Bynum’s Big News
Remember when Andrew Bynum hit the deck on January 13th and Lakers doctors diagnosed his left kneecap dislocation as an eight-week injury? Lakers doctors projected that he would be sidelined for that duration, but Bynum’s people were generally optimistic about the timetable. Bynum’s agent told ESPN three days after the injury that he was already on the road to recovery. “He’s already focusing on his rehab,” said David Lee. Even listen to Bynum talk about the injury the night that it happened.
So it’s eight weeks after the injury and we’ve got some big news. Yesterday, Bynum ran on a treadmill for the first time in two months! Wait, what? He was supposed to be running down the lane and finishing ‘oops from Kobe. And he’s only just started to run on a treadmill? As one might imagine, that original eight-week timetable has fallen by the wayside.
Lakers spokesman John Black summed it up best: “We set a minimum of eight weeks. We didn’t set a maximum.”
Perhaps this news is discouraging to Lakers fans. But to Lakers management it might be worrisome. Here’s your 20-year old franchise center who didn’t have any significant tears in his knee – it was officially diagnosed as a “temporarily dislocated kneecap and a bone bruise” – and he is nowhere near being ready to come back.
Bynum ran for 20 minutes on a new $75,000 treadmill that simulates low gravity situations. A player can run without the pounding he would normally experience on a regular treadmill or on the court, which gives his legs a break. Black said Bynum ran at 60-65 percent of his body weight.
If L.A. gets Bynum back for the playoffs, can they forget that this ever happened and simply enjoy life with Kobe, Bynum and Gasol? Or do they harbor any concern about this kid who was a chronic underachiever until a few months ago and now can’t return from a considerable, but not structurally significant injury as his team makes a championship push?
March 12th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Prof. TX says:
No western team is invincible. The Lakers will be a little weak inside (mostly on D), the Spurs are getting older, Phoenix is adjusting and may have lost their heart, and Houston is still untested in the playoffs with this current group. The Hornets will have to learn playoff ball, the Nuggets need to play as a team, the Mavs may have lost their depth. Every team is beatable, and has a weakness to work on.
Every game in the first round will be worth watching.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
YallAllReadyKnow says:
david lee is his agent?
March 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Mike says:
Prof. TX,
No mention of the G.S. Warriors? Come on now, they currently hold the 8th seed out west by 2 games over the Nuggets.
By the way, the W’s weak spot is a huge lack of big man (mainly for defensive purposes).
March 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am
YallAllReadyKnow says:
prof tx
i guess that means ur picking utah to win the west like barkley. no?
March 12th, 2008 at 10:51 am
K Dizzle says:
it seems pretty obvious to me that because the team is winnin, they gonna take their time bringin the kid back.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am
dumdum says:
My concern with Bynum would be exactly what the article says. This kid was kind of an underacheiver until Kobe lit his behind on FIRE, so now has he lost that chip on his shoulder and lost some confidence? We’ll have to see when he gets back, but I’m thinking he just might have to get mad again to be as successful.
Someone get Kobe to say he looks like an over-stuffed Dave Chapelle or something. Post it on YouTube, and we’re back in Bid-ness!
March 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Prof. TX says:
Sorry, didn’t mean to make the list complete, just the first ones that came to me.
I’m not sure what Utah has to work on. What stopped them from advancing last year? It seems that they aren’t really bad at anything, but aren’t really great at alot either. There’s nothing wrong with being above average in most categories. No, I don’t see them in the NBA finals, but it’s hard to say why. Williams/Boozer might be the next Stockton/Malone, but neither pair won rings.
I forgot about GS. It seems like they need to control the tempo of the game to win. If they can pull their opponent into a track meet and shooting barrage, then they have a good chance (see Dallas). But if someone else can make them play a slower half-court game, then they seem to lose their advantage (see Utah).
March 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am
E$ says:
Bynum/Gasol haved played how many minutes in the Playoffs? I can’t believe the Lakers think this will work……
March 12th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Kobeef says:
People crapped on Kobe for taking shots at Bynum in the summer but like it says, that’s what a team leader does.
The Knicks should send E-City to LA for a few months of Kobe-Therapy. In time Lebron should also be able to light a fire under his team-mates but so far it hasn’t been the case…in fact some of guys look worse with Lebron than they did before they came to Cleveland (Hughes, Marshall, Jones, Smith)
March 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am
dagwaller says:
E$, Deron Williams has played as many playoff minutes as Gasol, Carl Landry isn’t Mr. Experience, nor is Gordan Giricek, and so on. Every team has some inexperienced players on it. You could argue that between Kobe, Phil and Fisher, the Lakers have almost as much experience in the playoffs as the Spurs, Mavs and Suns.
I’m more concerned about Bynum not being there. Not that the Lakers are complaining TOO much, but he definitely would’ve helped their odds. Hopefully for the Lakers sake K-Dizzle is right.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Yo E…it’s not like the Lakers are suddenly gonna fall apart the minute the Playoffs start and not be able to win any games…they’re KILLING right now (without Bynum even) and THAT’s why the Lakers think this will work! It’s going to take a really STRONG team to beat them in 7 games.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Prof. TX says:
If your team is in the east, then you have to believe that they can win a seven game series against Boston or Detroit (or both). If your team is in the west, it looks like your team needs to be capable of taking out San Antonio or the Lakers (or both).
