Bynum-Is not cleared to play quite yet...

[Medvedenko]

Bynum is not yet cleared to play...may be out 6 more weeks.

[Purple & Gold]

You got a link for this? And if it's an internet rumor and not from Gumby at CL, I don't believe it. Of course if this is from Gumby then the Lakers are screwed.

:depressed :depressed

[DazedAndConfused]

And there goes our playoff hopes. Oh well, we'll get em next year.......

[Indazone]

Bynum will be a non-factor this year and through the playoffs. Even if he does happen to make it back, he hasn't logged enough minutes to find his rhythm and learn to play with his teammates.

[Purple & Gold]

Daily News does not agree with 6 weeks.


Bynum gets evaluation: Andrew Bynum flew to NewYork on Wednesday to be evaluated by Dr. David Altchek, a knee specialist who operated on him in high school and serves as the New York Mets team doctor. Jackson said Bynum would fly back to LosAngeles today and if everything goes well, will try to practice on Saturday. His status for Sunday's game will be determined after that.

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_8871712?source=rss

[DazedAndConfused]

He's just done for the season. The Lakers aren't going to bring him back 6 weeks from now. Makes no sense.

Best we can hope for is that we get out of the 1st round, maybe 2nd round or WCF if we are lucky and get some good experience for the team. Next year we make the push.

[Purple & Gold]

Bynum will be a non-factor this year and through the playoffs. Even if he does happen to make it back, he hasn't logged enough minutes to find his rhythm and learn to play with his teammates.

Bynum is smart enough and the Lakers are good enough were average contribution from him is enough for the Lakers to win. Of course if he doesn't play at all then the Lakers are screwed.

[Purple & Gold]

He's just done for the season. The Lakers aren't going to bring him back 6 weeks from now. Makes no sense.

Best we can hope for is that we get out of the 1st round, maybe 2nd round or WCF if we are lucky and get some good experience for the team. Next year we make the push.

If it's actually 6 weeks then yes he's done. No use playing him, might as well sit him out and start fresh next year. Still not sold on this 6 weeks yet. Some type of credible source needs to have said it. Haven't heard anything on 570 yet either.

[DazedAndConfused]

Bynum is going to be our center for the next 10-15 years. The Lakers aren't taking any risks with him. If he's not 100% he won't play. Bynum will not suit up this season, I guarantee that.

[clambake]

i heard he would be suited up for the spurs game.

[DazedAndConfused]

Nope he is done. Bynum is done for the season. Not coming back.

The Laker medical staff is one of the worst in the league. They ruined Karl Malone's career when they misdiagnosed a ligament tear and have yet to bring any player back in the last three years on time. I really hope Buss takes a hard look at his medical staff and fires them all and gets in some new blood. Fuck go buy the PHX staff, they are working miracles over there.

[Purple & Gold]

Bynum is going to be our center for the next 10-15 years. The Lakers aren't taking any risks with him. If he's not 100% he won't play. Bynum will not suit up this season, I guarantee that.

I agree his career is much more important than this year. If he can't play he can't play. No need to risk anything. I still don't know where this 6 weeks is coming from other than Emplay. I still consider this an internet rumor.

[Purple & Gold]

Nope he is done. Bynum is done for the season. Not coming back.

The Laker medical staff is one of the worst in the league. They ruined Karl Malone's career when they misdiagnosed a ligament tear and have yet to bring any player back in the last three years on time. I really hope Buss takes a hard look at his medical staff and fires them all and gets in some new blood. Fuck go buy the PHX staff, they are working miracles over there.

I have a friend that was a Laker trainer back in the 90's. He would tell me that Vitti wasn't that good at all. He was actually shocked he had the job he had. I thought he was just pissed cause Byron didn't take him to NJ, but it looks like he was right all along. :depressed

[happy]

haha, you lakers chodes are bout as cool as AIDS dah!! lakers aint shit.. "we'll make the push next year" haaahhahahaahah :lmao

[tlongII]

I'm willing to bet that Greg Oden's knee is in better shape than Bynum's.

[Purple & Gold]

:blah :blah :blah :blah :blah

You trying to say something?? Can't understand the garbage coming out of your mouth. Did Duncan find the fountain of youth between last nights game and now?

[Purple & Gold]

I'm willing to bet that Greg Oden's knee is in better shape than Bynum's.

Maybe so. I bet Oden's ready to play now. Still wouldn't trade Bynum for Oden though.

[Medvedenko]

Who knows really....
Bynum was playing 1 on 1 and throwing up dunks and running around....still different than the banging he'll take on the court. He's not cleared yet......oh well, go with the team they have now and adapt.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

I'm willing to bet that Greg Oden's couch is in worse shape than Bynum's.
Fixed.

