Will Andrew Bynum even play in the playoffs this year?

[adidas11]

Ok, announcement on TNT that Phil Jackson said that Bynum is 3-4 weeks away from even practicing. That puts him well into the first round of the playoffs.

I'm very disturbed by this news. I'm starting to really think that Bynum will not make an appearance in the playoffs this year (even if LA makes it to the finals)

This is sounding eerily similar to the Tim Duncan "day-to-day" knee injury back in 2000. Where despite what the Spurs brass was saying to the press, Duncan had absolutely no chance of playing in the playoffs that season.

Discuss.

[timvp]

I'm surprised that he's missed this much time. An MCL injury usually isn't very serious.

[td4mvp21]

That would ing suck for the Lakers. They would still have a real good chance to win the West, though.

[ducks]

Ok, announcement on TNT that Phil Jackson said that Bynum is 3-4 weeks away from even practicing. That puts him well into the first round of the playoffs.

I'm very disturbed by this news. I'm starting to really think that Bynum will not make an appearance in the playoffs this year (even if LA makes it to the finals)

This is sounding eerily similar to the Tim Duncan "day-to-day" knee injury back in 2000. Where despite what the Spurs brass was saying to the press, Duncan had absolutely no chance of playing in the playoffs that season.

Discuss.

hate it for them

would kobe even be in the mvp talks if lakers did not steal gasol?

[adidas11]

I'm surprised that he's missed this much time. An MCL injury usually isn't very serious.

Agreed. The injury happened back in January, and at first glance, I thought it would take 4 - 6 weeks to get back in the game for him (putting him at beginning of March at the latest)

The average recovery time is 6 weeks, I believe.

[baseline bum]

If that's the case, LA better pray Ginobili's at 20% again and Cleveland takes Boston out.

[sook]

i hope he does so Yao can teach him a thing or two

[ducks]

lakers better pray tp is at 60% and duncan is at 50%

and tp finally runs out of steam carrying the spurs this season

[xtremesteven33]

Lakers wont make it out the West without Bynum.

Theyre not as good as they were last year and the Spurs have gotten deeper.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The Lakers are definitely still the favorites against the Spurs even without Bynum, come on now.

[tlongII]

I guarantee we'll take out the Lakers if Bynum isn't available. There's no question that we can win the West without him in the picture.

[TDMVPDPOY]

well his getting paid to do all

good times

[Technique]

This just in: Charles Barkley said that the Lakers cannot win without Bynum this season.

BARKLEY HAS SPOKEN.

[Ghazi]

No Bynum no championship

[timvp]

The Lakers are definitely still the favorites against the Spurs even without Bynum, come on now.

Affirmative.

[xtremesteven33]

The Lakers are definitely still the favorites against the Spurs even without Bynum, come on now.

To the casual NBA fan and most people yes.

But to many Spurs fans and to the Spurs team....they know they are a much better team than they were last year.

-George Hill
-Drew Gooden
-Roger Mason Jr
-oh yea and a HEALTHY Manu Ginoibili.


I feel confident facing the Lakers this year.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

To the casual NBA fan and most people yes.

But to many Spurs fans and to the Spurs team....they know they are a much better team than they were last year.

-George Hill
-Drew Gooden
-Roger Mason Jr
-oh yea and a HEALTHY Manu Ginoibili.


I feel confident facing the Lakers this year.

The problem with that argument is that while the Spurs are much deeper this year, the Lakers got even better as well.

That's why they have the edge.

[Ghazi]

The problem with that argument is that while the Spurs are much deeper this year, the Lakers got even better as well.

That's why they have the edge.

Technically they didn't. The numbers for a lot of their bench players went down + they lost Turiaf (eh not sure how big a deal that is).

They were much more blistering after the Gasol trade last year than they have been this year.

The thing is though, healthy Ginobili isn't a guarantee...

[xtremesteven33]

The problem with that argument is that while the Spurs are much deeper this year, the Lakers got even better as well.

That's why they have the edge.

their bench is not that great. Even PJ knows this.

Gasol is playing nearly 40 minutes a game. Lakers staff are already concerned about his stamina going into the playoffs.

Also look at it player by player and youll see that i still give the edge to the Spurs. maybe its a LITTLE biased but hey i got faith in my team.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

A year of experience for Gasol and Odom alone makes LA better.

[IronMexican]

Lakers are definitely better. I hope the Spurs knock out Houston. I don't know if LA could handle Yao for 7 games.

[024]

the lakers' window for a championship is probably open at its widest since 2004. with a healthy roster, lakers will have every piece available to win: a legitimate post player, a legitimate 7-foot center, a slashing shooting guard, veteran point guard to provide leadership, and a bench lead by odom. if the lakers have to wait until next year, odom most likely will be gone, and maybe even ariza if some team is desperate enough to overpay him. their championship window will still be open, just not as wide.

[ducks]

odom should be on the bench
that is one reason lakers bench sucks this year

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

If the Lakers don't win it all this year and Odom leaves, they might be in some trouble, but I think Bynum is coming back, there's no way an MCL injury can shelf him for the year.

[j.dizzle]

i know hes 7 feet tall & all but my in grandma is probably a quicker then this guy. He must not eat enough vitamins or some .. but in all honestly i know this wont be the same as last years outcome. Why would you rush him back at 80% when you can just wait a couple extra weeks & get him at 100%.