3. Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum's play dropped off after a strong first quarter. He proved early that the upper respiratory infection wasn't limiting him, scoring 13 first-quarter points on six-of-nine shooting. But there remained something far more frustrating and dangerous. Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich started Tiago Splitter in place of DeJuan Blair because of his struggles against last week on the glass. That move, along with relentless double teams with Tim Duncan, put Bynum in a tailspin.
He attempted one shot in the second quarter. Bynum routinely saw a clogged lane when he received an entry pass. In the third quarter, Duncan swiped the ball from him on one possession, only for Bynum to later post up along the baseline and get called for traveling.
The overwhelming pressure sapped his focus in other areas too. His seven rebounds partly reflect the Spurs' strong shooting. But his zero offensive boards reflect Bynum's sudden drop in effort. Bynum may have helped kick-start the Lakers with eight third-quarter points. But his 21-point effort on eight-of-16 shooting means very little if he doesn't contribute on the glass and on defense.