Article on Andrew Bynum

[Billie]

Ideal lineup: Bynum-Gasol-Odom-Bryant-Fisher (although Farmar's penetration is getting better.) So gay.

Agree. I also think that this will be the line up for this year but Farmar will have more minutes that Fish but Fish will start of course and probably next year, Farmar will then start. There's no way Kobe will play #1.

[Andrew]

Andrew,

Even with that lineup, I think the Lakers still aren't ready to win a title. And I'm a Lakers fan. After Boston carved them up in six games, who knows how Kobe and company will respond this coming season.

I don't think they'd be wise going to that lineup. I also see them going with a lineup of Bynum, Gasol and Odom up front with Kobe and Fisher in the backcourt.

[NovU]

yeah i agree with u guys, whether at sf or sg, won't make a too much difference. at sf, odom will likely to get more rebound, that's all.

i still think, he'll be traded b4 or during the season. line up sounds good but synergy won't be as great as ppl anticipate to see.

[airBerlin]

Even with that lineup, I think the Lakers still aren't ready to win a title. And I'm a Lakers fan. After Boston carved them up in six games, who knows how Kobe and company will respond this coming season.

I think if they had Bynum in the playoffs, Boston would have been lucky to get two games.

[Cartar]

I don´t think so, they probably would´ve still won

[airBerlin]

Really? I don't know... =/

[Andrew]

I think that's giving Andrew Bynum far too much credit, and the Celtics far too little.

[Lamrock]

I think it would have tipped the scales in the Lakers favor to the point of narrowly winning. I think Bynum replacing Radman in the starting 5 would help a lot, but I need a benjistat to prove it.

[benji]

Let's say you could start Gasol*-Odom-Radmanovic-Bryant-Fisher all 82 games and all 48+ minutes. They'd be expected, based on last season, to go 57-25.

Bynum-Gasol*-Odom-Bryant-Fisher? 72-10.

*I used Gasol's entire season, not just his time in LA.

[kinokong]

lol 72-10 matching the bulls record...... probably not likely....

[airBerlin]

I don't think Perkins could stop Bynum. If they decide to put KG on Bynum, then Gasol's open.
Not to mention that you now have Odom (not Radmanovic) on Pierce.
It's just overall better for the Lakers and I really don't see Boston stopping it.

[Andrew]

You make it sound like Bynum is the second coming of Wilt Chamberlain. He hardly dominated Boston during the regular season, scoring just 12 points total in the two games he played against them as well as grabbing a total of 11 rebounds. Not exactly series changing numbers, I don't think they'd have to regularly double him. That leaves Gasol playing soft, Odom disappearing and Kobe producing some very un-Kobelike numbers. Not exactly an all-conquering force.

I can see it being closer but Boston struggling to take even two games? I think they deserve more credit than that.

[airBerlin]

You can't compare those games to what they had in the playoffs. They didn't even have Gasol at the time! Besides, one of those games Bynum only took two shots, both of which he made. He was also flawless from the free throw line. No, I don't think he's the "second coming" of Wilt Chamberlain, but he's definitely one of the better centers in the league right now.

Also, the games Los Angeles lost were fairly close (besides Boston's fourth win). They only lost by like six points, if you don't think Bynum would have been enough to change that in to a win, you're crazy. I'm telling ya, if the Lakers stay healthy, they're going to roll people. Easy.

[Andrew]

You can't compare those games to what they had in the playoffs. They didn't even have Gasol at the time! Besides, one of those games Bynum only took two shots, both of which he made. He was also flawless from the free throw line. No, I don't think he's the "second coming" of Wilt Chamberlain, but he's definitely one of the better centers in the league right now.

So Gasol would transform Bynum into a player who couldn't be stopped by Perkins? Shooting 2/2 in a single game does not suggest dominance. Shooting 4/4 from the free throw line over two games does not suggest dominance. He is one of the better centres in the league right now - when he's healthy - but his presence does not guarantee a title or dominance of Boston.

Also, the games Los Angeles lost were fairly close (besides Boston's fourth win). They only lost by like six points, if you don't think Bynum would have been enough to change that in to a win, you're crazy. I'm telling ya, if the Lakers stay healthy, they're going to roll people. Easy.

But you're just adding those points to the final score, which means you're conjuring them up out of nowhere. If Bynum played in the Finals, whether he's averaging six points as he did in the two games against the Celtics or thirteen as he did on the year, those shot attempts and points have to come from somewhere. If he's scoring those points, someone else on the Lakers isn't.

[airBerlin]

So Gasol would transform Bynum into a player who couldn't be stopped by Perkins? Shooting 2/2 in a single game does not suggest dominance. Shooting 4/4 from the free throw line over two games does not suggest dominance. He is one of the better centres in the league right now - when he's healthy - but his presence does not guarantee a title or dominance of Boston.

First off, Perkins by himself, isn't going to stop Bynum with or without Gasol. Secondly, I pointed out his shooting in that game because you pointed out the amount of points he had. It's not like he shot poorly from the field. No, it may not guarantee a title or dominance over Boston but the odds are a lot higher.

