In the aftermath of the Lakers’ latest capitulation to the Celtics in the NBA Finals, many within the Los Angeles sports community have suggested that having Andrew Bynum in uniform would have reversed the outcome of the series.
Of course, many of these same “experts” boldly predicted a Lakers' sweep or (at the very least) a 4-1 series victory, even without Bynum in the lineup. Well, the latest thing we’re hearing from this vocal crowd is just how great the Lakers will be next season with Bynum returning from knee surgery.
To such fans, a healthy Bynum virtually guarantees a return to the NBA Finals, where the Lakers will undoubtedly sweep or (at the very least) crush by a 4-1 margin whatever team emerges from the “weak” Eastern Conference.
Is Bynum really that good? Will he be able to return from knee surgery (performed about a month ago), regain his NBA fitness, and overcome the psychological scars associated with his injury to post the kind of numbers that his eager fans expect of him?
Assessing just how good Bynum is presents difficulties because he has only played one full season, his second in the NBA. In 2006-'07, as the Lakers’ starting center (53 of 82 games), Bynum averaged 7.8 points per game on 56 percent field goal shooting, while grabbing 5.9 rebounds per game.
For purposes of comparison, let’s look at the numbers for Leon Powe who, at times, played as the Boston Celtics’ third string center behind Kendrick Perkins and PJ Brown (and even Brian Scalabrine) this past season, his second in the NBA.
Like Bynum, Powe is a young and talented player, whose second year numbers have been surprisingly similar. Powe scored 7.9 points per game on 57 percent field goal shooting, while grabbing 4.1 rebounds per game in 2007-'08.
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Bynum obviously had the edge in terms of rebounding. But when you consider he played 50 percent more minutes than Powe (22 versus 14.5), that rebounding margin doesn’t look quite so impressive. Especially when you consider that Bynum also enjoys a four inch height advantage.
What does this tell us? During his only full season in the NBA, the Lakers' starting center put up numbers that were comparable to those put up by a third string center/power forward for the Boston Celtics who happened to play seven fewer minutes per game.
Of course, before his season-ending injury in January, Bynum began to put up numbers that started to justify the hype surrounding him, nearly doubling the scoring and rebounding averages he posted during the 2006-'07 season. More importantly, Bynum began to establish himself as a better interior defender by blocking roughly two shots per game.
According to Bryant, that interior defense would have made the difference in the championship series: “He gives us a presence in the middle that we didn't have in the Finals. He's a shot-blocker. So now guys coming down the middle, Pierce laying the ball in, he's got to think about that now and shoot floaters because Bynum is naturally a shot-blocker.”
This argument works on one level, but what it overlooks is the fact that Gasol (also nearly two blocks per game) and Odom were among the top 20 shot blockers in the NBA this past season. Why weren’t either of them able to stop Pierce?
Would Bynum, a third year player, have been able to do what two of his shot-blocking veteran teammates could not? Maybe, but I doubt it. If you look at Bynum’s performance in the two games he played against the Celtics in the regular season, then you’d doubt it too.
Moreover, I question the quickness, ball-control, and overall effectiveness of a projected starting lineup next season that includes Bynum (seven footer), Gasol (seven footer), and Odom (very close seven footer). Having these guys on the floor at the same time creates serious match-up problems for Phil Jackson against quicker teams.
In the Finals this year, everyone saw how Doc Rivers’ decision to go with a smaller, faster, three point shooting player rotation turned the proverbial tide in the Celtics’ favor during their historic 24 point come from behind upset of the Lakers in Game Four.
Please don’t get me wrong. I agree that Bynum is a good player with developing skills, but returning from knee surgery is not as simple as some would like to believe.
As Phil Jackson publicly claimed after the surgery, Bynum’s knee will be 100 percent physically fit by the start of next season. What Jackson failed to note, however, is that knee injuries leave psychological damage that persists months after the physical healing process has completed.
