What will the Lakers do if Bynum and Gasol ...

[The Laker Kid]

What everyone failed to realize is the fact that each players have their own EGO. Bynum WANTS the ball. He NEEDS to prove that he is worth the max contract so it's natural that he WILL demand the ball. Pau on the other hand is used to being an All-Star and will not be happy being the 3rd option. You think Andrew will be happy being the 3rd option??? What would you do if you come to work one day and your boss tells you that you are demoted to the 3rd spot and they just hired a new guy that you must report to? It's offensive isn't it?

Andrew is 20 years old. 20 year old kids often feel that they have a LOT to prove to the world. Bynum will be SOOO PISSED if he has to come off the bench and his spotlight has been taken away. I think it's very realistic to say that the Pau-Andrew duo might not work.

So what happens when the Pau-Andrew duo fails? Simple, we exit the first round.

And that is a BIG *IF*

The jury is still out

[That Nicka]

What everyone failed to realize is the fact that each players have their own EGO. Bynum WANTS the ball. He NEEDS to prove that he is worth the max contract so it's natural that he WILL demand the ball. Pau on the other hand is used to being an All-Star and will not be happy being the 3rd option. You think Andrew will be happy being the 3rd option??? What would you do if you come to work one day and your boss tells you that you are demoted to the 3rd spot and they just hired a new guy that you must report to? It's offensive isn't it?

Andrew is 20 years old. 20 year old kids often feel that they have a LOT to prove to the world. Bynum will be SOOO PISSED if he has to come off the bench and his spotlight has been taken away. I think it's very realistic to say that the Pau-Andrew duo might not work.

So what happens when the Pau-Andrew duo fails? Simple, we exit the first round.

And that is a BIG *IF*

The jury is still out

wtf are you talking about? Bynum came off the bench in just about half the games he has played this season despite CLEARLY being better than Kwame since training camp... he never complained once... Im guessing Bynum's ego has evolved into superstar status since he's been watching from the couch at home the past 2 months?

[JellosJigglin]

Bynum doesn't have a superstar ego yet. That's why he's able to be mentored by Kareem and coached by Phil Jackson and motivated by Kobe. Every time Phil moved him to the bench, you would hear Kareem say things like "he just needs to earn the trust of his teammates and play more consistently". And then you would hear Bynum say the same things himself in interviews. He listens to what his coaches teach him. If anything, he's been pretty humble if you ask me.

Bynum has done nothing but compliment Gasol since he joined the team. He's been watching the team and Gasol in particular, trying to figure out how he's going to fit in. He already mentioned Gasol's excellent face up game and how that's going to open things up for him. Someone mentioned Bynum wanting to earn a max contract. Well if he wants to do that, he'll have to make the most out of playing with Gasol.

[Joe Kleazy]

Laker haters better get this outta their systems now, cause when bynum comes back all questions will be answered.....MUUUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA


Da Damn conspiracy theories already. Praying on our downfall.

[Fran Vasquez]

gasol has already played with another big and pure center when he was in barcelona, they had a guy who was 7.3 tall or something like that.
I think they swept every team in those payoffs and won the championship
Maybe they lost a game or two in those payoffs, fran doesnt remember it too well

[Cracked Fingers]

gasol has already played with another big and pure center when he was in barcelona, they had a guy who was 7.3 tall or something like that.
I think they swept every team in those payoffs and won the championship
Maybe they lost a game or two in those payoffs, fran doesnt remember it too well

Also played the PF position beside Lorenzen Wright when he first came into the league. Plus he was averaging 19 and 9 playing PF beside Darko.

[joe.linnen]

bynum and pau can actually pass the ball

I can't believe that somebody in their right mind would compair Bynum and Gasol to Curry and Randolph. Bynum and Gasol can pass out of the post, but once you get Curry and Randolph the ball in the post its no turning back for them.

Bynum>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Curry

Gasol>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Randolph

[joe.linnen]

What everyone failed to realize is the fact that each players have their own EGO. Bynum WANTS the ball. He NEEDS to prove that he is worth the max contract so it's natural that he WILL demand the ball. Pau on the other hand is used to being an All-Star and will not be happy being the 3rd option. You think Andrew will be happy being the 3rd option??? What would you do if you come to work one day and your boss tells you that you are demoted to the 3rd spot and they just hired a new guy that you must report to? It's offensive isn't it?

