Lakers Bynum Far From Filling Big Shoes

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I ventured out Wednesday afternoon to the Walter Pyramid to watch the future of the Los Angeles Lakers, and, oh, is it filled with heartache and disappointment.

The future, of course, is the 18-year-old 7 footer Andrew Bynum, drafted No. 1 a year ago by the Lakers and counted on by Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak to become part of the team's sacred lineage of superstar big men that includes George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal.

Well, at this painful moment, Mr. Bynum is closer to resembling Tatum O'Neal on a basketball court than Shaquille O'Neal.

At least he was during his team's Wednesday's match against the Dallas Mavericks in which (a) he missed 6 of 7 shots, ( he had two blocked by a 6-9 forward from Texas named Brian Boddicker, &copy; he scored two points in 33 minutes, (d) he fumbled several passes out of bounds, (e) he seemed to be in a semi-comatose state and (f) he was the second tallest spectator in the building behind 7-3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Other than that, Andrew Bynum looked, well, about as disinterested in the proceedings as were some of the snoozing infants in the stands.

"What is your assessment of Bynum's lame performance?" I asked the Lakers coach, Kurt Rambis.

"Did you say lame performance?" repeated Rambis.

"Yes, I did," I answered.

"Well, he was lethargic out there, no doubt," conceded Rambis. "It was obvious he was tired. I think all the practices we've had and the fact we've played four games in five days just caught up with him. He's got to get used this kind of grind that is routine during the NBA season."

OK, Andrew Bynum might have had an excuse for his horrendous work, and he did quite respectable in the Lakers' previous two games when he collected 39 points and 21 rebounds, and he didn't have the Lakers' recent No. 1 pick, Jordan Farmar feeding him in this one (Farmar sat it out with a strained groin).

The Lakers, of course, preach patience with Bynum, and point to his tender age and inexperience.

What self-deception!

I'd have made that Ron Artest for Lamar Odom and Bynum trade last season with the Indiana Pacers in about as much time as it takes Mr. Bynum to fall asleep, an art which he seems to have mastered while shuffling slowly up and down the hardwoods.

Maybe one day Andrew Bynum will develop into a dominant center.

And maybe one day I'll wind up marrying Scarlett Johansson. . .

An interested Pyramid courtside observer was my old pal James Casey, who I first met in the 1970s when he worked for Don King and who later pulled off one of the legendary coups in sports agent history - somehow in 1991 securing a four year, $20 million contract for the notoriously underachieving and undeserving Benoit Benjamin, with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Casey now serves as a consultant to a lot of NBA players, and is in the radio business with the Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce, doing a daily Internet show on theicn.com between 1-2 p.m. . .

One of the most impressive Lakers players Wednesday was Marcus Slaughter, who had 16 points and 7 rebounds. He's a 6-9 free agent forward from San Diego State whose father is Dwight Slaughter, who played with Raymond Lewis at both Verbum Dei and Cal State Los Angeles. . .

I've seen backboards shattered before by powerful dunks, but never have I seen the entire hoop apparatus buckle and collapse almost to the floor as was the case during the Lakers-Mavericks match after the Lakers' high-leaping 6-5 rookie forward from George Washington, Danilo Pinnock, slammed one spectacularly through the nets. Pyramid personnel quickly cranked the hoop back to its normal 10 foot height, amid cheers from the amused crowd. . .

I've seen some terrific baton twirlers over the years, but none more remarkable than a 17-year-old, 5-10 blonde named Kristen Brunleu, who will be a senior at Orange Lutheran High this fall. She put on quite a halftime show Wednesday, befitting a four-time World Open Baton champion. Incredibly, she didn't let one baton fall to the floor, even though she used as many as three during her compelling act. . .

It's not too surprising the Summer Pro League PA announcer, John Tyler, is so theatrically entertaining. The guy spent the 2002-2003 season performing such chores for the Harlem Globetrotters. . .

Ah, the Showtime Laker memories become vividly alive when I see John Younesi's top SPL aide, Dan Borgmeyeo, walking around the Pyramid. He was the head usher at the Forum press lounge throughout the 1980s, and he graciously always allowed the many members of my then massive posse into that thrilling place that brimmed with celebrities and was supposed to be off limits to the public. . . </div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brasco:</div><div class="quote_post">Does anyone think andrew bynum could have really benefited from going to college? besides being really young 17, his body was not fully devleoped at all and probably still isn't. He could have actually bennefited from the age restriction they now have.</div>

College will always benefit any player. Right now Bynum is still struggling with his conditioning. You would think a 19 year old would have plenty of energy to play a full game. Either he's burning out because he's not pacing himself and running on pure adrenaline, or he's not putting in the work to improve his cardiovascular.

As far as strength, Bynum has made strides. He's huge now, here's a pic from this year's summer leaguer, curteosy of Popcorn Machine from LG.

 

I don't care how old you are, your body's going to get tired. He had one bad summer league game, and he's horrible now? He's tired. Anybody can get tired, so why all the hate?

