SA vs LA: Andrew Bynum is even greater without Kobe.

Posted by: SPQR on Apr 11, 2012 - 09:55 PM
lakers-blog

Yes, the title of this thread is made to a purpose. It is in direct counterpoise to a thread entitled: Andrew Bynum is an average center without Kobe Bryant.

And no, I did not put it out there because I want Kobe gone or that think we are better off without Kobe. But I did put it up there to show how premature and facile it was to judge Drew on two Kobeless games. The utter futility and incongruence of taking a great year from Drew, over so many games, then calling him mediocre, a creation of Kobe Bryant after two games.

When you see a player, often Bynum on LTB, for some odd reason, judged on two games, one subpar, one not bad, you often can only sit back and let time take care of obvious misconceptions. And one thing that any non biased observer of basketball knows, that he or she should have learned over the years is that top players are top players. That time will prove their worth, no matter the circumstance and the cries of those who are so desperate to carry out their own agenda.

It is instructive to note that many who after two whole games, jumped on and accepted this ridiculously premature and obviously flawed conception that was doomed to be discredited from its very inception with just a little passage of time are many of the same who did also did not have patience with Drew for years to learn the NBA game, gain experience, overcome his injuries. The same fans who years ago were telling us that Drew sucked, was a wasted draft pick and needed traded.

One thing about Drew’s harshest critics: they are so very premature in their condemnations and theories, they lack even a modicum of patience, and always end up wrong with the passage of time.

Definition of average: typical; common; ordinary: The average secretary couldn't handle such a workload. His grades were nothing special, only average.

Andrew Bynum is no average center. A player you could lose and not even notice. And those who think a player like Drew is dependent on Kobe to be something more than average, just haven’t been watching Drew the last few years. Or maybe they have been, but just don’t want to acknowledge the obvious.

He’s not average with Kobe Bryant and he’s not average without him. Andrew Bynum, like all superior athletes and players stands on his own skills and abilities. Yes, Kobe can make the game easier for Drew, just as Drew makes it so much easier for Kobe. It is a mutual, bilateral symbiosis of reciprocation by TWO ALL STARS, not the unilateral gift of one great player to one mediocre one.

Kobe would stand above the crowd without Drew on the team. And the same holds true for Bynum. Thus it is with all top players in any sport.

As you listened to the San Antonio announcers tonight use adjectives like, “Unstoppable,” “A monster,” “Destructive,” and others, they weren’t talking about Kobe Bryant. He wasn’t playing. They were talking about Andrew Bynum, who was playing, leading the Lakers and destroying the West leading Spurs while Kobe Bryant watched from the bench.

So over the years we have heard: Can’t rebound. No heart. Not enough emotion. Can’t score. Doesn’t care. Isn’t tough. Doesn’t have athletic ability. Doesn’t have talent. Doesn’t work on his game. Is injury prone. And in the last gasp of straws, after TWO WHOLE Bryantless games, “He is a mediocre center without Kobe Bryant.”

Next accusation that will look silly over time? We all know it will come. And some of us know how that will end too.

Don’t kid yourself; Kobe Bryant made himself what he is. He needs no other player as a crutch to prop up his skills and game. And the same thing applies to Andrew Bynum who is making himself into what he is becoming all on his own effort and talent. Don’t kid yourself about that either.

And if this team will have a chance to win a title, we will need both our top players, helping each other, playing smart ball, the way championships are won by all teams.

At the end of his average, Kobeless night, Andrew Bynum handled the double teams with aplomb, struck for an effective, in control 16 points and 30 rebounds. Yes, a career high 30. That would include games played with Kobe and without. That is also the most rebounds a player has ever had against the Spurs in that teams history. And in passing, Dwight Howard’s career high is 28.

One player led this team to a win tonight with an dominating performance over the West leader. And it wasn’t the guy sitting on the bench watching. It was the guy dominating who was on the floor playing.

If that Kobeless performance was average, someone’s going to have to rewrite the definition in a lot of dictionaries. Perhaps one of those who were saying how average Drew was after two games can go to Wikipedia tonight and begin the rewrites.

Any volunteers?