Lakers vs. Heat: Does Bynum and Gasol's Size Really Matter?
Most of the analysts breaking down tonight's NBA game between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers give a huge advantage to the Lakers in the paint based on the size and talent of center Andrew Bynum and forward Pau Gasol.
I'm wondering how many of those people watched the two teams play last year.
In the Heat's Christmas Day blowout of the Lakers in 2010, Miami out-rebounded the bigger Lakers (albeit by one), but the most striking numbers may be in the production, or lack of from Bynum and Gasol.
The Lakers' twin towers combined to score 23 points and 13 rebounds, which was one less point and the same number of rebounds that Chris Bosh recorded alone.
In the team's second meeting on March 10th 2011, the Lakers loss 94-88, and were once again out-rebounded by Miami, and this time by a wider margin.
In that game Bynum and Gasol combined for 33 points and 17 rebounds, but the Lakers were defeated on the boards 46-37.
Bynum and Gasol should dominate a smaller team like Miami, but for some reason the Lakers sometimes struggle with smaller, quicker frontcourts.
Some of the irony can be explained by poor rebounding positioning and the fact that Miami loves to shoot the mid-range jumper, which often leads to longer rebounds. But what it really boils down to is a matter of heart, pride and hustle.
There is no reason in the world that Bosh, who prefers to play on the perimeter, should ever out-rebound two bigger players who have made their living in the post.
But Bosh did it in the Heat's first win over the Lakers and in the second game Miami's starters beat the Lakers starters on the boards. The same result occurred with the team's respective second units.
And if the Lakers cannot change that dynamic, they are in danger of losing tonight regardless if James plays or not.
It has already been announced that Dwyane Wade will miss tonight's game due to injury, and James is reportedly battling the flu, which means even if he does play, his game may be limited.
None of that means a thing if the Lakers can't control the paint.
The Atlanta Hawks are proof that the Heat can beat playoff teams on the road without Wade or James, and if James does play Miami is still undefeated this season without Wade.
The Miami Heat are also undefeated against the Lakers since LeBron and Bosh took their talents to South Beach, and I'm sure James and Wade will remind their team of that fact as motivation before the game.
Bynum and Gasol should also be motivated by those losses and embarrassed by the way they were man-handled in the paint by the smaller Heat.
Most eyes in tonight's game will be focused on Kobe Bryant and James if he plays, but once again the battle and the game will be won or lost in the paint.
My question is, will Bynum and Gasol show up to play this time, or will they prove that their size may not be an advantage after all?
