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lakerbloke
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Post subject: Bynum to come off bench?
 Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 12:18 PM PST
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Lakers' Bynum off the bench?
Lakers coaches are considering having Andrew Bynum start the season on the bench if he doesn't develop an on-court rapport with Pau Gasol soon.
Kevin Ding
The Orange County Register
kding@ocregister.com Comments 0| Recommend 1
EL SEGUNDO- Welcome to Lamar Odom's starting-lineup limbo, Andrew.
Unless Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol find a flow on the floor together soon, Bynum could begin the regular season on the Lakers' bench.
"It has been mentioned," Lakers consultant Tex Winter said of the coaching staff's internal discussions. "We played pretty well last year without him."
If Lakers head coach Phil Jackson were still toting that cane around, he'd have spent most of training camp pointing it up at Bynum and Gasol, both 7 feet tall, and what they have been doing wrong as a twin-tower tandem.
"Right now, they're very clumsy; they're not working well together," Jackson said. "We've got a group that played very well together last year. There are some things that we have to discuss and see how long we drag this out – or how quickly we facilitate it, because I think we have got the ability to play exceptionally well if we use all our skill players."
Said Winter: "The complexion of our team changes considerably when you're playing Gasol and Bynum together. That's going to be a real project to work that out so both those guys can play up to their potential and really show what they can do."
OK, so one week into training camp, Bynum and Gasol aren't Astaire and Rogers – or Robinson and Duncan. This shouldn't be viewed as a major disappointment for the Lakers, who'll likely get Bynum and Gasol together as starters eventually.
Last season, Jackson didn't dwell or count on Bynum's anticipated return partly because the coach foresaw a whole lot of trouble melding Bynum to Gasol in the frontcourt. It hasn't come that easy the past week because it isn't easy.
Both big guys are used to being the first to go challenge a shot, but both can't go first anymore. With another big guy nearby, how much is each one free to stray from his assigned rebounding territory to chase and secure the ball (something that Bynum acknowledges he didn't do well enough last season)? Gasol is definitely good at the elbow and a surprisingly capable threat at the wing, yet he remains a big-time weapon at the low post and will need to figure out when to that spot away from Bynum at times.
Oh, and by the way, a dude named Kobe Bryant will most often be up there at the wing, elbow or post this season, calling for the ball. So Bynum and Gasol must navigate that, too.
Asked directly how much he wants Gasol to play center again this season, Jackson said: "It depends upon how well they work together."
The group of Gasol, Odom, Bryant, Sasha Vujacic and Derek Fisher was outstanding in finishing games late last season. Defensive ace Trevor Ariza, limited by a foot injury last season and a possibility to start instead of Odom in a frontcourt with Bynum and Gasol, could also start instead of Vujacic if Bynum begins the season on the bench.
Bear in mind how Bynum and Gasol together limits the Lakers' fast-break offense that was such a surprise smash hit last season. Jackson has been working the Lakers extensively in camp on committing even more to the running game this season, and most opponents these days are fielding smaller lineups, not bigger ones.
All the uncertainty means the exhibition opener tonight in Anaheim against Utah is the first game of many reasonably meaningful auditions. It'll also be Bynum's first real game since he hurt his left knee in mid-January, nearly a nine-month span.
To put it bluntly – and Winter always will, which is why Michael Jordan loved him – Gasol has been a lot better than Bynum in camp. (I can still hear what Tex flatly offered me last training camp about Kwame Brown: "Kwame apparently is not very tough.")
Winter said a major factor in the slow start so far has been Bynum not giving maximum effort in practice.
"He's just not exerting himself, maybe," Winter said. "And most of the other guys are. I think he just needs to play a little harder."
Bynum has said himself that practice work hasn't had him completely riveted.
"This is the first year where it's kind of a little bit boring just because we have to run through the same stuff we already know," he said.
But Winter also might be somewhat predisposed to spot Bynum's shortcomings after being critical when Bynum's work ethic was lacking the past.
