"He developed into the player that I prayed about...&qu

[Dexmor]

I think we have something in commen with the Blazers right now unless somehow we both make the playoffs. I personally still think the Rockets and Jazz will turn it around. I was called crazy for saying they might miss the playoffs and could go 8-20 without Bynum. If the Blazers and Lakers end up in the lotto even with the 13th and 14th pick with Bynum coming back full force next year (even this year he will be back) with Mitch drafting we are going to get the best possible player and we need that one more piece. Also Phil even as stubborn as he is and terrible with player rotations has to see with Bynum we are contenders and with Kwame we are 8th seed at absolute best if Kobe is superman. Also Mitch must see that and trade Kwame.
My point is unless Bynum comes back a little early or comes back 100% in his first game back and the Lakers go on a long winning streak they will get a shot at Mayo or Kevin Love.
The other great thing that could come out of this is there should be pressure on Mitch to make a move to get more talent like Artest or something to unsure a playoff run. Also with Lebron probably going to the Nets or Knicks him seeing just how good and valuable Bynum is by him missing 6-8 weeks which will help him want to stay. If Bynum wasn't the most improved player and clearly a top 1-3 center Kobe would probably be thinking out and I think when Lebron signs with a N.Y. team he might have wanted to go there even more then Chicago which would have been really bad. Now Kobe knows Bynum is one of the most valuable players on the floor at both ends and him being a Center that allows Kobe to play 1 on 1 again like Shaq did must be so sweet for him after not having that for a couple years.

[That Nicka]

Bynum has already said he was motivated to get a personal trainer because he saw that other great players had personal trainers (Im pretty sure he wasnt talking about Lamar)

In previous seasons Kobe was the only Laker to actually work out on game days... This season, there are three players that hit the weights on game days: Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum

Im sure there are several things that motivated Bynum into wanting to get bigger/better/stronger... Im just saying that some of the things Kobe said probably helped... Not to mention being able to watch and learn from the little things that Kobe does for his first two seasons

[That Nicka]

In Kobes post game conference he said to management:

"Get help and get it now"


EVERYONE that knows anything about the Lakers, ANYTHING about basketball knew that Andrew Bynum was our most valuable trade asset... It would be foolish to think that Andrew Bynum didnt think his name would at least be mentioned in trade talks (like for KG for example)

I honestly believe that Andrew Bynum wanted to show Kobe that if he was still here this season HE could be the help that Kobe was so desperately looking for.. And he did..

Kobe: "We are contenders with him in the lineup"

[milesfides]

^that's an excellent point.

In terms of timeline, I don't think Kobe's displeasure with the Lakers' protection of Bynum started with the Kobe video. For the public, sure, but within the organization, no.

Like That Nicka said, it started at least when Kobe was fuming after the Lakers were eliminated. "Do something, and do it now." However, we now know that Kobe's displeasure with management started much earlier, that Kobe was very upset when the Lakers turned down trade scenarios that involved Bynum in the past. Considering that Bynum had a negligible impact in the Suns series, Kobe's comment "Do something, and do it now" could be interpreted as, "Ship his ass out."

I don't think anybody here is trying to credit Kobe as the sole factor for Bynum's emergence.

But really, to deny Kobe's role in motivating Bynum is simply ignoring what the man himself said:

"All it did really to me was make me work harder."

[That Nicka]

^that's an excellent point.

In terms of timeline, I don't think Kobe's displeasure with the Lakers' protection of Bynum started with the Kobe video. For the public, sure, but within the organization, no.

Like That Nicka said, it started at least when Kobe was fuming after the Lakers were eliminated. "Do something, and do it now." However, we now know that Kobe's displeasure with management started much earlier, that Kobe was very upset when the Lakers turned down trade scenarios that involved Bynum in the past. Considering that Bynum had a negligible impact in the Suns series, Kobe's comment "Do something, and do it now" could be interpreted as, "Ship his ass out."

I don't think anybody here is trying to credit Kobe as the sole factor for Bynum's emergence.

