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You obviously didn't if you think it was 2 vs 5 out there.
Al Jefferson
Andrew Bynum's Bad Knee Could Cost Lakers the Finals
By Tim Povtak
Center Andrew Bynum never really knew how valuable he was to the Los Angeles Lakers until he sat on the sideline Thursday and watched them play the Boston Celtics.
Now he knows. And so does everyone else.
The Lakers can't win the NBA Finals without him coming back.
Bynum missed all but 12 minutes with a troublesome right knee that is growing progressively worse, leaving a void Thursday that was big enough for the Celtics to rumble through, allowing them to dominate around the basket in 96-89 victory.
It's the basket Bynum usually protects. And without their man in the middle, the Lakers suddenly look vulnerable again, raising concerns for the rest of the series that is now tied at two wins apiece.
"Offensively, I don't think it's a big problem without me, but defensively we're hurting, especially with all the size they have,'' Bynum said. "Without me in there, they were just attacking the basket. I've got to get right, real quick.''
Since the playoffs began, Bynum has been playing with a meniscus tear in his right knee -- he will have surgery after the season -- learning to manage the pain and control the swelling with constant treatment.
He has started and played in all 20 playoff games, but his effectiveness dropped when the swelling unexpectedly increased on Thursday, leaving him questionable now for the rest of the series.
He had no lift in his legs and no strength in the muscles around the knee, making him more of a hindrance than a help in his short time on the court.
"It kind of sucks right now because I can't do much,'' he said. "But hopefully, it will improve again. I'll have a better idea tomorrow.''
Bynum said he expects to have his knee re-examined Friday in Boston by a specialist from New York City. Game 5 is set for Sunday, giving him two days of treatment.
He said early in the playoffs that he was given assurances that playing on the bad knee would not damage it further, but he also said he would be asking that question to the medical staff again Friday.
"I expect to be back for Sunday,'' he said. "I need to be out there. It's not so much the pain, but it's how effective I can be.''
Without Bynum, who has grown into one of the better centers in the Western Conference, the Lakers were out-rebounded, 41-34. The Celtics got 16 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points. If Bynum could have played, Celtics reserve forward "Big Baby" Glen Davis never would have scored 18 points around the basket.
"When Big Bynum is not out there, it really hurts us,'' said Lakers reserve guard Shannon Brown. "It's a big missing piece. It changes a lot of things because of his length and his size.''
Bynum averaged 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.67 blocked shots through the first three games of the Finals, negating the Celtics strength around the basket. Without Bynum, the Lakers lack the physicality of the Celtics.
"It bothered us in the second half, not having him out there,'' said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "It just wasn't there for him tonight. We're glad now we have a couple days off.''
Although Bynum, Jackson and his teammates said they expect him to play Sunday, they all said the same thing prior to Thursday's game, and it didn't happen.
The Lakers are too good and too experienced to panic over Bynum, but they also are showing concern, and with good reason.
"We didn't have that big presence in the middle, and Big Baby took full advantage of it,'' said Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who had a game-high 33 points. "We've played without him in the lineup before. I'm sure we'll figure it out. I'm not sure how yet.''
Bynum, now in his fifth NBA season, missed the playoffs in 2008 with knee problems, and the Lakers were beaten by the Celtics in the NBA Finals, for much the same reason they were beaten Thursday.
Without Bynum, it forces leaner and less physical Pau Gasol to move from power forward to center, and it gives considerable more playing time to Lamar Odom at power forward. He isn't very physical, either.
Odom also has not played well in the Finals. He had 10 points and seven rebounds in 39 minutes Thursday, but he failed to slow Davis late in the game. And he was horrible in the first two games when he got in early foul trouble.
"When he is missing, it's hard to make up for what he gives us,'' Odom said of Bynum. "We needed to do a better job of adjusting to him not being out there. We didn't do that. And that's frustrating.''
Bryant had his best offensive game of the series, getting 33 points while making six of 11 3-pointers. Yet the absence of Bynum around the basket probably contributed to his seven turnovers because he was taking more chances with the ball.
If Bynum can't play for extended minutes, it will put a heavier burden on Bryant at both ends of the court, which could disrupt a lot of things.
In all four games of this series, the team that had more rebounds also won the game. And it's doubtful the Lakers can out-rebound the Celtics without Bynum back on the court.
Bynum started the game and played six minutes before leaving. He played another four minutes in the second period. When his teammates returned to the court to start the second half, he remained in the locker room for more treatment. He looked awful in his two second-half minutes before leaving the game again.
"We had a good rhythm with him in the lineup (in the playoffs),'' Bryant said. "We'll just have to figure it out.''
You obviously didn't if you think it was 2 vs 5 out there.
Al Jefferson
Guy, back on top of the world. yesterday:::CP3/Okafor for Bynum and fillers this summer.