"He's tremendously talented and he's really lost that baby fat," Winter said. "He has matured physically. He can run so much better than he used to. It's just a question of him learning to play a little harder, compete a little harder. I think that'll come."
It helps the Lakers' overriding optimism that Gasol has looked downright dynamic out on the wing as a face-up player. He definitely prefers playing power forward to center, and it is inevitable that Bynum and Gasol will start together – just maybe later than sooner.
"Gasol has shown signs of playing the power forward pretty well," Winter said. "He has a lot of all-around skills. And when Bynum gets with it, I think it'll work itself out."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bynu ... her-winter |
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cuckooroller
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Post subject: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 12:52 PM PST
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Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Age: 58
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Let's see. What insipid and totally inane platitude can I dig up for this one? How about, "Rome wasn't built in a day"?
It seems rather dumb to get anxious about this stuff only one week into training camp. Even braces of plow horses have to have time to get use to each other. Tempest in a teacup, and very premature to make judgments on this. |
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Steve
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Tempy
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Post subject: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 12:58 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Jul 12, 2008
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imagine if a coach said this about odom,
Winter said a major factor in the slow start so far has been Bynum not giving maximum effort in practice.
"He's just not exerting himself, maybe," Winter said. "And most of the other guys are. I think he just needs to play a little harder."
Bynum has said himself that practice work hasn't had him completely riveted.
"This is the first year where it's kind of a little bit boring just because we have to run through the same stuff we already know," he said.
everyone would be on it demanding we trade his a** because his a bum |
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Nay511 wrote:
Optimistic7292, with that name u are not optimistic.
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paosy
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Post subject: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 12:59 PM PST
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Serious Laker Fan
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
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| I guess Phil must not sit Gasol in any of the preseason games so he and Andrew will have time to create chemistry. |
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cuckooroller
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Post subject: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 01:06 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
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| I wonder how much of Bynum's performance to now in camp may be due to unconscious psychological fears about his knee? No player that I have ever heard of coming back from a complicated knee injury has ever been able to immediately put it completely out of his mind right after coming back. This is doubtless a factor, whether Bynum is aware of it or not. |
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Steve
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lakersandangels
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Post subject: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 01:19 PM PST
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Big-Time Laker Fan
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| Well hopefully tonight will shut out any thoughts of benching Bynum. I understand what Bynum is talking about when he says its boring how they do the same thing everyday. |
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gemfow
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Post subject: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 01:21 PM PST
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| Tempy: I'm glad you brought that up because I was just about to. It's sickening how some guys have attacked Odom, but I'm sure no one is going to say much about Bynum. |
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lakerbloke
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Post subject: Re: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 01:29 PM PST
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gemfow wrote:
Tempy: I'm glad you brought that up because I was just about to. It's sickening how some guys have attacked Odom, but I'm sure no one is going to say much about Bynum.
Actually, I will say something about Bynum. This kid is saying he's bored running the same stuff yet he's asking for max money? he needs to earn his max money if that is what he wants. sounds to me he will start playing harder once a new deal is inked? |
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ng24lover
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 03:18 PM PST
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| he wouldn't have gotten to where he is today if he didn't know how to work hard and if he wasn't willing to. He'll be fine. |
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userpete1037
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 04:04 PM PST
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| Bynum will be fine. Unlike Odom, he's very young with major potential to be a superstar. The Lakers will be fine and Phil is just Phil as usual. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 04:15 PM PST
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Well, Andrew must of worked very hard during the summer to come back as physically strong as he did - he looks like a body builder - that takes effort - especially for a huge guy like this.
Second, I'm not worried about them meshing - that will come and what a great problem to have. Also, how great is it that Pau is playing the power forward spot better then he played the center spot. This is great news.
Lastly, let us say Andrew comes off the bench - what a nightmare for the opposing team - like a Suns squad. When Shaq gets gassed - then Andrew comes in and destroys the middle.
