The Lakers and Andrew Bynum

[NUNBETTA]

Since the acquisition of Pau, the Lakers have clearly been dominant, but everyone seems to be assuming that once Andrew Bynum is healthy, his integration back into the offense will be a smooth one, is this reasonable to assume?

I'm not saying that once Bynum comes back that he will totally disrupt the offence, or take away from the ability of Pau to operate in the post, not at all, but I am wondering why it is so easy for so many people to assume that once Bynum gets back he will play at the same level he did before his injury.

What people seem to be neglecting is that this season has been Bynum's breakout season, he has made considerable strides and has played the best basketball of his life, but this is not a level of play that he has proven he can produce at all times--- in other words, what we're seeing is not necessarily Bynum's floor, so why do we assume that coming off injury, he'll be the same player he was before the injury?

I don't mean to say that he won't eventually reach his pre-injury level at some point during the playoffs, but I am wondering why Bynum's production has been considered a foregone conclusion, especially considering the fact that he'll have to learn to play beside a legit post presence in Pau Gasol, whereas previously he was playing beside Lamar Odom and/or Turiaf.

[theTHIEF]

only one way to really find out...

[dvdrdiscs]

In terms of bouncing back from injury, his age is in his favor.

In terms of integrating into the offense with Gasol, it is Gasol who will be the one who have to adjust. Bynum will be playing the C just like he was pre-injury. Nothing has changed. Gasol on the other hand, has been a C in Memphis and is playing C now. He will move to the PF spot and play the high post.

[MakeInChina]

Kobe makes everyone around him better, so it'll work

[Basileus777]

It might not be a bad idea to have Bynum come off the bench for the rest of the season. Gasol/Odom are playing well at the 5/4 spots. Why mess with the chemistry when the team if playing well, especially since Odom has never been particularly effective at the 3?

[farzi]

Kobe makes everyone around him better, so it'll work

uh...

[MalReyn]

It might not be a bad idea to have Bynum come off the bench for the rest of the season. Gasol/Odom are playing well at the 5/4 spots. Why mess with the chemistry when the team if playing well, especially since Odom has never been particularly effective at the 3?

Considering how well they are playing right now, I think this is what will happen.

Bynum will probably be in there to finish games, at least once he gets his legs back. But why change things when everyone is clicking so well?

[Magz50]

I personally think the Lakers need to adapt a Spurs mentality and have Bynum play the Ginobili role. Come off the bench and destroy the second units of teams. There's no point in playing Bynum/Gasol and Odom all together. They'd be much better having that one-two punch of Gasol starting and then BAM bring in Bynum to rest Gasol. Of course, i highly doubt Bynum or Gasol has the same egoless outlook to the game as Manu so i don't know if it would work for them.

[farzi]

I personally think the Lakers need to adapt a Spurs mentality and have Bynum play the Ginobili role. Come off the bench and destroy the second units of teams. There's no point in playing Bynum/Gasol and Odom all together. They'd be much better having that one-two punch of Gasol starting and then BAM bring in Bynum to rest Gasol. Of course, i highly doubt Bynum or Gasol has the same egoless outlook to the game as Manu so i don't know if it would work for them.

Won't happen. Bynum isn't good enough to do that by himself (atleast not yet), and the ego's would be hurt

[Phil Jackson]

Kobe makes everyone around him better, so it'll work

I agree. Kobe Bryant is really good.

[Painting_Shade]

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I agree. Kobe Bryant is really good.

way to take a stance!

[HarlemHeat37]

the main concern is if Bynum will come back to form THIS season..before you consider how he will fit in the offense, we have to see him look like he's in form..

furthermore, if fitting in with the team is a concern, I would be more worried about Odom's role after Bynum coming back..

[NUNBETTA]

the main concern is if Bynum will come back to form THIS season..before you consider how he will fit in the offense, we have to see him look like he's in form..

..

That is precisely what prompted me to make this thread.

Everyone in the media (especially, though not exclusively) seems to be saying things to the effect of " The Lakers are very formidable with Pau, but just IMAGINE how much they'd dominate when Bynum gets back"

To which I am inclined to ask: What makes everyone so sure that once Bynum gets back, he'll re-assume the form he had before the injury to such an extent that his presence will make the lakers an utterly dominant force?

I'm not convinced that a third year player coming off the first major injury of his career, after playing (so far) the best ball of his life, will re-gain form as quickly as some seem to think. The level that Bynum was playing at before he got hurt is/was not an expected level from Andrew Bynum, it was, relative to the rest of his career to date, an anomoly, so can we expect him to play at a near all-star level again this season, considering he hasn't done it for more than two months in his career thus far?

It's not as though this is Kobe Bryant or D-wade or any other similarly proven commodity, who we can assume will eventually regain superstar form following an injury, this is a young big man who was on a good run of form, relatively speaking.

I'm just trying to perspectivize in an area where I think others have not.

[BobbySura]

lakers fans are delusional/hopeful/desperate

i like this team and i love kobe but most lakers fans seem to think that the NBA is going to hand them the championship once Bynum gets healthy

[EHL]

Offense is the least of the Lakers' worries, they're ranked 2nd in offensive efficiency only behind the Suns. They're ranked 6th defensively, but the gap between them and teams like the Pistons, Celtics, Rockets, and Spurs defensively is statistically fairly noticable. Which is why Bynum's return is vital; he could fail to fit in offensively, being a lateral move at best on that end of the floor (which is absolute worst case scenario), and the Lakers would still be far better off because of what Bynum brings as an anchor on the defensive end of the floor. He contests shots and provides rebounding and toughness on the interior that is at times sorely needed.

In the end, this conversation is totally moot since the Lakers aren't particularly worried about what his rhythm will be offensively, but how good he looks physically, which'll determine if he can play D effectively.

[That Nicka]

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Won't happen. Bynum isn't good enough to do that by himself (atleast not yet), and the ego's would be hurt

LOL... Bynums ego? He came off the bench most of the season behind Kwame Brown

[CDB]

lakers fans are delusional/hopeful/desperate

i like this team and i love kobe but most lakers fans seem to think that the NBA is going to hand them the championship once Bynum gets healthy

How are we delusional and what are we desperate for?

Nobody is saying that once Bynum come back that we will win the ship, we just like our cahnces better.

Big difference there buddy...

[semi-sentient]

He'll likely come off the bench and slowly be worked into the starting rotation. Bynum's main contribution upon returning will be what he brings on the defensive end, particularly rebounding, which is an area that they've struggled at recently. Scoring-wise I don't know how it will work, but I have little reason to think he will screw up chemistry. Not only is Kobe great at feeding Bynum off the pick-n-roll, but Pau himself has proven he can be a very effective passer underneath, so Bynum will still get easy opportunities.

I don't think he'll regain his pre-injury form until next season, but he'll be a big contributor regardless.

[Frosty]

I don't think working his 13ppg back into the offense is a huge task.

[MakeInChina]

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LOL... Bynums ego? He came off the bench most of the season behind Kwame Brown

DUDE, you gotta trust this guy. from his statement, it's clear that he knows ginobili, bynum, AND gasol