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If in the near future Bynum, Gasol, and Odom will be the starting frontline, it seems to me that Phil should be giving some minutes to Pau at the 4 and LO at the 3. Turiaf, Mihm, or Mbenga can play the 5. The transition when Bynum comes back will be much smoother if Gasol and Odom have already adjusted to their new roles. I'm not saying that this should be the starting line up, or that they need to log substantial minutes at these positions, but Pau and LO should spend some time on the floor together at these positions to get reacquainted with them. I know it's easier said than done in a playoff race, but last night would have been a good opportunity to do some tinkering. Some of those garbage-time minutes would have been ideal for this. It will be easier when Bynum returns not to have 3 players adjusting on the fly in the playoffs.

When Bynum returns in the playoffs i doubt he starts or plays more than 20 minutes a game. He won't be in game shape. So wait till the summer to get them used to playing these positions. We currently have to play as if Bynum is not going to come back and if he does its a nice addition to the bench.

Not in game shape? Of course Bynum will be. The amount he's been working on that zero gravity treadmill...well, he's at least in shape on the moon.

I can see it now: LIGHTS OUT and ZERO G @ Staples.

With no back-to-backs in the playoffs, and travel at a minimum, starters of course log extra minutes. The recipe for playoff success is a shortnened bench, and keeping your best players on the floor. If Bynum comes back in any kind of decent shape, our best line up is him at C, Gasol at PF, and LO at SF--in theory anyway. We won't know until they all play together, and this would be better accomplished if Gasol and LO started adjusting to those roles now, not later.

pooteeweet wrote:With no back-to-backs in the playoffs, and travel at a minimum, starters of course log extra minutes. The recipe for playoff success is a shortnened bench, and keeping your best players on the floor. If Bynum comes back in any kind of decent shape, our best line up is him at C, Gasol at PF, and LO at SF--in theory anyway. We won't know until they all play together, and this would be better accomplished if Gasol and LO started adjusting to those roles now, not later.

Yup a shortened bench is the key. Play the starters 45 minutes each game and we'll win the first 2 series then be so exhausted when Conference Finals comes and loose(example: Phoenix Suns past 3 years).

Bynum off the bench is fine. He's going to be playing against back-up centers for short stretches and will dominate. Then when 4th quarter comes and we can't stop dribble pentration he'll be put in for defensive purposes.

I agree, but it would have needed to happen earlier. Had Pau not been injured, I'm sure Phil would have played them like you suggest.

Since he returned, we've needed to win every game, and consequently, there has been no room for experiments.

I agree completely. As a matter of fact I don't think starting Ronny at C and bringing Radman off the bench is a bad idea.

Ronny starting? are you kidding me? If we play the Suns Shaq will kill us, without Bynum

Bynum should start imo if he is there I just meant for the rest of the season. As a matter of fact I have been screaming Bynum needs to start and it would be nuts to keep him off the bench. I have made 100's of posts on how Bynum needs to start.
The reason I say start Ronny is so Gasol and Odom can get used to playing the forward spots so Bynum can start from day 1.
You know the docs said Kobe should get surgery, Dirk came back early, maybe Bynum will pull some hero stuff.