But really, to deny Kobe's role in motivating Bynum is simply ignoring what the man himself said:

"All it did really to me was make me work harder."

+1000

[zen_4_10]

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/laker4life/108580

Here's my link to prove my (and some other's, TTC and Sedale's) points

This is what I remember him saying. Please provide a link to your arguments.

In fact, Bynum maintained he was unaware Bryant denounced him in an amateur video in which the superstar was furious the Lakers wouldn't give up Bynum to acquire star point guard Jason Kidd.

"Really. I never heard that," Bynum said sheepishly. "It's not a big deal to me, really. It sounds like a frustrated veteran saying something because things didn't go right last season. But who wouldn't want Jason Kidd?"

"The kid has worked extremely hard, and on his own accord," Zarzana said by phone. "It didn't take anybody to fire this kid up but himself. He realized going into his third year that he's no longer a rookie and he's expected to be a starter now. He came to me and said, 'I want to be the best center in this game. Can you help me?' "

[blix]

:rofl2:

[blix]

I think we have something in commen with the Blazers right now unless somehow we both make the playoffs. I personally still think the Rockets and Jazz will turn it around. I was called crazy for saying they might miss the playoffs and could go 8-20 without Bynum. If the Blazers and Lakers end up in the lotto even with the 13th and 14th pick with Bynum coming back full force next year (even this year he will be back) with Mitch drafting we are going to get the best possible player and we need that one more piece. Also Phil even as stubborn as he is and terrible with player rotations has to see with Bynum we are contenders and with Kwame we are 8th seed at absolute best if Kobe is superman. Also Mitch must see that and trade Kwame.
My point is unless Bynum comes back a little early or comes back 100% in his first game back and the Lakers go on a long winning streak they will get a shot at Mayo or Kevin Love.
The other great thing that could come out of this is there should be pressure on Mitch to make a move to get more talent like Artest or something to unsure a playoff run. Also with Lebron probably going to the Nets or Knicks him seeing just how good and valuable Bynum is by him missing 6-8 weeks which will help him want to stay. If Bynum wasn't the most improved player and clearly a top 1-3 center Kobe would probably be thinking out and I think when Lebron signs with a N.Y. team he might have wanted to go there even more then Chicago which would have been really bad. Now Kobe knows Bynum is one of the most valuable players on the floor at both ends and him being a Center that allows Kobe to play 1 on 1 again like Shaq did must be so sweet for him after not having that for a couple years.

What.
The.
Fokk.
Are.
You.
Talking.
About?

[That Nicka]

I mean, you can believe Bynum heard nothing about the video if you want... It was all over the internet and ESPN but whatever... I highly doubt Bynum was locked in a training facility all summer with no TV and no internet, but that could be the case... However I am pretty sure Bynum heard/saw what Kobe said after we were eliminated by PHX

Kobe: "Do something, do it now."

Bynum: "All it did really to me was make me work harder."

[zen_4_10]

^^And you can believe Kobe is responsible for Bynum's development. Everything is speculating at this point and I speculate Bynum had his own motivations to improve over the summer and give Kobe zero credit for it.

[That Nicka]

^^And you can believe Kobe is responsible for Bynum's development. Everything is speculating at this point and I speculate Bynum had his own motivations to improve over the summer and give Kobe zero credit for it.

I dont think Kobe is 100% responsible, not at all.... but i do know that if I worked somewhere (that really I liked) and someone above me wanted me gone, I would do everything in my power to not get fired... Wouldnt you??

[Jajwanda]

-= original quote snipped =-



What.
The.
Fokk.
Are.
You.
Talking.
About?

I have no friggin idea....

[milesfides]

Zen, I don't think anybody is trying to credit Kobe for Bynum's hard work.

But I think it's unreasonable to believe that Kobe didn't motivate him at all, because Bynum himself said so:

"When Bynum heard about Bryant's video comments about trading him, Bynum said he understood Bryant's frustration.

"All it did really to me was make me work harder."

