Bynum as the first option?

ChocolateThundr · Post #1 » by **ChocolateThundr** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 4:43 pm

If Bynum turns out 110%, which I think he will, should we play him as if he were the 1st option?

Out of all our scorers, he IMO is the banger down low, a true back to the basket center and gets the highest percentage shots on our team. So wouldnt it make sense if we feed him the ball in the post and initiate our offense that way, on every possession? Although last season when everything was rolling I had the feeling that Kobe was doing that a little bit.

PPG wise, I think we will be at our best if it looked something like Kobe - 23 ppg, Bynum - 20ppg, Gasol - 21 ppg

Ofcourse, Kobe's FGA decreases while Bynum increases. I just dont think its necessary with everyone healthy we need Kobe to avg at or above 27ppg

That Nicka · Post #2 » by **That Nicka** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 5:06 pm

He's not ready for that... He would burn out half way through the season

Post #3 » by **tkb** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 5:56 pm

Kobe is still going to be the first option for a few more years probably, but Bynum will end up there given time.

If he has added moves, lower body strength and range he could see a big incline in his scoring average next year, something I expect from him. Bynum had a fair amount of his shots created by others last year. Dwight Howard is often referred to as a player who can only dunk etc., but Bynum actually produced more of his points off dunks than Howard did last year (Howard dunked on 31.5% of the points he scored, Bynum 38.3%). I'm not saying Bynum only can dunk, but it's going to be extremely tough to see a big rise in points per game if he doesn't develops other moves, which I believe he both can and will.

Having said all this, if Andrew can keep scoring at 60+%, we should look for him as often as possible if he can endure that over a whole season + playoffs. I'd rather have him explode in the playoffs after a stellar regular season than explode early in the regular season and possibly burn out.

Frantik · Post #4 » by **Frantik** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 6:44 pm

that wont be the best thing for us to do. We have 7 - 8 guys that can damn well put the ball in the basket. Why would we want to make any one person the one primary scoring option? it would make no sense. This is what we pay Phil Jacksom for. And phil knows how to do this very well. There are times when sasha's deadly threes should be used. Kobe will get his time no doubt, There should be lots of plays for Gasol, Lots for bynum, Odom (especially when he plays with second unit), farmar (Most improved on the roster next season) will get his pg moments i bet, especially at end of quarters for the buzzer.

Whe you have alot of weapons like this, the best thing is to confuse the opponent. These arent your kwame-era lakers.... they should be able to handle not sitting back and watching a kobe or a Bynum do all the work for them.

Radman will come much improved too because of the vujacic resign.

Post #5 » by **crazyeights** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 6:51 pm

tkb wrote:Kobe is still going to be the first option for a few more years probably, but Bynum will end up there given time.

If he has added moves, lower body strength and range he could see a big incline in his scoring average next year, something I expect from him. Bynum had a fair amount of his shots created by others last year. Dwight Howard is often referred to as a player who can only dunk etc., but Bynum actually produced more of his points off dunks than Howard did last year (Howard dunked on 31.5% of the points he scored, Bynum 38.3%). I'm not saying Bynum only can dunk, but it's going to be extremely tough to see a big rise in points per game if he doesn't develops other moves, which I believe he both can and will.

Having said all this, if Andrew can keep scoring at 60+%, we should look for him as often as possible if he can endure that over a whole season + playoffs. I'd rather have him explode in the playoffs after a stellar regular season than explode early in the regular season and possibly burn out.

The thing about the Bynum dunk stats, IMO...

When Bynum was playing, they couldn't stop the alley-oop. He was too long, nobody could defend it. I think it came easy, so he wasn't forced to have to really bang yet. Yes, he's nowhere near set in his post-up game...I think it was more a matter of those lobs being open, more so than a lack of skill.

Post #6 » by **Slava** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 7:11 pm

He's got a long way to go before he takes the scoring burden off Kobe and Pau. First of all he needs to be comfortable playing big minutes for an entire season, which he hasn't done so far. 32 MPG is not going to cut it for a 1st option. Secondly he needs to develop a go to move in the post, whether it be the hook shot or may be even the sky hook but he needs to develop one and then a wider arsenal of offensive repertoire to hide it. Lastly he'll see double teams once he starts getting too many easy points off 1 on 1 opportunities and he'd need to be able to fight through them consistently before being made the focal point of an offense.

Right now, I'd be glad to see him manage his minutes given the amount of running up and down the court he's going to do in our faster paced offense over a period of time consistently.

Kweli · Post #7 » by **Kweli** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 7:19 pm

I wouldn't say he should be the 1st option. But, I think he should touch the ball at least once almost every time down the floor.

