Bynum's on his way to the all-star team

[dockingsched]

alright, read an article on ocregister talking about bynum's chances to make the all-star team. i'll use it as a backdrop to start talking about how mobile and active bynum has looked. he's using his size to just muscle the ball over people, he's using his improved stamina to beat opposing centers down the court, and he's improving his activity on the boards as each game goes by. he's led, or tied for the lead, the team in scoring 5 out of 6 games (tonight his 20 were one short of kobe's 21). he's led the team in boards 4 out of 6 games, with a total of 22 in the last two games. he has his fouling under control and is not letting anyone post him up.

his help defense still needs to get better; often times he's slow to rotate over and many times is indecisive about where he should help. he's been forcing some shots up (he's still really really efficient) and has missed the open man enough that some people have brought it up. anywhoo, overall dude looks like he did everything right in the off-season. i don't think we'll be waiting til january to get the peak bynum we've all gotten a small glimpse of the last two yrs.


http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/ ... more-23465

Anyone who says exhibition games are worthless hasn’t noticed just how good Bynum has looked in the Lakers’ exhibitions entering this season. Bynum still has room to grow in many, many subtle ways, but his superior skills are plainly obvious again after some might’ve forgotten as a result of him playing with decreased health, power and comfort in the 2009 playoffs.

Bynum has spoken openly about how excited he is that Yao Ming (injury) and Shaquille O’Neal (trade) are out of the way among Western Conference centers as Bynum seeks to make his first All-Star team at age 22. Bynum’s logic is that averaging a double-double on a dominant Lakers team will be enough to win him a spot, even if his scoring average isn’t going to be comparable to others in the West.

The Phoenix Suns are entering the season listing Amare Stoudemire at power forward and Channing Frye at center in their starting lineup. So that theoretically leaves Minnesota’s Al Jefferson as the main All-Star competition at center in the West.

Jefferson and Golden State’s Andris Biedrins should put up better overall stats than Bynum, but Biedrins will have to be overwhelming to get an All-Star nod over Bynum, who has fundamental star potential that Biedrins lacks. Utah’s Mehmet Okur and maybe Denver’s Nene could also do quite well, though almost certainly not spectacularly well...

[Tekkenlaw]

I could see it, it's no secret that Bynum is a great center, the only problem has been staying healthy.

[andykeikei]

Bynum certainly has a great chance this year as Al Jefferson is gonna be out for some time too. The question is, does Duncan count as PF or C? If he's counted as C then fans will vote him for sure. Then with Pau, Dirk, Amare, David West...the coaches may vote for multiple PFs instead of a true center. Don't forget Okafor either, he will get good stats playing with Paul.

[Dr Aki]

would it really matter?

because after the starters, the coaches vote in the remaining all-stars

bynum's chances might be as good as 50% starter, and 20% off the bench

[Mamba Venom]

Bynum is going to make it.

The team w/ the best record usually sends 3 guys. Breakout players get bonus votes. Factor in that and Bynum is a shoe in. YAO MAY GET THE VOTES THOUGH WHICH WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL THE MAGIC FROM BACK WHEN MAGIC WAS SELECTED.

[Anklebreaker702]

Waiting on this one. Just don't want to see him get hurt again. I'm still smiling about all the flack he got during the playoffs now all I hear are crickets.

[CowsMoo]

But in these preseason games... who's been guarding Bynum again?

[Tekkenlaw]

Biedrins isn't too bad of a defender, not as strong as Bynum though.

[That Nicka]

I think Tim Duncan will be on the ballot as a C this year (he was on there as a C last year but the Spurs organization complained and had him moved to PF because Yao was a lock to start)

This year with Yao out he will probably remain at C and wind up with more votes than Bynum... I doubt Bynum gets voted in by the coaches although it is possible

[butter17]

Bynums definitely is going to make the all-star team this year. He's coming out pretty strong so far... hopefully he won't get hurt by his own teammates this time.

[10scott10]

But in these preseason games... who's been guarding Bynum again?

Some of the better centers left in the west. Remember that they mentioned Biedrins as another All-star dark horse, Diop and Nazr used to be the main defensive centers for the spurs and mavs, and Kaman is no slouch either.

[Kilroy]

I thought if Bynum had stayed healthy he deserved at least alternate on All Stars in the past...

But if he really said that about Shaq and Yao... I just don't see what point there is to making the All Star team if there's no real compettition...

Yay! Look at me! I'm an All-Star!
Seems kinda hollow...

But he's playing great, and as long as he does that for the whole season, I think we have a real good chance at repeating...

Which is all that matters... Bynum on the all-star team looks great on Bynum's resume, but I really don't care... Especially if Bynum's the only real center in the west.

The All Star break is just a break in the tension of the season for me... I don't really watch the whole marketting spectacle of it all...

[Speedlot]

Pre-season dominance..cough. At this rate let's trade Kobe for Iverson. Kobe's been crabby in the pre-season.

[The Skyhook]

The key thing is that he is pretty much in that January mode now and the season hasn't started yet. He was turning heads in January and if he can keep it up for full season people will take notice and he will be an all star

What do you guys have him averaging scoring wise this season? I got him at around 16 - 18 ppg after thinking it through. Probably closer to 16 because of the Ron Artest addition. This team has to many offensive weapons.

[Sedale Threatt]

Health and defense, that's all I care about.

[fareweatherfan]

But in these preseason games... who's been guarding Bynum again?

Pre-season dominance..cough. At this rate let's trade Kobe for Iverson. Kobe's been crabby in the pre-season.

Health and defense, that's all I care about.

This thread is troll food. We're not even done with the pre-season for crying out loud.

[dockingsched]

people talking about it still being pre-season kinda missed point. the point is that bynum looks healthy and in shape. like i said, he looks active and mobile. those are things you can gauge pre-season or not. when bynum has been healthy and in shape, he's been great. last yr it took him forever to get back into legitimate 30 mpg shape and took him even longer to get into a good rhythm / get his timing right. he's showing most of those things right now, so its pretty exciting to think about what he's going to do this season.

[fareweatherfan]

^+1 dcash, Bynum looks good. But let's not forget he hasn't played any all-star caliber big men yet (not to mention he's played the Warriors like 3x).

His activity level is great, but we all know his activity level has always been dictacted by his offense going well. I'll reserve true judgment until he plays a solid defensive center and still brings good energy.

An All-Star brings it EVERY night, even when his offense is off. I won't talk about Bynum being an All-Star until I see this, consistently.

[Dr Aki]

looking healthy, and in shape and in good form?

looks like its almost time for a long-term knee injury at least if it happens now, in 3 months he'll have a good 3-5 months to work back up

im only kidding! i kid! i kid! no jinx

[DubaLakers]

He just missed getting in last year after being injured for most of it, that's how easy it is for a center with above average skills to get in, cuz their aren't many. Especially with Yao being hurt he gets in as long as he's healthy.