The Microscope: Andrew Bynum's Obsession with the Three-Pointer (and More)
The Microscope is your recurring look at the NBA's small-scale developments—the rotational curiosities, skill showcases, coaching decisions, notable performances and changes in approach that make the league go 'round.
On Andrew Bynum's Fascination with the Three-Pointer
In principle, there's nothing wrong with a player entertaining the notion of taking a look from any reasonable range—be it the elbow, the wing, or the three-point line—so long as it's in his wheelhouse, so to speak. But Andrew Bynum's fascination with shooting three-pointers has become both an assertion of his on-court will (in direct opposition to Mike Brown) and a fairly bizarre obsession.
L.A. doesn't need any help feeding or creating controversy, so I'll leave the power dynamic between Bynum and Brown alone. But the very fact that Bynum gave the equivalent of a solemn oath following his last three-point attempt, vowing on his basketball-playing honor that he would again ride out beyond the arc and toss up whatever long-range attempts he pleases, is just a tad strange. It's even more so when juxtaposed with Bynum giving up a decent look at a buzzer-beating shot from within 15 feet to hunt down a look from the corner.
It calls to mind a trigger-happy pick-up player rather than an NBA-caliber big man, for reasons that honestly have little do with Bynum's height or role and more to do with his proven skill set and willingness to go his own way.
Threes are great and all—and among the most efficient shots in the game, when created correctly—but such a random, enthusiastic commitment to attempting them whenever possible strikes a very weird chord. Power to Bynum if he could eventually become a three-point threat, I suppose, but the timing of this latest diversion does hint at a certain disconnect.
Xavier Henry, Now with Water, Sunshine and a Bit of Fertilizer
Kansas product Xavier Henry was selected 12th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft but has managed to spend a lion's share of his pro career thus far buried in the depth charts of two different teams.
As a 19-year-old draftee who faced inconsistency even at the college level, there was an almost universal acknowledgement that Henry needed some seasoning before he would be able to produce in the NBA. That's all well and good, but when the Memphis Grizzlies' timetable proceeded more rapidly than anticipated and Monty Williams looked for some semblance of stability with the New Orleans Hornets, Henry was a made into a bit of an afterthought.
That has now changed, as Henry has seen his minutes gradually increase over the last two months, and in the process, he has begun to flash some of the pro potential that made him a lottery pick in the first place. He isn't a failure or a bust, but a player on a unique developmental path—things haven't exactly gone smoothly for Henry thus far, but he's still managing to put together some solid, efficient outings, even if he isn't incredibly productive.
Hopefully that will some day come, but in the meantime, Henry is actually getting the kind of minutes and instructions he needs to properly grow as a player.
Denver Finds its Breaking Point
It's a bit sad to see the Nuggets falter considering all that they represent, but their injuries have officially overtaken their chances to compete this season. Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo were each forced to play more than 40 minutes in a loss to the Hornets on Wednesday, as Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Rudy Fernandez all missed the game due to injury.
The operative phrase there: "a loss to the Hornets." Denver once looked to be among the stronger of the Western Conference teams, but Nene's injury and subsequent departure, Gallinari's bad luck, Al Harrington's regression, JaVale McGee's slow start and even George Karl's slightly strange decision to replace Chris Andersen (who continues to pile up DNP-CDs) with Kosta Koufos have all sent Denver into a tailspin.
The Nuggets rely so heavily on each of their key players than an injury to just one of them had the potential to derail the entire operation; although depth would seem to position Denver to rally in the face of substantial injury, the production-by-committee approach that George Karl has embraced in lieu of having a traditional superstar requires a number of well-functioning cogs operating in perfect, mechanical harmony.
There are capable players waiting for more minutes, but overall the problems compound with each ailment, pushing Denver further and further away from their on-court ideals.
The Nuggets now appear to be the most likely of the Western Conference playoff teams to fall out of the postseason picture entirely, giving way to a Suns (one game back) or Jazz (1.5 games back) team nipping at their heels. It's obviously not set in stone that Denver will slide out of the playoffs, but losses to both the Hornets and Raptors within a week's time don't bode well for their chances.