 

I'm not saying he shouldn't be conditioned. But all players get tired. When Kobe goes into those aweful shooting funks, it's because he's tired. When players start missing their shots, it's because their tired. The only reason why Bynum is getting heat for being tired is because (a)the Lakers have a lot riding on him in the future, (b)he plays in L.A., and &copy;he's supposed to be the next dominant thing.

 

I think, in the future, Bynum and Farmar are going to be one hell of a duo. Is Bynum going to be a player who can win you a championship by himself? No. From day one, I've predicted Bynum, at full potential, as a Jermaine O'neal type player. Someone who can give you 20-24 PPG, 11-13 RPG, and 2-3 BPG, but will need a solid team around them. He'll be the anchor of our team, but not the only reason that we win (if we do). Farmar is a great addition to put around him, a great way to begin the pieces of the future.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NTC187:</div><div class="quote_post">sorry, but I cant ever see Andrew Bynum averaging 20+ & 10, 15 & 7 maybe, but nothing more than that. Although I think realistically, he'll put up Chris Mihm like numbers.</div>

Why's that? Do you watch a lot of Bynum over there in Australia? Didn't know he was so popular.

AKIRA, I don't know if Bynum will be a Laker when he hits his prime, but I think we can expect some serious production out of him in 3-4 years. He's still young, only 18, soon to be 19.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">You're not making any sense.

You snap back at NTC187 cause he says he can't see him producing Jermaine O'Neal numbers by saying "why's that?", yet I could ask you the same question about your statements...why is it that you believe Bynum WILL have Jermaine O'Neal numbers?

Even if you did watch Andrew Bynum play in every game he was sent into (usually during garbage time of course), what brilliant flashes has he shown to deserve that kind of comparision? First of all, until he improves his own conditioning and becomes a lot less excited playing out there and acting like an immature kid (ala the Shaq altercation), I don't believe in any bullcrap the Lakers organization are feeding thier fans. </div>

It's not about what Bynum's shown in games. And was Bynum really the immature one? Shaq's how old? He acted like the child, not Bynum. Bynum's being mentored every single day by Kareem Abdul-Jabar. He see's something in the kid, and coming from someone like Jabar that means a lot. Bynum has improved greatly in this league. When he came into the league, he couldn't bench 150, now he's putting up 250+ with ease. He's only 18, and his body is getting bigger and bigger, his stamina will eventually catch up.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He will never replace Shaq, he will never be the second coming dmoninant center the Lakers are looking for (I'm not saying you claim that but there are people out there who believe in that) and I'm quite sure he will be traded if his progression does not improve in the next 3 or so years. </div>

How do you know he'll never be a dominant force? He has all the tools to be. It's very possible, with his attitude, that he could become one.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I wish the kid all the best but until he produces I have serious doubts about him. I just don't want another Kwame Brown in his Wizard days on our team....</div>

Until he produces? He can't produce if Phil doesn't give him playing time. Once again, he's only 18, and he's nothing like Kwame Brown. I have followed Brown since he was drafted. He never had the desire to learn like Bynum does, he never had the want to improve like Bynum does, he never had the training habits of Bynum. Brown could've been an absolute beast in this league, but he didn't have the heart that Bynum does.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AKIRA:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont see what kareem can teach him, not that he doesnt know what he is talking about, but maybe we need a proven big man coach like Bill Walton, he's worked with heaps of young centers and they've all improved well. I also think if bynum shows no improvement after this up coming season, that we should trade him.</div>

Bill Walton over Kareem? I'd much rather have Kareem teaching Bynum, I don't care if he's an unproven coach. The man is the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1970, a six-time NBA champion, a six-time MVP, a two-time finals mvp, SI's Sportsman of the year in 1985, and easily one of the 25 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Trade Bynum after this year? Why? He didn't get a shot last year, because Jackson doesn't play rookies. Everybody, including Kareem, was in Jackson's ear telling him to give Bynum minutes, but he didn't. Until Bynum can get 15-20 mins a game, we shouldn't even think of trading him. He has the ability to be the successor for the Lakers, we need to see what he can do before we even think about trading him.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AKIRA:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the thing, everyone is saying bynum amazing, hes got so much potential, he's so big for his age and his game is so developed for his age. Weren't the same things said about Kwame? I dont know, something makes me unsure about him, although i havent really seen much of him so i cant really judge. all im saying is, regardless of potential,age etc. if he doesnt improve drastically within the next 2,3,4 seasons i think he can be considered a bust and we trade him. maybe he'll realise his potential after a trade, like J.O, but i dont know, just a thought. i also think we should add Bill Walton, along with kareem.</div>

I can understand what you're saying about the hype around him being pretty much the same hype that Kwame got. There is one big difference though, Bynum's actually progressiong, learning. In Kwame's first offseason, he didn't work out. He went home to Georgia and got a DUI charge. I believe he did the same in his second off-season. Bynum is much more willing to improve and learn than Kwame has ever been.