But I really hope that the original plan works - the twin towers - I think if they start to click it will be a devastating combo.
If Andrew came off the bench - imagine this:
Bynum
Farmar
Sasha
Powell
Ariza
Those are your second unit guys. Good Lord. You have the third best center in the league, you have an impressive sharp shooter in Sasha, you have two very defensive minded players in Powell and Ariza and a really quick and great shooting pg in Farmar. And Andrew holding down the middle with shot blocking and rebounding. Nice second unit. |
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maxpower69
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 04:24 PM PST
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| Bynum says hes bored, just give them time in Preseason to see if they can work it out in a game. |
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chef1366
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 05:48 PM PST
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Already???
This is BS. We need the two to work together and not apart. If it takes 20 games under their belt to mesh than so be it. To play them seperately would be a big mistake IMHO.
Why put off a great thing?
Geez, only one week of practice. Calm down. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 06:45 PM PST
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| those definitely aren't good news.... 8 months waiting for the twin tower, just to see one coming of the bench.... |
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flambergex69
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Post subject: Re: RE: Bynum to come off bench?
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 09:55 PM PST
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lakerbloke wrote:
gemfow wrote:
Tempy: I'm glad you brought that up because I was just about to. It's sickening how some guys have attacked Odom, but I'm sure no one is going to say much about Bynum.
Actually, I will say something about Bynum. This kid is saying he's bored running the same stuff yet he's asking for max money? he needs to earn his max money if that is what he wants. sounds to me he will start playing harder once a new deal is inked?
I agree. I was thinking of the same thing myself. |
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Tempy
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 07, 2008 - 10:02 PM PST
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userpete1037 wrote:
Bynum will be fine. Unlike Odom, he's very young with major potential to be a superstar. The Lakers will be fine and Phil is just Phil as usual.
and how to good players become great? Through work ethic if you asked kobe are all those extra hours of practice you put in worth it, you think he will turn round and say nah id have been a superstar anyway. Yes bynum has potential but if your not working hard your not going to improve as much as you could/should. As for the comment about his contract, if you were coming up to negotiations would you. a, work hard prior to it showing your deserving, or b, say ah im not that bothered this shits boring ill work when i get my pay rise. You tell me which option is going to get you more money. |
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Nay511 wrote:
Optimistic7292, with that name u are not optimistic.
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userpete1037
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 08, 2008 - 12:29 AM PST
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Yo I don't need a lecture from you son. I'm a 35 yr. old grown man. My opinion is my opinion son. If you don't agree then just say you don't agree. I've seen plenty of blogs on here that I agree and disagree with but let me make this clear to you son, My Opininon is mine and mine only....Like I said, he's young and he'll be fine and as for his contract, that's money in the bag. He's there future in case you didn't know that. It's makes no difference if he works hard or not, although I think the kid will work his a** off but he's a 7'0". And like the ol saying, you can't teach 7'0". You know how many worthless 7'0" have come through the league, made big money and are not worth there salt but because they are tall, get paid the big bucks...ie..Shawn Bradley, Illgauskas and more. Obviously this kid will be better than those guys but whether he works hard or not won't stop him from getting paid.
PS
Nobody in this league has the work ethic of Kobe. He's the only cat with the work ethic of MJ. Drew won't be that. |
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JonathanDavid_24
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Post subject:
Posted: Oct 08, 2008 - 12:23 PM PST
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| Bynum kicked butt the other night vs the Jazz =) |
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JonathanDavid_24
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Post subject: Phil honestly considering benching Andrew Bynum? bad move..
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 - 10:56 AM PST
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gemfow
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Post subject: RE: Phil honestly considering benching Andrew Bynum? bad mov
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 - 11:00 AM PST
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| JD24: This has actually been posted already my man. |
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JonathanDavid_24
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Post subject: RE: Phil honestly considering benching Andrew Bynum? bad mov
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 - 11:02 AM PST
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