Andrew Bynum: Will He be Crushed by the Weight of Expectation?

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.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?