<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES ? These are the days in an NBA season when Phil Jackson is used to seeing his great teams begin flexing their substantial muscles, warming up to hoist heavy trophies and pose in spotlights of playoff glory. This season, Jackson still is seeing expansion, and on some level it has to be more satisfying to see late-season growth that is more than just oiling up. The Lakers got their first three-game winning streak since mid-January with a 101-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at Staples Center. It wasn't the most beautiful of things, which only made it more meaningful for a team Lamar Odom has lamented isn't skilled at "winning ugly." "At the end, we had to make some big plays to secure the win," Coach Jackson said, adding that most came at the defensive end, except one important Kwame Brown offensive rebound. The Lakers couldn't even get some of the plays called by Jackson from the bench aligned properly in the final 1:30 of the game, but it wasn't enough to derail a team that has previously come completely unglued at the first squeak from a wheel. "We came away with the win, and that was big for us," said guard Smush Parker, who shook off an unforced turnover with 1:32 left and came back with a steal and fastbreak dunk with 46.5 seconds left for a 95-90 lead. Both Parker and Odom have gained substantial ground in not staying down when adversity hits during games. Odom started this game 1 of 5 from the field, but was undeterred and finished the game by making five of his final six attempts. He finished 6 of 11 from the field in a 16-point game that included nine rebounds and six assists. Odom continued his torrid three-point shooting over recent weeks with three makes in six attempts from behind the arc. Two of those three-pointers came back-to- back to boost a 69-68 Lakers lead to 75-68. The Lakers never lost that lead. Jackson, who chastised Odom early in the season for taking too many three-pointers, can now see him shooting more confidently. "It's come alive," Jackson said. Kobe Bryant, who scored a game-high 43 points and made five three-pointers, pointed out after Brown's breakout game Wednesday that Brown has gotten to this point by working hard in practice. Bryant had similar statements after this game regarding Odom's shooting improvement. "He works at it every day," Bryant said. "It's one of the adjustments he's had to make to this offense, because he was never really a catch-and-shoot guy before." Odom said he particularly likes shooting the three-pointer from the top of the key - "I feel real comfortable with that shot" - and understands that if he can hit open jumpers, it will give him unlimited offensive potential." The Lakers are 37-34, their first time three games above the .500 mark since before they annoyed themselves by losing a home game to Seattle on March 12. If Andrew Bynum is Jackson's biggest problem right now, then things aren't all bad for the Lakers. But Jackson nevertheless has lost patience with the 18-year-old rookie; expect to see Ronny Turiaf get more playing time as Jackson seeks an "energy lift." Bynum is only playing because starting center Chris Mihm (severe ankle sprain) is probably out of the rest of the regular season, and Jackson needs a big body to back up Brown. The Lakers seemed on track for a rare blowout victory with a 35-22 lead after one quarter, but then the momentum ebbed with Bryant going to the bench to start the second quarter. The lineup of Bynum, Devean George, Luke Walton, Odom and Sasha Vujacic gave up a 9-0 Milwaukee run to start the second period. The Lakers couldn't get back in sync the rest of the half, as Bryant got locked into seizing upon his offensive advantage over 6-foot-3 Charlie Bell. To start the fourth quarter, Jackson had Bynum, Walton and Vujacic back out there to fill minutes, but Bryant and Odom were with them. Bryant scored the first four points of the quarter to give the Lakers an 83-73 lead. Bynum, Walton and Vujacic combined to shoot 2 for 11 from the field, and after the game Jackson singled out Bynum. "It doesn't look like we can expect a whole lot right yet," Jackson said. "We're going to have to find somebody else to come back up Kwame."</div> Source Phil may be a bit too harsh there. Bynum rarely gets minutes and Phil expects him to produce straight away. Phil should give Bynum minutes before criticizing him. It's not easy for an 18 year old to come off the bench every now and then for around 5 minutes and produce. Alot of other NBA players find this difficult, imagine how Bynum is finding it in his rookie year. I understand Phil isn't giving Bynum minutes at this stage due to the push for the playoffs but I'm sure this isn't the way to go about it. It's taken Kwame around 70 games to find his game, Phil kept his confidence in him, I don't see why he doesn't do the same for Bynum.
bynum makes too many mistakes and causes to much t/o he should develop more and play maybe next year rather than screwing up the lakers during the IMPORTANT GAMES FOR THE PLAYOFFS
This is reverse psychology PJax is using. He wants to light a fire under Bynum's butt so he brings more intensity to the court. Remember all the energy he had in the Miami and New York games? Since then he's been flat when he comes off the bench and PJax is trying to challenge him. PJax has to take some fault in breaking Bynum's rhythm, but Bynum does need to step up and take advantage of Mihm being out.
well, if phil really does hate bynum's play, then his nightmare is about to come true. with kwame and mihm out, i bet we phil will have to play him more