Andrew is 20 years old. 20 year old kids often feel that they have a LOT to prove to the world. Bynum will be SOOO PISSED if he has to come off the bench and his spotlight has been taken away. I think it's very realistic to say that the Pau-Andrew duo might not work.

So what happens when the Pau-Andrew duo fails? Simple, we exit the first round.

And that is a BIG *IF*

The jury is still out

the real question is are you a Laker fan, but I guess the jury is still out on that one too.

[Das]

You know what the title of this thread should have said .

How scary the Lakers can get when Bynum returns to the lineup with Pau and Kobe .

The Title should be "I (JordansBull) hopes that Bynum and Gasol doesnt work out so Kobe can never win another Title again because Im already ****ting in my pants of the thought that Kobe does have a chance to surpass my beloved MJ's (wets) accomplishment and be considered the GOAT."

[CaptainFanchini]

On my personal team, I would play with Odom-Gasol at 4&5 all life long.

Bynum would come out from the bench just for some "special" minutes if needed.

[Das]

Ok, everyone is giving reasons on how it would work, but what happens if it doesn't? Does Bynum come off the bench?

The "IF" that you have provided is based on an illogical scenario...

Both Bynum and Gasol exhibit physical traits and skills that compliment eachother... so to say "if it doesn't work" would be like saying "what would happen if fire didn't get put out by water"...

Its a weird question to ask. Its entirely possible though in the realm of physics... so in the event of that possibility occuring:

It would mean that you would have to find a way to get the most out of both players.

I'm assuming the basis of this scenario is not weather or not these guys can play together... rather the premise of this scenario is Pau Gasol's ability (or lack thereof) to play the power forward position.

For me to explain a scenario to make the Lakers a good team while not having Bynum and Gasol in at the same time would mean there would have to be some limitation that doesn't allow them to play at the same time....in this case, Gasol not knowing how to be a power forward and only playing as a center.

So how is it that he cannot play power forward? Well, it would mean that he doesn't have a face-up game (which he does) or mid-range shooting ability (which he does) or any kind of passing skills (which he does) or mobility (which he has) or a high basketball IQ (which he has) or a strong work ethic to put his skills together to learn the 4 position in the triangle (he has that too).

This player we are describing would then cease to be Pau Gasol. If that's what you are suggesting...fine.

The end question then is "who starting at center gives the Lakers a better chance to win?"

If you go by the Laker's current level of play (without Bynum...albeit against weaker competition) you would choose Gasol as the starter.

This would then mean that Bynum would be coming off the bench.

Since your scenario requires that they not occupy the game at the same time, it would mean these two would share minutes at the center position.

Since it is clear that independent of each other, these two players are successful, they can continue to play successfully independent of each other.

What's more, Bynum (who is the 6th man) becomes a more energetic player...fresher and more able to play at a high intensity level....as does Gasol.

If you permit them to play limitedly on the court at the same time in your scenario, they are individually good enough to do so without hurting the team dynamic.



As you can see, we have to go to great lengths to realize a situation where the two wouldn't work out together.

But the only logical solution to make it work would be to keep both and use them in a creative yet separate way as a tag team at the center position.

I find it very difficult, though, to believe that Gasol's impact on the game is marginalized if he is moved to the 4 spot....even half of what Gasol's impact is now would be an improvment over the configuration with Odom at PF and Kwame as Bynum's backup. Like I said before, in the scenario you suggest, Pau Gasol as we know him does not exist.

I didnt read the whole thing. But you made too much sense, thats not allowed here. GTFO!

[Trifecta7]

Phil has tried this 2 years ago with Mihm and Kwame. That one didn't work out.

This year Phil tried it again with Kwame/Turiaf/Odom early in the season. The problem was that Odom wasn't cutting to the basket like a SF should most of the time and he stayed around the perimeter.

I'm expecting this new cast to have more success in fulfilling Phil's initial goal from 2 years ago of putting Odom at the SF. Ever since Pau came, Odom has been aggressive at cutting to basket. His jump shot has also improved with the added confidence that he wasn't going to be traded and no longer having the burden of being a no. 2 option. Odom is a mental guy. Two traits which are needed for the SF position in the triangle.

Pau looks more like a PF to me. He can back down an opponent if he wants to, but I find him at the high post facing up at the opponent at times. He either uses a surprisingly good first step to go by the defender (draw a foul or score) or shoots a jumpshot.

Bynum is the typical C.

This group looks like it has the best chance at success in completing Phil's original plan.