L.A. Lakers and the Growing Pains with Andrew Bynum

Most basketball coaches would list Kobe Bryant as one of the top three ‘closers’ in the NBA. Many would have Kobe Bryant at the top of their list of players to take the last shot, to try to win a game in the fourth quarter. Kobe Bryant reached this status by hoisting air balls in some games, as a young player. It is a developmental process, even for athletes with intense drive and superior athletic skills.

The Lakers may have to keep this in mind, as Andrew Bynum returns from his knee injury and experiences playoff basketball.

In Game Four of the playoff series with the Houston Rockets, the Lakers, as a team, had a miserable game. At one point, the Lakers trailed Houston by twenty nine points. And that was playing a Houston team without its star center, Yao Ming.

Andrew Bynum played over eleven minutes. He had more fouls (3) than he had points (0). In those eleven minutes, he grabbed two rebounds, one at the offensive end and on the defensive boards. There were no assists and one turnover. This is the equivalent of a couple of young Kobe Bryant air balls.

What is noticeable is that Andrew Bynum’s pre-injury form has not returned. The playoff basketball is far more intense and Andrew Bynum is limited physically in what he can do on the court. This is most evident on the second hop. Andrew Bynum is able to elevate for the first attempt at a rebound. However, if he is required to land and elevate again to try to secure the ball, the lift is just not there. Instead, the young center has to rely on positioning, angles and simply using his superior reach. It is simply experience - playoff game experience.

The question for the Lakers is how to use Andrew Bynum, as he adjusts to playoff basketball. With the possible injury to Lamar Odom in Game Four, the natural inclination would be to increase Andrew Bynum’s minutes. However, there is the delicate matter of confidence. With Houston relying on a smaller, faster lineup, will this just increase Andrew Bynum’s quick collection of fouls? The coaching staff has to find minutes for Andrew Bynum where he can impact the game in a positive manner. Meanwhile, he has to be limited to prevent the referees from seeing him as an easy foul call and the Rockets do not exploit his presence in the game. The irony becomes asking Andrew Bynum to not do too much and yet be effective in his minutes. The payoff is in the years to come. Just ask Kobe Bryant.

Catherine Forsythe