Is anybody else aftraid Phil will not start Bynum?

[Dexmor]

Because I am. As a matter of fact I am 99% sure he won't and I believe that is a mistake.
Anyway I know there will be some people who will agree with Bynum as 6th man (which is nuts to me) but I will list some reasons why Bynum needs to start from day 1.

1.He was not rushed back. He has taken more time then originally thought. Him Gasol with Kobe and Odom will probably blow out teams and he won't need to play alot of minutes.
2. He is 20 years young. He is probably a little immature and a little self concious and if they make him come off the bench he will basically be Gasol's backup so instead of loving the Gasol trade he could feel like Gasol stole his thunder.
3. If they are going to win a championship this year which is there goal and they are the favorites in alot of ways they will need to do it with the lineup of Bynum-Gasol-Odom-Kobe-Fisher. They need all 4 stars. It will be to hard to beat 3 great teams and then beat the Celtics without them.
4. How do you mesh with a guy if your his backup? It's possible but it will take longer, bottom line. Bynum is very dominate inside and Gasol is very smart and they can make each other better right away but you got to give them the chance.
5. The playoffs are all about Defense and Gasol is not a defensive presence and Bynum is. They start Bynum have Gasol at the 4 and Odom at the 3 not only are they going to outrebound everybody but they will be a defensive team as well. With Gasol as the starting 5 he is playing out of position and they have a clear weakness.
6. Basketball is alot more simple then people think. Put your best foot forward and that foot is well you know the lineup I think is best.

[Tommy Trojan]

I have full confidence in Phil Jackson in the decisions he makes.

We all know when Bynum returns his not going to be game shape, so I

[Dexmor]

I have full confidence in Phil Jackson in the decisions he makes.

We all know when Bynum returns his not going to be game shape, so I

[iamworthy]

doesnt really matter who starts. Its who finishes.

[Dexmor]

Yes that is true if your Manu and come off the bench and play 35 minutes. Bynum started and played 28 so it does matter.

[LLcoleJ]

He might not start him when he first comes back and that is how it needs to be. He needs to work him back in the rotation and in game shape. However, when the playoffs come and we are at full strength he will start. No big deal and nothing to be aftraid about

[iamworthy]

This team has changed. Phil has always like Bynum with the second unit anyway. In the playoffs you need something coming off the bench. Its genius the way PoP brings manu off the bench when the other teams starters are tired and get subbed out then he kills the other teams second unit. If you look around the NBA more and more teams are going to this. Take a guy that should be in the starting lineup and make him your six man or 7th. Ben Gordon, Jason Terry and in the past maggette and Stackhouse came off the bench. Bynum would absolutely murder the other teams second unit. In the 4th quarter you can put all the guns in at one time but to start the game really doesnt accomplish anything. Kobe, Gasol and Lamar can hold the first unit. Bynum needs to control the second unit.

[Dexmor]

He might not start him when he first comes back and that is how it needs to be. He needs to work him back in the rotation and in game shape. However, when the playoffs come and we are at full strength he will start. No big deal and nothing to be aftraid about

I hope your right and Iamworthy is wrong and Phil doesn't agree that it's best. If Bynum was a wing or they had a lock down 3 and Odom was the guy who might come off the bench I might agree but Bynum is not the one who should be coming off the bench. Size still matters and Bynum is a Center who gives them O and D and will be a top 1-4 center in the league. Now if we kept Critt or got a Terry type little guy who is basically a pure scorer I would agree the bench is not a bad idea.

When you take your allstar Center who is your defensive pressence and move your pf to C who is gonna get banged up alot instead of playing his natural position it's a terrible idea.

[hermes]

its a different team then when bynum got hurt, he can't come right back in and play like he was, he needs time to get back to playing speed and gell with everyone again
and when he is back to his old self i'm sure he'll be starting again

[iamworthy]

The goal should be to have a seven footer not named Mihm in the game at all time. So if you would rather bring Gasol off the bench...whatever. No team on the west can handle that. If at any point Bynum and Gasol are on the bench together sitting getting rest Im going to be pissed. Especially with the second unit being a jumpshooting team we are going to need a seven footer in there to rebound or to dump down to for easy looks. A seond unit of:

Farmar
Machine
Bynum
turiaf
Ira

looks pretty good right now.

[Dexmor]

Even when you start 2 stars they still end up with one resting and one playing enough.
Also Gasol off the bench? That is just nuts. The lineup has got to be Bynum-Gasol-Odom-Kobe-Fisher.
Like I said if one of these guys were a scoring pg I don't mind them off the bench in a Ben Gorden role but the 2 big men are 2 important and they can easily make each other better.
We are not a regular team, remember with Bynum starting we weren't just winning but winning by 20. Add Gasol to that and maybe all the starters get to rest by the 4th and the whole 4th.
Size wins and you don't put an allstar 4 or 5 off the bench. Nobody has done that ever and never should. Pop takes Manu off the bench but he didn't have Drob or Duncan off the bench.
Plus we don't need secret bench weapon when you have a bench of
Ronny,Radman,Luke,Newble,Sasha,Farmar.
Honestly I think Farmar and Luke are starter level and 6th man level (Farmar would be the starter level bench player).