[Shank]

Is there a Youtube mix of him sitting around, jogging in a pool and shelling out these repeated setbacks? Because that would be badass.

[Jack Sommersset]

Bynum will help the Lakers when he comes back. I don't think they will need much help when playoffs starts Odom, Kobe and Gasol will be ready for a run. Any help Bynum gives will make it even tougher. Watch out every team if Bynum gets close to where he was at before injury. Kobe is a bad bad man.

[happy]

You trying to say something?? Can't understand the garbage coming out of your mouth. Did Duncan find the fountain of youth between last nights game and now?
we're the defending champs dah, topatha mountain dah, no worries up here, but listenin to you faggot fucks makes the view from the top that much sweeter dah! spurs are fine, lakers have worries that they'll never reach the top again hahahahhhahhaha :blah

[Allanon]

This is the only thing I've seen. No mention of 6 weeks.



Lakers center Andrew Bynum was examined yesterday in New York
by knee specialist Dr. David Altchek and has not been cleared to progress to full practices or contact drills, it was announced today.

“This should not be seen as a setback in any way,” said Altchek. “Andrew will continue with his therapy program and workouts with the Lakers’ training staff and will continue to be monitored until he can return to playing status.”

There is no target date for Bynum’s return.

[Medvedenko]

They're not going to give a date anymore...it's going to be he plays one day or he's shelfed. Hopefully sooner than later in both regards. Mentally it's hard for the current team to know that there's a chance for Bynum to play. If he's shelfed they can band together and fight with what they have, with no distractions.

[Purple & Gold]

we're the defending champs dah, topatha mountain dah, no worries up here, but listenin to you faggot fucks makes the view from the top that much sweeter dah! spurs are fine, lakers have worries that they'll never reach the top again hahahahhhahhaha :blah

:drunk :drunk You been drinking much?? spurs are done. Outside of Manu, Tim, and Parker your team is shit. Big 3 and no role players at all ain't gonna get it done. I know you guys think Barry and Horry are gonna go in some type of time machine to save your sorry team. You might wanna ask them to save a seat for Duncan. He sure could use it.

[Gino]

This is the only thing I've seen. No mention of 6 weeks.

If hes not cleared to even participate in drills, then he's nowhere close to being ready.

Don't forget how hard it is for people to get back in game-shape either.

The Lakers should shut him down. Don't force him back and possibly screw things up.

[Purple & Gold]

So is Emplay the only person saying 6 weeks?


Cause he ain't a legit source.

[Shank]

The 6 weeks was seen on Hoopsworld first. Not sure of their source, though.

[Allanon]

If hes not cleared to even participate in drills, then he's nowhere close to being ready.

Don't forget how hard it is for people to get back in game-shape either.

The Lakers should shut him down. Don't force him back and possibly screw things up.

He's participating in drills already and light one on ones. The question is if he can do full contact practice yet. But he's been playing working on conditioning and fundamentals.

I agree in not rushing him back...that's more important in the long run. I think he's running and jumping fine...he just can't run the risk of somebody kicking his knee in some freak practice game. So he might not make it back for the 82 games but I'm still thinking he'll be back for the Playoffs.

Whether or not he contributes in the Playoffs is a different matter but Phil's good with that stuff.

[Purple & Gold]

The 6 weeks was seen on Hoopsworld first. Not sure of their source, though.

Hoopsworld is Emplay. Only one internet rumor guy I trust and he hasn't said anything yet. To go from possibly Sunday to 6 weeks is just way too long. Until something official comes out I still consider this just an internet rumor.

[duncan228]

SI chimes in:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/04/10/lakers.bynum.ap/index.html

Lakers' Bynum visits knee specialist

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Injured Lakers center Andrew Bynum saw a knee specialist in New York and still hasn't been cleared to practice, the team announced Thursday.

"This should not be seen as a setback in any way," said Dr. David Altcheck, who examined Bynum on Wednesday. "Andrew will continue his therapy program and workouts with the Lakers' training staff and will continue to be monitored until he can return to playing status."

Bynum has been out since Jan. 13, when he dislocated his left kneecap and bruised a bone landing on a teammate's foot while going for a rebound.

No target date has been given for Bynum's return, though he has been widely expected to miss the team's final two regular-season games and return sometime during the playoffs.

Coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday there was a chance Bynum might return for a Sunday game against the San Antonio Spurs, but called it a "long shot" and said it depended on his returning to practice by Saturday, which the team had hoped for.

Bynum was having a breakout season when he was injured, averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.06 blocked shots in his third year. He was leading the NBA in field goal percentage (63.6 percent) and was among the best in rebounds and blocks.