"Oh, I'm so afraid."
"Oh, I think I myself."
"Oh, Cubby, your Lakers are so mighty. And you're so cute."
"Oh."
Thank you, Bryant.
But, it turns out his meniscus has been torn since last June. We only were privy to that information when he further tore it in the OKC series.
No explanation as to why it wasn't repaired at the time. Just the news release and ladeeladeeda.
At least that horse still plays defense even on one hoof. What's funny is you calling Bynum a bum right after sucking off a chubby, drunken driving Al Jefferson that just recently tore his ACL
It's been torn since last June? Wtf? That's really in stupid not to get it repaired then.
Of course it was stupid. And nobody asks nary a question about it since? It's BS.
What they say on the broadcasts suggest that Bynum could have chosen surgery right away but he didn't want to risk missing the NBA Finals. It's a risk-reward type of thing obviously because not only is he waiting to get surgery on it, but he's playing on it, which could do further and future damage to the knee.
However, if it was since last June and he didn't get it repaired, you'd have to assume it was because they didn't know about it until he tore it further more recently. Otherwise, from an organization standpoint, they'd be risking his career by not having addressed it sooner.
If you are building a team around someone or trading for talent, it is Bosh easily. If you are looking for fit, then Bynum fits LA better.
But in the NBA, you don't pass up on better talent for the most part. Bosh would be a very good trade chip as well. Certainly more than Bynum.
Hi, dumpling.
Dig that grave deep.
The stiff you can't stop obsessing over. The same stiff that you believe will fufill your RuPaulish wet dream.
Bynum has more defensive talent in his left big toe than Bosh has in his entire existence.
Bosh has peaked and if he gets the max it will be almost impossible to move for fair value.
Bynum is 3-5 years away from his peak. The last year of his contract is a team option which would be way ing easier to move than a 5-6 year max Bosh albatross.
I am a long-distance runner and I tore the right medial meniscus and had to have around 20% of it removed. The rehab wasn't long, but I was told by my surgeon to stop running period if I wanted to avoid a knee replacement down the line. Needless to say my stubborn ass is still running (moderately) but I'm pretty damn sure it's torn again and it swells and takes a week of complete inactivity and icing to go down.
My point is Bynum is probably tearing that meniscus a little more each time he suits up. If he is having parts of it removed and it can't be repaired sooner or later than bone grinding will halt his career. From what I understand this is the other part of the meniscus than last year's tear. The Lakers will have to decide if they are going to ride this kid's talent and deal with the knee issues or deal him in exchange for another big. Bigs with his skill set don't grow on trees, but if anyone can get them it's the Laker FO.
totally agree
I remember all the assholes begging to come to LA: Richmond, Murray, Radmo, that idiot guard from Detroit who couldn't find his ass with both hands in LA, but, once he got back to Detroit was right as the mail, Radmo, Walker, etc, etc, Radmo, etc.
I think this is what you meant.....problem is, any surgery, arthroscopic or otherwise is highly invasive and requires dilligent rehab or perhaps lifestyle modification to prevent future recurrences.
Radmo
Maybe I'm wrong but I think the Lakers would win even without bynum from now on.
Probably more so if you look at it defensively. Bynum has more size, length and strength to bang down low against the bigger centers than Chris Bosh. That's a better fit when playing against teams with a legitimate center.
Offensively, Bynum is more of a traditional big who will stay down at the low block more. But probably what's more of a fit with Bynum isn't his ability or inability to play with Pau but the fact that he doesn't need a lot of shot attempts. If you add Bosh to Kobe and Gasol, now you're talking about an even more difficult distribution of shot attempts among the players on the team. Perhaps Kobe sacrifices some, but I wouldn't expect a lot. Pau has already sacrificed shot attempts since joining the Lakers and has already ed about it a few times. Bosh is the type of offensive talent you want to give shot attempts to. That's what would make it tougher, and possibly not as good a fit as Bynum, who is maybe not content with it but accepts the fact that most of his shot attempts are going to be off offensive putbacks and maybe early in the game.
But again, Bynum being a "better fit" probably goes more to what he brings to the Lakers defensively.
Lifestyle modifications like Kobe not chop blocking into his knee accidentally?
Bynum properly rehabbing or staying in shape is not an issue.
Not like I would lose any sleep over the Lakers getting RuPaul. But it's unlikely it actually happens. Enjoy the KOBYNUM era...
You know, what, even if the Lakers get CP3 and dominate the world next year... I don't care right now. Right now, it's all about holding back the evil hordes of LA
Fine, but, the next time the Celtics go down a game and Guy goes suicidal you talk his ass off the ledge, big shot.You know, what, even if the Lakers get CP3 and dominate the world next year... I don't care right now. Right now, it's all about holding back the evil hordes of LA
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