ChocolateThundr · Post #8 » by **ChocolateThundr** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 7:43 pm

I agree with what you guys are saying and I also hope Bynum would peak at the right time - the Finals

We do have more than a couple of guys capable of putting the ball into the bakset. But IMO by nature of Bynum's position, he shoots the highest percentage.

One thing I agree with Charles Barkley is that good teams play defense, play hard, and gets easy baskets. Bynum, IMO, gets us the most easy baskets.

SashAlex · Post #9 » by **SashAlex** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 8:26 pm

As Bill Walton said : "Triangle offense is Kobe most of the time with the ball !" LOL LOL !

ShowtimeFan · Post #10 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 8:54 pm

Bynum got a lot of easy dunks and lobs last year, until the opposition can stop him, why not?

lakersfan182 · Post #11 » by **lakersfan182** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 9:04 pm

JustBlaze20 wrote:I wouldn't say he should be the 1st option. But, I think he should touch the ball at least once almost every time down the floor.

agreed. i think he should be the second option, after kobe.

Post #12 » by **crazyeights** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 9:07 pm

JustBlaze20 wrote:I wouldn't say he should be the 1st option. But, I think he should touch the ball at least once almost every time down the floor.

I think this is probably the spirit of the entire thread.

It's WAY premature to call for him to be the first option, however, given his position and ability, AB should be an integral part of the offense.

Post #13 » by **Slava** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 9:43 pm

I'd love to see a stat of how many Bynum's buckets came off Kobe's assists and play making. Must be a very high % of them. He did get many other by crashing the offensive boards and doing the rough work too though.

Post #14 » by **kno** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 10:17 pm

How about, we have NO first option?

This team is a rare one IMO. One that can have amazing mismatch opportunities on any given night.

Last thing the Lakers need is a set number of shots for the players. If Kobe is on, then give him all the shots. If Bynum is guarded by Jeff Foster, then feed the big man. Give it to whoever is on and has the mismatch, whether its Odom, Gasol, Luke, or even Radman.

Just feed the mismatches. Dont go in with a set mentality of "Kobe has to lead in scoing, followed by Bynum, then Gasol ect". This team is too strong offensively for those type of guidelines. Any of the big-4 have the ability to lead the team any game. Let them flourish and do their own thing on the offensive end.

Jellybeans8 · Post #15 » by **Jellybeans8** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 12:27 am

i say we just give teh ball to sasha every play and let him rain 3s on them

hermes · Post #16 » by **hermes** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 1:06 am

ChocolateThundr wrote:PPG wise, I think we will be at our best if it looked something like Kobe - 23 ppg, Bynum - 20ppg, Gasol - 21 ppg

look at that 3 20point scorers
i think that hermes guy said that in another thread

not so crazy now is he

Asianiac_24 · Post #17 » by **Asianiac_24** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 1:13 am

Kno wrote:How about, we have NO first option?

This team is a rare one IMO. One that can have amazing mismatch opportunities on any given night.

Last thing the Lakers need is a set number of shots for the players. If Kobe is on, then give him all the shots. If Bynum is guarded by Jeff Foster, then feed the big man. Give it to whoever is on and has the mismatch, whether its Odom, Gasol, Luke, or even Radman.

Just feed the mismatches. Dont go in with a set mentality of "Kobe has to lead in scoing, followed by Bynum, then Gasol ect". This team is too strong offensively for those type of guidelines. Any of the big-4 have the ability to lead the team any game. Let them flourish and do their own thing on the offensive end.

what he said

Post #18 » by **Kilroy** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 1:35 am

If Bynum is '110%,' he could very well be one of the top post players in the league...

If you have a Center that is dominant, he's your "first" option... Especially in the Triangle...

I believe you always run your offense through the post first. I think Kobe understands that and in his recent unselfishness, will facillitate that.

It means nothing about Kobe's skill or his legacy...

It's just that a post player is always going to get higher percentage shots... Especially if he's a better version of Bynum.

iamworthy · Post #19 » by **iamworthy** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 2:31 am

While Bynum is a very good player he isn't ready to be the number one option. Lakers need to continue with the way things were. Let Kobe set the table while everyone eats.

Post #20 » by **kno** » Sun Sep 7, 2008 4:09 am

Are we forgetting that most of Bynum's offensive production came off of alley-oops, open dunks, and being scrappy on the offensive glass?

Dont get me wrong, he does have a nice baby hook and a solid drop step, but that can only take you so far. The big men in this league who are tops the league in schoring have an array of post moves. We have yet to see these skills from young Bynum.

Let him get his in the flow of the offense. Feed him the ball every once in a while, especially if he has a mismatch.

Quite honestly, the worst thing the Lakers can do to this kid right now is force him to play a role he's not capable of. Dont force him to lead the league in scoring. Let him do what he does, and he'll find his niche. His game will evolve with time. It might actually be hindered if he's forced to be someone he's not.