I think this young man will have enough trouble dealing with such concerns, without the added pressure of being expected to play consistently at a level he has rarely achieved in his short NBA career.
Some Lakers fans love to claim that Bryant is the next Jordan. Please, for the sake of this young man, don’t expect Bynum to be the next O’Neal or Jabbar. As with efforts to compare Bryant to Jordan, he’s got a LONG way to go before such comparisons can and should be drawn.
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about 1 month ago
Have you ever even watched Bynum play? You have disqualifed yourself as a credible reporter the moment you compared Bynum to Powe. Would he have stopped Pierce? Did you see him stop Carmelo, Chris Paul, Baron Davis, and Tony Parker? Bynum has Hall of Fame pedigree...
I think you and the Bucks GM must be related.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, I have watched Bynum play. In the two most recent games, both against the Celtics this past regular season, Bynum averaged a mere 6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1 blocked shot per game. In the first game, the Lakers were beaten by 13 points. In the second game, played in LA, the Lakers lost by the larger margin of 19 points. Unfortunately, I did not see anything in either game that made me think that Bynum will be the next O'Neal or Kareem, but it's nice for you and others to keep wishing.
Bynum played less than half of the 2007-08 season (35 games). He had a number of average games in addition to a some very good ones (usually against sub-.500 teams). Overall his averages increased in most statistical categories from the previous year, but putting together 12-15 good games against mediocre opposition out of 35 total does not make Bynum a star player. I think you missed the main point of my article: people like you (and Marcel below) are placing serious pressure on this young man to be the next Shaq or next Kareem. He may get there one day, but this knee injury is going to slow his progress towards that end.
Finally, underestimating Leon Powe is a big mistake. Phil Jackson and the Lakers should have learned that valuable lesson in Game Two when Powe exploded for 21 points in less than 15 minutes. Foul trouble was about the only thing that stopped him from putting up 40 against the Lakers "defense".
from about 1 month ago
Very good read, Gaz. You hold a valid point. We should not have such great expectations for him.............yet.
about 1 month ago
As what we have witnessed in the Finals about Kobe taking over the Game when the lead for Boston was at Fifteen Points? Being a Laker fan it really hurts because my team just layed down and let them run right over. No fighting spirit, No pride or anything. I really wish that Kobe would have taken over the contest if he had to shoot slightly under 50 Percent. If the Second Unit was not hitting their shots offensively, that when the superstar in him should have taken over, He Should have said okay follow my lead!! When In past years when a superstar of their teams take over a game, when they are behind most of the time, scores of games that they play usually win. I understand Kobe's mind set of being a distributor getting his teammates involved to get them in the flow of the game and being a team player no doubt about it!!! But when your team is behind, you have to be selfish and go for it !! Remember the Great M.J. Time and Time again when Chicago was behind and that's was very seldomly, He has his game face on and began to operate and believe or not they came back the majority of the time. Having that KILLER INSTINCT! knowing that the team needs you, have to say I a going to take the game under control and no one is going to beat me!!! Kobe is an outstanding player, no doubt about it!! But he needs that killer instinct and he have shown to take control of an a game. He has to regain it back. Also, the missing inside play of Andrew Bynum, have hurted us in the finals. Not saying that he can stop K.G because he is going to get his anyway. Just neutralize him, be a thorn on the side. I felt with Andrew's presence in the middle, would have probably change this series around.
But there is a Next Year and I feel that my Lakers will win it!! I tip my hat of to the Celtics, on their inspired play.
