RealGM: Where Andrew Bynum is an MVP candidate

[rise]

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1202239
Are you fucking kidding me.

Anybody who thinks Bynum averages 20/10 without the advantages of Kobe and Pau commanding double-teams on a regular basis is absolutely nuts.

Discuss.

[Its_asdf]

I can see him being a far reaching candidate. I can foresee him scraping the bottom 8-10 in MVP race for one of those nba.com articles that they release weekly. That is contingent on a lot of things though, namely the development of their young guys (Turner, Holiday and Young). His team would also have to at least make the playoffs for that to happen, which can be difficult for a team currently in the Atlantic Division. Let's not forget that Bynum is still considered to be pretty injury prone.

I wouldn't say he's a candidate to win it, but he'd definitely have his name thrown out here and there if the perfect storm hits.

Edit: Also the article is written by that guy who got owned by Russell Westbrook in that press conference during the playoffs.

[NovU]

To be fair he was probably the best player on the Lakers team last season. And that was with Kobe eating up 36% ball usage. Bynum as a centerpiece, I think he can be bit better and more productive. Why not. It wasn't like Kobe was making him better.

[benji]

Why didn't you link to the article?

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/22 ... _Unleashed

[Spree#8]

Bryant may be demanding the defenders' attention, but he's also a huge ballhog. No idea how was Gasol demanding double teams last year when his role on offense was wandering around the perimeter, passing the ball around and shooting from mid-range. Also, in LA it was easy to double Bynum when he was posting, because the Lakers had terrible spacing. No way that works in Philly this year, because all the rotation perimeter players except for Turner are lethal from outside. Playing with Bryant and Gasol was both a blessing and a curse for Bynum in my opinion. The opponents did have to keep an eye on them at all times, but they also took responsibility away from Bynum and he's supposedly had some problems with staying focused and motivated.

The guy is still totally unproven as a first offensive option though. Another thing he hasn't proven - which many people seem to quickly have forgotten about - is that he can stay healthy for long. I'm not making any predictions for the Sixers this year, because not much is left of last year's team and as of yet, nobody can have an idea how those guys will come together and what success they will have. Trading Iggy is supposed to make Turner and Jrue take more of the load on their shoulders, probably with ET being the primary ballhandler. I have a pretty bad feeling about this, but I guess we'll see what happens. I probably shouldn't worry much, because Spencer Hawes will have their back if necessary.

[NovU]

No idea how was Gasol demanding double teams last year when his role on offense was wandering around the perimeter, passing the ball around and shooting from mid-range.

He played often as a facilitator because perimeter players sucked at facilitating anything.

[shadowgrin]

I probably shouldn't worry much, because Spencer Hawes will have their back if necessary.

You forget the Sixers also have Kwame Brown to carry the team.

[Radioman]

MVP is a bit overrated but he will be an All Star over the next years if he stays healthy. He has the chance to proof himself as a franchise player and i think the 76ers are stronger than last season with him on the team. In my opinion the 76ers are the team that benefited most from The Trade.

[shadowgrin]

the team that benefited most from The Trade.

Denver Nuggets.

[_Steve_]

I would be very cautious when using the term "franchise player".
Remember Granger was hailed as the Pacers savior and franchise player, something he is not.
Bynum has a fair chance of becoming a franchise player, or the next big bust if he keeps shooting 3s etc. ...

[Its_asdf]

The term franchise player has different meanings for different people. Some people view franchise players as players who your team simply chooses to build around while others use it to describe superstar level players.

[benji]

Hypothetical:
Bynum averages 21/12.
Sixers go 53-29.
Who else is the media aware of that they can deny LeBron, Durant or Love for? Surely they can't give it to a Laker. That leaves Paul and...

[Andrew]

MVP? I wouldn't say he's a lock or anything, not when there are players like LeBron, CP3 and Kobe in the league. However, on a team where he'll likely be the number one option and there aren't too many other outstanding rebounders, 20/10 is definitely not out of the question. It may not happen as efficiently without a player like Kobe to draw the defense and run the offense through, but I wouldn't rule it out. If he posts numbers like that and the Sixers fare well enough, he'll at least be in the discussion.

[Spree#8]

You forget the Sixers also have Kwame Brown to carry the team.

Absolutely. I believe that signing is the most underrated move of this offseason. What pissed me off the most about the Iggy<->Bynum swap is that Hawes and Kwame won't be starting at PF and C after all. Well, they probably will eventually, because I expect Bynum to get injured after 40 games at most, but that is just way too genius to be a backup plan.

20/10 is actually very possible for Bynum, but I don't think the Sixers will win more than 45 games even if he stays healthy, which automatically takes him out of any MVP discussions.