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/bynum- ... first-work

[zen_4_10]

-= original quote snipped =-



I dont think Kobe is 100% responsible, not at all.... but i do know that if I worked somewhere (that really I liked) and someone above me wanted me gone, I would do everything in my power to not get fired... Wouldnt you??

My thoughts are Bynum was more motivated by the possibility to prove himself to get more minutes and motivated to make a run at being the starter...not at not being traded. His statement of "I want to be great...help me" to the trainer (which by all timeline accounts must have taken place well before the parking lot incident. Sure there was some motivation from the end of the playoffs) - but a lot of that could be he wanted to be out there to help his team win and he wasn't able to so. He wanted to be better next time.

There will always be some parts of truth to every situation that composes opinions to disagree. I just happen to feel Bynum's motivation was a personal positive source...not a negative one such as fear of being traded. If he was going to be traded he was going to be traded that was out of his control. To say FEAR was the forefront for his hard work is simply totaly selling the kid short. Kobe had nothing to do with Bynum being who he is now IMO.

[milesfides]

Also, from the same press enterprise article that you got the quotes from:

"I know that I've got to prove that I'm worth them holding off trading me."



Here's another quote from an interview in the Lakers blog, it was actually the summer before the last, but it shows that Bynum clearly understands what Kobe wants from him:

AB: Definitely. Definitely. I think that's what all this hard work was for in the summer, to earn some respect of my teammates and to earn some minutes out there on the court so I can help the team win...

AK: You used the phrase "earn some respect of my teammates." How do you go about, in your mind, earning the respect of someone like Kobe Bryant or Lamar Odom?

AB: To me, I think the only way you can earn the respect of Kobe is if he sees you in there busting your butt, working hard, going 110% every day. You know what I mean? Trying to get better and improve the team. All he wants to do is win, so if you take that attitude for yourself, I think you'll get more respect from everybody.

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblo ... _an_1.html

[milesfides]

I think it's clear that Bynum emulated Kobe's work ethic. He said so himself. For a guy who's had his work ethic questioned by his very own coach, I think it's safe to say that Kobe had SOME impact on Bynum's motivation.

Just my opinion, but I think it's reasonable given what Bynum himself said.

That's not to credit Kobe either. It's just what it is, causation is not exactly like Hume's billiard balls. In real life, events are hardly effected by a single cause.

[zen_4_10]

I really can't argue this anymore.

To me it's very simple miles - there are always shades of gray and sure Bynum want's to prove himself, Kobe is the most popular and outspoken member of the team and it's easy to "assume" he is always the where all talk revolves around when something like the word "teamates" is mentioned but that doesn't mean Bynum wouldn't have put in the work if nothing had ever been said. That's where it's speculation from both sides.

Fact is That Nicka's first post CREDITED Kobe SIGNIFICANTLY for Bynums hard work. I completely disagree.

[zen_4_10]

I think it's clear that Bynum emulated Kobe's work ethic. He said so himself. For a guy who's had his work ethic questioned by his very own coach, I think it's safe to say that Kobe had SOME impact on Bynum's motivation.

Just my opinion, but I think it's reasonable given what Bynum himself said.

That's not to credit Kobe either. It's just what it is, causation is not exactly like Hume's billiard balls. In real life, events are hardly effected by a single cause.

I agree here. The bolded part is particularly true.

[That Nicka]

I really can't argue this anymore.

To me it's very simple miles - there are always shades of gray and sure Bynum want's to prove himself, Kobe is the most popular and outspoken member of the team and it's easy to "assume" he is always the where all talk revolves around when something like the word "teamates" is mentioned but that doesn't mean Bynum wouldn't have put in the work if nothing had ever been said. That's where it's speculation from both sides.

Fact is That Nicka's first post CREDITED Kobe SIGNIFICANTLY for Bynums hard work. I completely disagree.

You are right, I did give Kobe too much credit in my first post, but that doesnt change my opinion which is: PART of the reason Bynum worked so hard this past summer was because of some of the things Kobe said... Bynum seeing what Kobe does to prepare for games over the years plays a role too imo

[milesfides]

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