But you're just adding those points to the final score, which means you're conjuring them up out of nowhere. If Bynum played in the Finals, whether he's averaging six points as he did in the two games against the Celtics or thirteen as he did on the year, those shot attempts and points have to come from somewhere.

Ok, like I've already explained, you can't compare those games to the playoffs. By doing that, all your saying is the Lakers are the same exact team with our without Gasol.

If he's scoring those points, someone else on the Lakers isn't.

That's not what I meant. What I'm saying is the Lakers were able to keep it close without Bynum. They were able to keep it close with Radmanovic starting. This is how I look at it.

Gasol / Perkins = LAL +1
Odom / Garnett = BOS +1
Radmanovic / Pierce = BOS +1
Kobe / Allen = LAL +1
Fisher / Rondo = 0

A balanced game, which is what the finals were. Compared to:

Bynum / Perkins = LAL +1
Gasol / Garnett = 0
Odom / Pierce = BOS +1 (maybe)
Kobe / Allen = LAL +1
Fisher / Rondo = 0

So 2:2 against 2:1, that's if you count Odom/Pierce as a mismatch...

[Cartar]

If Lakers might look better on paper, it doesn´t mean they are better on court
Also imo:
Gasol / Garnett = BOS +1

[Andrew]

First off, Perkins by himself, isn't going to stop Bynum with or without Gasol. Secondly, I pointed out his shooting in that game because you pointed out the amount of points he had. It's not like he shot poorly from the field. No, it may not guarantee a title or dominance over Boston but the odds are a lot higher.

My point is that he didn't display any dominance over them, so I'm not sure how it can be said without a shadow of a doubt that Bynum's presence would lead to a Lakers championship in a series in which Boston would struggle to win two games, as you asserted in your earlier post.

Ok, like I've already explained, you can't compare those games to the playoffs. By doing that, all your saying is the Lakers are the same exact team with our without Gasol.

I'm not saying that at all, I'm simply making an observation about Bynum's performance against them. How is Gasol's presence going to change whether Bynum is dominant or not? Furthermore, the Celtics have proven that they can beat the Lakers with Gasol in the lineup. Could they beat them with Bynum in the lineup as well? Possibly, though we haven't seen how Bynum and Gasol play together yet. I believe it would be closer, but I don't think a lopsided win for either team would be assured.

That's not what I meant. What I'm saying is the Lakers were able to keep it close without Bynum. They were able to keep it close with Radmanovic starting. This is how I look at it.

But what are you basing that on? You're just stating an opinion as a fact. That no more proof than my opinion. We're both spectulating here. Again, I'm not saying Bynum's presence wouldn't have helped the Lakers be more competitive or win the series, I just don't think it's a given and I don't think the Celtics would be "lucky to get two games" because they're no pushover themselves.

[putodelagoa]

At most, Bynum would bring some boarding prowess and interior intimidation to a team that sorely lacked on both. Maybe with him in the paint there would be fewer coast-to-coast layups by the Celtics crew... But evening some things up doen't suggest invincibility. It's not like Bynum is a proven playoff performer with the mental fortitude to endure the Celtics intimidation.

[airBerlin]

I'm not saying that at all, I'm simply making an observation about Bynum's performance against them. How is Gasol's presence going to change whether Bynum is dominant or not?

I haven't seen those games, but I'd assume that Kevin Garnett was probably guarding Bynum. If Gasol was in there, it'd obviously be a different story. Yes, Gasol's presence is going to affect Bynum's performance. That's how basketball works.

I will give you that we do not know how Gasol and Bynum will play together. I will also give you that we don't know how Bynum will play in the playoffs.

But what are you basing that on? You're just stating an opinion as a fact.

I don't understand what you're trying to say. I wouldn't say it's an opinion that the Lakers kept it close. They won two games and 3/4 of the games they lost were only by 10 or lower (two were 6)... I would say that's a fact, but I guess people have different views.

[Andrew]

I don't understand what you're trying to say. I wouldn't say it's an opinion that the Lakers kept it close. They won two games and 3/4 of the games they lost were only by 10 or lower (two were 6)... I would say that's a fact, but I guess people have different views.

The suggestion that the Celtics would have been lucky to get two games had Bynum been in the lineup is just your opinion. We'll never know if that's true, unless they meet up again next season with both teams featuring the same core players.

[airBerlin]

Oh yeah, of course.

[NovU]

oh boys. imo, bynum's just big potential for now. for sure, he showed some talent early in the seaon b4 getting injured but he's still a kid. making assumption, that lakers would have won in the final with bynum is just stupid. could have made a bit of difference, but not to the extent where lakers could have dominated celtics.

[Indy]

Boston's defense was too good for Bynum to have made a difference. Even though it went 6 games, the series wasn't even as close as that indicated. Boston was the far superior team.

[el badman]

I'm really not as optimistic as everyone else seems to be about Bynum. He wouldn't be the first showing some highlights of real talent one year, and become pretty much useless after overcoming injuries. It's not even because I despise the Lakers, but I don't think Bynum will have such a great season. I just predict him to be a "better David Harrison" for now, but maybe he'll prove me wrong.

[wazee]

Bynum still has a lot to learn.. Give him 3,4,5 more years, and he may be a dominating presence in the NBA..

Defense wins championships.. Garnett would eat him alive.. haha!