An Laker Fan,
Kenneth Williams, Sr.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for your comments. I also feel that the Lakers will do well next year, but I have some reservations concerning all the hype around Bynum. Again, I go back to the issue of having three very tall players on the floor at once (Bynum, Gasol and Odom). Will they have the quickness to close-out on 3-point shooters or will sharp-shooting teams tear them up? It will be interesting to see how that rotation works.
about 1 month ago
Bynum is going to be the next legendary center in the Lakers history. He is only 20 years old and is going to win several rings with Kobe and then after Kobe dominate the league. He is an elite defensive center, a fantastic rebounder and a good low post player. His presence would have made the difference for the Lakers in the finals.
about 1 month ago
is this writer an idiot????? you,ve got to be kidding me. comparing andrew bynum to leon powe???? Leon Powe sucks. If andrew bynum was playing, the series would of been totally different. Paul Pierce would of been blocked every time he would of went to the hole. Garnett would of had a hard time doing anything. as for gaz who wrote " dont underestimate leon powe", you must be an idiot too. If lakers and celtics do play in the finals, which they are next year, you can rest assure that the LAKERS WILL MAKE THE CELTICS LOOK STUPID
from about 1 month ago
Well, yet another Lakers fan joins the board in the last 24 hours to cast doubt on my intelligence simply because I lumped one of his precious idols in the same category as Leon Powe, a 3rd string player for the Celtics.
I will try to treat your comments seriously, although it is very hard to do so when you use words like "idiot", "sucks" and "stupid" as the foundation of your "critique".
Do I really think that Leon Powe is better than Andrew Bynum? No.
Could Powe end up having better career statistically than Andrew Bynum? Sure. The NBA is filled with players who, for a variety of reasons (e.g. injuries, limited opportunities, playing in the shadow of a legendary player), never reach their potential. Powe already has 1 championship ring, so he has a slight edge in that category.
Has Powe, during his 2nd year in the NBA, largely matched what Bynum did during his 2nd year? Yes, the statistics confirm this.
Were Powe's achievements largely made as a 3rd-string player off the bench while Bynum's were made as a starter with 7+ more minutes per game? Yes, Bynum's development has certainly been slower than Powe's, though we saw glimpses of what Bynum can be this season before this injury.
Is Andrew Bynum the next Shaq or Kareem? Way too early to tell. He certainly has a number of pubescent boys in L.A. believing that he is the next Big Thing, but these young lads are a little too naive to appreciate the historical record of 7 footers with knee problems. Bynum has youth on his side, but expecting that suspect knee to shift 285 pounds up and down the court night-in / night-out for the next 10+ seasons is a questionable proposition. It took Leon Powe, a smaller man who was younger at the time of the incident, more than two years to fully recover from the knee injury he suffered as a high school junior. See the article here:
http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/powe_leon00.html
about 1 month ago
The main key people forget is defense...if Bynum was playing, Perkins would have checked him and Garnett would have had to check Gasol. If you noticed in game 5, Garnett COULD NOT check Gasol, and fouled him repeatedly, trying to reach around Gasol's much longer reach. Also, remember, before Bynum got hurt, the Lakers were the number 1 rebounding team in the league. They also had played the hardest schedule and had the best record in the West. Phil Jackson is no fool, and I expect to see a 3 man rotation (Bynum starting from the bench) with Odom, Gasol, and Bynum, usual playing 2 of them at once, and rarely going all 3 unless playing a big team.
from about 1 month ago
That rotation you mention makes the most sense. I see one of them, probably Bynum, providing relief for the other two. I think seeing all three on court at once would be a rarity, but maybe it'll work in some situations.
about 1 month ago
Nice article Gaz. The finals might have had a little different outcome if Bynum was there.
about 1 month ago
In a way, Bynum was already crushed by the weight of expectation earlier last season. He was expected to return just in time for the playoffs until it turned out he was further behind in his rehab than Laker fans thought. Didn't he reach the point where he could walk/run in a pool just before the playoffs? And this was the guy who was going to be the x-factor for the Lakers? Laughable.
I think Laker fans are so used to that dominant center occupying the middle that they assume every seven-footer that comes their way is a shoe-in. Also, laughable.
about 1 month ago
Great article, Gaz.
23 days ago
Awesome article, it echoes my thoughts exactly. The Lakers have the thought that Bynum will come back and save them next year, and while he is a talent, there is no guarantee that his 2007-08 season wasn't a fluke.
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