[robbie380]

Hoopsworld is Emplay. Only one internet rumor guy I trust and he hasn't said anything yet. To go from possibly Sunday to 6 weeks is just way too long. Until something official comes out I still consider this just an internet rumor.


hoopshype is fucking worthless. however, in this case with bynum visiting a knee specialist all the way across the country days before he was rumored to be back you have to think there is something to it. i've never had a dislocated knee cap but i have had 2 acl reconstructions on the same knee and microfracture and i can tell you that if he is still needed to see a doc (all the way across the country) then he isn't close to returning. if he is close then i am an idiot. the lake show should shut him down immediately and get him healthy. everyone on that team will be back next year and it would be idiotic to put this kid's career in jeopardy for the playoffs this year.

[DazedAndConfused]

I agree with Robbie, where there is smoke there is fire. Think about it, if the Lakers had said Bynum is out for the season from the get-go the entire fanbase would have known the Lakers chance for a playoff push was very small. Instead they kept dragging the fans along so they could sell tickets and now that the tickets are all sold we are finally seeing the truth.

[MajicMan]

we're the defending champs dah, topatha mountain dah, no worries up here, but listenin to you faggot fucks makes the view from the top that much sweeter dah! spurs are fine, lakers have worries that they'll never reach the top again hahahahhhahhaha :blah
Stupid fuck you guys have never defended the title.

[mystargtr34]

The 4 'ships mean nothin without defending one huh... like Pop said... i dont give a shit.

[remingtonbo2001]

Why does everyone want to rush this kid back.

He had a serious knee injury. If you bring him back too soon, it's very possible his career may be in jeparody.

Why risk? I'd shelve him and wait to make a push next year. It's not like LA is completely out. Everyone would need to step it up a level.

[Medvedenko]

Why does everyone want to rush this kid back.

He had a serious knee injury. If you bring him back too soon, it's very possible his career may be in jeparody.

Why risk? I'd shelve him and wait to make a push next year. It's not like LA is completely out. Everyone would need to step it up a level.

Yup I agree, if there's any doubt than put on the shelf, wrap him up and open the box come next season.

Ariza is also practising with the team and playing pretty well, he may be back soon as well.

[DazedAndConfused]

Ariza coming back would be very nice for this team. Having solid perimeter defenders in Kobe and Ariza will help.

[LakeShow]

The Lakers might as well just suck it up for now and go with what they have. I'm about tired of all these false reports on Bynum. If he comes back, great. If not, I still have faith in this team.

Great news about Ariza! :tu

[happy]

:drunk :drunk You been drinking much?? spurs are done. Outside of Manu, Tim, and Parker your team is shit. Big 3 and no role players at all ain't gonna get it done. I know you guys think Barry and Horry are gonna go in some type of time machine to save your sorry team. You might wanna ask them to save a seat for Duncan. He sure could use it.
last time i checked spurs were still champs and dont give a shit about reglar season dah! everyonell show up in the postseason dah.

[Gino]

Why does everyone want to rush this kid back.

He had a serious knee injury. If you bring him back too soon, it's very possible his career may be in jeparody.

Why risk? I'd shelve him and wait to make a push next year. It's not like LA is completely out. Everyone would need to step it up a level.

Because if you have the chance to win it all, you need to go for it.

What if Gasol in the playoffs next year and Odom is gone the year after that. This year could be the Lakers best chance. Im not saying those things will happen, but you never know.

You never want to waste an opportunity.

[remingtonbo2001]

Because if you have the chance to win it all, you need to go for it.

What if Gasol in the playoffs next year and Odom is gone the year after that. This year could be the Lakers best chance. Im not saying those things will happen, but you never know.

You never want to waste an opportunity.

What if the opportunity comes at such a high price?

Like a high risk of long-term knee damage. Something which could be the difference between stardom, or confined to being a bit player. The West is difficult enough as is. There isn't any guarentee that LA would win with Bynum at 80%+.
If I'm the GM or Owner, there is no way I would risk the health of a key contributor to my team, unless he cleared 2-3 independent physicians.
Especially when it comes to recoveries from knee and back injuries.

[DazedAndConfused]

If this injury happened to anyone other than Bynum I would say it's worth the risk to try and get back as quickly as possible. But Bynum is a potential franchise center for the Lakers for the next 10-15 years. You don't fuck around with that, even if you have a chance to win it all.

The future for the Lakers is extremely bright. The core pieces in Bynum, Gasol, and Kobe are good enough to make the Lakers conteders for the next 5-6 years. Unlike the Spurs, Mavs, and Suns the Lakers window is going to be open for awhile now. As far as Odom goes he will be probably be replaced by a more traditional SF at some point, unless he can figure out a way to thrive in that role. I know Buss does not pay 4th wheels $14 mil, so he would have to take a pay cut as well.

I don't expect the Lakers to reach the Finals this year. If they do I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'm already more than pleased with how things have gone thus far.