That seems to be the real question, does your team have a way of capitalizing on the weakness of one of these higher seeds that they are likely to face? Losing a Bynum (maybe) or a Yao for the playoffs is really only a weakness if your opponent plans to attack the middle and not just take alot of mid-to-long range 2’s.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:27 am
fallinup says:
Bynum for the most part will be a non factor. Even if for some strange miracle that he is able to play by the playoffs….who knows how much wait he has gained?..and I’m pretty sure it’s harder to stay in shape when you CAN’T RUN! So the Lakers finally have him running on the “sissy” treadmill. Thats all fine and good, but he is and will be in no way ready to play…if he’s able to go in the playoffs, great…but will he be anywhere near what he was before the injury…NOPE…I think the Lakers should just worry about who they have to go right now…and hope the matchups in the very deep Western Playoffs work to their favor.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Jim says:
The Jazz have the same problem as a lot of teams: no interior defense. That could spell trouble in the playoffs, obviously. Attacking the basket and getting to the line is the only way to win a competitive series; we see that every year. A jump shooting team isn’t winning a series in the West…and GS got after the Mavs by getting to the paint–at least they shored up their defense…oh.
And it might have worked, but I don’t think a team leader by definition leads by talking to some schlubs in a mall parking lot who record him with a cell phone.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
doc says:
dumdum how was he a underachiever? What is he 19 hes ahead of schedule.And 2 months is only about 10 weeks at most so hes not that far behind.If they were stinking it up he might have been back by now but hes they future so they want him 100 percent.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
GEE...my style is a style that's not a style says:
No playoffs for the kid. He should sit it out, and come ready for next year!
March 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
t. jack says:
the have the best player in the world on their team…kobe bean bryant.
secondly, all of you out there who think bynum should be back on the court already with that dislocated knee/bone bruise either never had a kne injury or just oblivious to what that means.
first off, he’s probably 100 percent healed from the dislocated knee cap. however, it could be the bone bruise that is causing this delay and slowing down his rehab. when you have a bone bruise, there’s really no other way to treat it other than rest, icing, stim, and exercises that are geared toward strengthening the knee and all the structures around it. so for all those out there that thinks this is not a serious injury, should do some research.
secondly, kobe is a true leader and he knows how to motivate and get his teammates to do what they need to do on the court.
third, lebron will never be a leader because even though he is talented, I think that he lacks certain intangibles that would make him a true leader. if you really look at lebron when he plays, you can see how he lacks a certain confidence…he’s always looking around..almost as though his self-esteem is low.
KOBE for MVP and NBA FINALS MVP AND 2008 NBA CHAMPIONS!!!
March 12th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
dagwaller says:
t.jack, I was with you until you said “LeBron will never be a leader”. Dispensing with the “never say never” bs, keep in mind that Kobe Bryant was a TERRIBLE leader over the last few years. He was the ultimate gunner/jacker, sacrificing his team’s success for his own. He’s certainly matured…isn’t it possible for LeBron to do the same?
March 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
doc says:
T-jack should never post again or get cable so your picture gets straight on your television.What games are you talking about where Bron looks like he has low self esteem.He had me with that doctor bullshit for a minute.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
2 Easy says:
Quite frankly the Lakers can win it all without Bynum but his prescence will make it all the easier. Now for those of you who are gettin on his case, Bynum’s 20. He has at least 15 more years in the league and should not jepordize his career for a run rite now. Kobe blazed him but not with the intention of helpin lets all be aware of that, it helped but I dont think Kobe was doin it to be nice. I saw someone write that Deron has as much experience in the playoffs as Gasol… I hope you werent serious. Deron’s played almost double the games in the playoffs in 1 year (About 19 or 20)that Gasol has his whole career (about 8 or 12) and has been WAY more effective. All this being said I hope Bynum gets healthy quick because I can hear the excitement in his voice about playin wit Lamar and Pau on a digusting frontline that should honestly block out the rim like an eclipse
March 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
dagwaller says:
2Easy, Pau has played 12 playoff games over 3 years, Deron has played 17 in 1. My point wasn’t who was “WAY more effective”; my point was to respond to someone saying that the Lakers were inexperienced in the playoffs.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
dagwaller says:
And I think we’re in agreement that the Lakers have a great chance to win the whole thing. E$’s post was saying that their lack of playoff experience was the problem; my point was that every team has a couple players with lack of playoff experience.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
2 Easy says:
dagwaller – THats just one Laker and to be honest Gasol may have had limited games but he played a lot of them again SA which means he’s aware of how the best play and what their going to do to him so I like their chances
March 12th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
dagwaller says:
That’s what my point was. I thought you were slighting me when I said Deron had played the same amount of games (12 over 3 vs. 17 in 1). I wonder which matters more? Lots of 1st round games (a la T-Mac and Pau) or a single (or limited) deep run (like Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Deron, etc)?
March 12th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
E$ says:
Lakers have all their hope in #24, & in the West it won’t get them far.
Bust Jlaze, who are they killing?? Sac-Town, Portland? come on….
March 12th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
dagwaller says:
E$, hard to argue with 1st in the West.
Anyway, who do YOU have coming out of the West? I figure it’ll be the Lakers, but there are obviously about 9 good choices.
March 12th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Smitty313 says:
I don’t think they need Bynum to win a ring. But it would be a better if they had him. What’s up with Ariza.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
BustJlaze says:
dag, ariza should be back in there soon, right?
March 12th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
2 Easy says:
I personally think the experience that matters more is easily one deep run because you get the experience of winning a series and so on and so forth. Comin out of the West before the injury I would have said Houston but right now Im just not sure how deep they can go. I personally like Dallas once they get adjusted to Kidd but they only go as far as Bass & George take them.