[iamworthy]

Even when you start 2 stars they still end up with one resting and one playing enough.
Also Gasol off the bench? That is just nuts. The lineup has got to be Bynum-Gasol-Odom-Kobe-Fisher.
Like I said if one of these guys were a scoring pg I don't mind them off the bench in a Ben Gorden role but the 2 big men are 2 important and they can easily make each other better.
We are not a regular team, remember with Bynum starting we weren't just winning but winning by 20. Add Gasol to that and maybe all the starters get to rest by the 4th and the whole 4th.
Size wins and you don't put an allstar 4 or 5 off the bench. Nobody has done that ever and never should. Pop takes Manu off the bench but he didn't have Drob or Duncan off the bench.
Plus we don't need secret bench weapon when you have a bench of
Ronny,Radman,Luke,Newble,Sasha,Farmar.
Honestly I think Farmar and Luke are starter level and 6th man level (Farmar would be the starter level bench player).

You just said it yourself we were winning by 20. What do you want to win by 40 by adding Gasol? Now granted in the playoffs the game changes so I dont think we will be winning by 20. Now granted Im not arguing the fact that Phil isnt going to start Bynum because I think he will. Im saying is it smart. I just dont know the answer to that until the playoffs. With Starting all your guns this puts heavy pressure on the first unit to come out hot and get a nice lead so they can get some rest and the subs can take over. If the Starters dont get a nice lead guess what....Kobe plays the whole game. Not good. Who knows if Gasol can play the wing in the Triangle, Who knows if Gasol and Bynum can play together, Who knows if LO can find his new role being the 4th option. We have the best talent in the league no doubt But chemistry wins games. Just ask Houston, outside of T-Mac Houston= average talent great Chemistry.

[iamworthy]

Yes that is true if your Manu and come off the bench and play 35 minutes. Bynum started and played 28 so it does matter.

Also, Bynum started because Kwame got hurt. He was a bench player.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Because I am. As a matter of fact I am 99% sure he won't and I believe that is a mistake.
Anyway I know there will be some people who will agree with Bynum as 6th man (which is nuts to me) but I will list some reasons why Bynum needs to start from day 1.

1.He was not rushed back. He has taken more time then originally thought. Him Gasol with Kobe and Odom will probably blow out teams and he won't need to play alot of minutes.

you assume that Bynum will come back in playoff shape. that wont happen so it does not matter if he starts or not. as long as he gets some playing time to adjust don't worry about it.

2. He is 20 years young. He is probably a little immature and a little self concious and if they make him come off the bench he will basically be Gasol's backup so instead of loving the Gasol trade he could feel like Gasol stole his thunder.

Bynum is a grown up man that understands his place. I could argue with you that instead of getting his vigina brused he will motivated to play harder.

3. If they are going to win a championship this year which is there goal and they are the favorites in alot of ways they will need to do it with the lineup of Bynum-Gasol-Odom-Kobe-Fisher. They need all 4 stars. It will be to hard to beat 3 great teams and then beat the Celtics without them.

if and that is a big if, if we get to the wcf and final the rotation will be very different and yes Bynum will be a part of it, even if it is comming off the bench.

4. How do you mesh with a guy if your his backup? It's possible but it will take longer, bottom line. Bynum is very dominate inside and Gasol is very smart and they can make each other better right away but you got to give them the chance.

yes it will take time for them to mesh. Phil has said this many times and he thinks that it maybe more benificial for the team if they don't play at the same time this season and start fresh next season. on that I say that if it is quicker for Bynum to click with the second unit than learn on the fly how to play Gasol during the playoffs I take Bynum in the second unit.

5. The playoffs are all about Defense and Gasol is not a defensive presence and Bynum is. They start Bynum have Gasol at the 4 and Odom at the 3 not only are they going to outrebound everybody but they will be a defensive team as well. With Gasol as the starting 5 he is playing out of position and they have a clear weakness.

there are a lot of implications with rotation that the Lakers don't have time to hone during the playoffs. they will not just click from the get go. it is not very smart to assume otherwise. I will not be surprised if that rotation doesn't happen till next year.

6. Basketball is alot more simple then people think. Put your best foot forward and that foot is well you know the lineup I think is best.

how many ankles did Lamars best foot break this season?

[TonyMontana]

I was actually more afraid of my ex showing up in front of my door while I was out with her best friend last Sat night than Phil starting Bynum when he comes back .

Should I be afraid of Phil or a crazy A55 Colombian who comes over and bangs on my door every Friday and Sat for the past 2 months ....

Haaaa ? Let me think ?

[Kobe_for_3]

it all depends on when he comes back. if he is back with six games or more he will come off the bench, but he will have enough time to get in shape by the playoffs. once he is in shape and game ready he will start depending on match ups. just because he doesnt start does not mean he will not play at the same time a pau.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

This thread is kinda pointless. Phil will have bynum coming off the bench when he comes back as he should to get in shape. Then by the time the playoffs roll around he should be playing more meaningfull minutes, starting or not. Him and farmar were huge off the bench in the beginning of the season.

[TonyMontana]

Phil will have bynum coming off the bench when he comes back as he should to get in shape. Then by the time the playoffs roll around he should be playing more meaningfull minutes, starting or not. Him and farmar were huge off the bench in the beginning of the season.

exactly ....

[dockingsched]

in phil i trust.

[ShowtimeFan]

He will start him when he is healthy enough to contribute accordingly, no need to lose sleep over this one...