... and Kwame's impact is strictly as a man defender. Imagine now what the Lakers will look like with a dramatically superior scorer and rebounder who can bring help D?

Let's not forget, even WITH Bynum (though admittedly including his entire absence), the Lakers are 20th in the league in defensive rebound rate, which is undoubtedly affecting their squad defensively because it means they're relinquishing too many offensive rebounds to their opponents.

Think of what Pau replacing Kwame means; instead of Kwame's 4.3 drpg, you're replacing that with Gasol's 6.4. That's +2.1 to defensive rebounds and a concurrent drop in the expected number of offensive rebounds give up to the opposition. Just as a rebounder alone, Gasol's impact should be significant, nevermind the fact that he's a consistent 19 ppg scorer who can work all over the floor.

Can you imagine what that's going to do for Kobe?

Can you imagine what Kobe will be doing for Gasol?

When was the last time Gasol played with a serious intiator that drew more defensive attention than he himself? Never, in his entire career. The closest thing is Mike Miller and he's very much beneath Kobe in terms of caliber of scorer.

I think maybe you guys aren't appreciating the impact Gasol might have on your squad, Bynum or no. Remember, Gasol's career-low is 17.6 ppg, which is actually 0.4 ppg above Lamar Odom's career-high.

Gasol has averaged 18.8+ ppg in 5 of his 7 seasons, including the last four in a row, a stretch that includes consecutive 20 ppg seasons.

I think what you'll see from him as a Laker is Kobe working with a 20+ ppg scorer for the first time since Shaq left.

Also, I might point out that Gasol's been an indisputably efficient scorer even despite playing for some pretty rough Memphis squads; he's shot 50% from the floor in his last three consecutive seasons nd continues to do so this year... and he has in fact shot 50%+ in 6 of his 7 seasons, shooting a career-low of 48.2% a few years ago.

He's also a very good FT shooter; his career-low may be 68.9% but he's a career 73% shooter at the line and is shooting 81.9% this year on 5.5 FTA/g (or .386 FTA/FGA, DrawF of 14.7%). He's not a monster at drawing fouls but he is posting his 6th TS% of 55.5% or better and his 5th of 56.6% or better (his career-low is 54.2%, which is still above average).

So let me say again... worrying about Bynum's absence is kind of moot; the Lakers haven't had this kind of firepower since the 03-04 season and even then, while it was a lot better at drawing fouls and field goal efficiency, it was never as versatile as this and Gasol actually replicates Shaq's prolific passing from the post and is a better help defender (notably on pick-and-roll situations).

C'mon guys, think it through before you say the sky's falling.

Pau Gasol was basically brewed in a lab to play within the triangle system and to function effectively on this team; he's one of the most perennially underrated players in the league and you just STOLE him from Memphis for NOTHING.

Seriously, bet on a final average over 20 ppg and about 50-53% from the floor (he's at 18.8 ppg and 50.1% FG right now).

CX44 · Post #13 » by **CX44** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 6:05 pm

Good Points tsherkin

Post #14 » by **LargeLakerFan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 7:32 pm

Trixx wrote:Bynum himself said the knee was still pretty swollen like 3 days ago.

Bucher said "...there's even some speculation that Bynum will miss the remainder of the season" when talking about how Pau wil affect the Lakers' front court.

Is this the same 'Bucher' with ESPN that stated Kobe Bryant would never wear a Lakers uniform again?
Yeah, he is a real Lakers Insider

ShowtimeFan · Post #15 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 9:23 pm

LLF, GOOD TO SEE YOU ARE STILL HERE, too, how's it going?

remember me?

Post #16 » by **LargeLakerFan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 9:35 pm

ShowtimeFan wrote:LLF, GOOD TO SEE YOU ARE STILL HERE, too, how's it going?

remember me?

Man, how could I forget. You changed Screen Names, but you cannot hide.
Things are going well, just don't get time to view the board much. But I thought I would take a look today to see what the thoughts were around the trade.

Cracked Fingers · Post #17 » by **Cracked Fingers** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 9:45 pm

LargeLakerFan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Is this the same 'Bucher' with ESPN that stated Kobe Bryant would never wear a Lakers uniform again?
Yeah, he is a real Lakers Insider

Even then we have to remember. Gary Vitti said it will take 4 to 6 weeks for the soft tissue to heal. So the leg isn't even healed yet. Add to that the bone bruise Andrew has takes longer to heal. So him having some swelling still isn't really shocking.

Post #18 » by **kno** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 10:06 pm

LargeLakerFan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Is this the same 'Bucher' with ESPN that stated Kobe Bryant would never wear a Lakers uniform again?
Yeah, he is a real Lakers Insider

Oh, dont get me wrong, Im not saying we have to take Bucher's word to heart..

I was just stating what I had heard. Even with Gasol's acquisition, Ronny and Mbenga playing solid ball, and Mihm waiting to come back, I dont think Bynum will take the season off. Knowing how much the guy worked in the offseason just to be able to play at the level he has, he's most likely dying not to get back on the court. He's one of the biggest competitors this team has.

With that said, I dont think he'll miss the rest of the season just because there is still depth at center. He'll take it slow, but WILL come back.

Im predicting he'll be back by the beginnings of April. He'll have about 5 games to get ready for the playoff run.

Nice to see you around here though. You definitely have to post more. One of the best posters this board has ever seen.

:wave:

ShowtimeFan · Post #19 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 10:10 pm

LargeLakerFan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Man, how could I forget. You changed Screen Names, but you cannot hide.
Things are going well, just don't get time to view the board much. But I thought I would take a look today to see what the thoughts were around the trade.

I'm floating, happy as a 7 year old on Christmas morning!

really nice to see ya still here, where else would you be?

on my old job a Vendor had thrid row seats at Staples, right at the foul line, straight across from the visitors bench, saw some awesome games from there...

as an ex-mod if you are allowed to message, hit me up... lol

peace

CX44 · Post #20 » by **CX44** » Mon Feb 4, 2008 10:19 pm

LLF good to see you are still around. Hope things are well.