UPDATE: From ESPN's J.A. Adande on Twitter: "Phil Jackson says Andrew Bynum will play in Game 4. 'I think he's going to be fine.'" -- Lakers head coach Phil Jackson is considering sitting Andrew Bynum for Game 4 against the Suns after the center's poor performance in Game 3 of the playoff series. Bynum, who is playing with a tear of the meniscus in his right knee, had two points, two rebounds and four fouls in the game. "I'll talk to him to see what his suggestion is about it and how he feels about it," Jackson told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I think he was ineffective. There were some things that got by him. He had one nice move in the post. Defensively I thought he was a little bit late." Bynum doesn't think he'll be replaced in the lineup. "I don't believe that's going to happen," Bynum said. "That's probably more so to motivate me and try to get me to play. "[My knee is] alright. I'm doing OK. I'm dealing with it so I can play basketball ... I got to be out here. I got to go play." ESPNLosAngeles
There is no point in benching him. Odom plays more minutes, any ways. I'm looking for the team to establish Bynum early in the game tomorrow. I'm also looking for Phoenix to double him early so he can't get going. Bynum should have a chip on his shoulder tomorrow. I think Phil is being his classic self here and trying to light a fire under Bynum's ass. We'll see.
He needs to rotate faster and stop picking up fouls in bunches. If it happens again I think the Lakers should put MBenga in the game until it's Odom's normal rotation insertion. Odom just didn't look ready to play that early into the game and Amare had a lot of confidence and rhythm by the time Odom got on the court.
@ Mbenga in there. So you're suggesting starting Mbenga? Bynum is not that bad to the point where Mbenga should be talked about. Odom is a 6th man, supposed to be ready whenever he's called upon. Bynum being in foul trouble last night had nothing to do with throwing Odom off. Odom has made a career of being consistently inconsistent. Odom didn't look ready at all last night. He has been great @ home in the playoffs, but the road is a different story for him. Maybe he'll be ready in game 4, though. I thought when you make millions of dollars playing basketball, you're supposed to be ready whenever called upon. Especially for a player who contemplated leaving to Miami for a starting gig.
Bynum will start tonight. I was suggesting starting Mbenga I just think he should play a few minutes to enforce the paint. I'd rather him pick up a foul on Amare than Odom or Gasol. Let him bully Lopez around too especially after he clocked Fisher with an elbow. Certain players can come off the bench and be ready to go, but others get a comfortable rhythm coming in at the same time each game. I think Odom is one of those types of people.
He looked especially slow in rotating last night against the pick n roll. I dont know if it was the injury, or if it was just him losing focus. I'd have a very very very short leash on him in game 5, and if he doesn't rotate well again, then give him the quick hook. I'd like him to start off on Amare though, where he'd be forced to stay at home more and not be depended on to rotate as the help defender, since he seems to be struggling with that. His man defense hasn't been nearly as poor. Plus Amare has been overpowering and out athleticism-ing Pau as well, so a different look wouldn't hurt.
Bynum's defense has been retarded the last few games. He's not dropping down to rebound or rotate and is constantly in limbo right below the free throw line. Instead of moving feet laterally to defend he's either reaching or doing a half circle motion and then trailing from behind when the ball handler goes around him. I was glad PJax chewed him a new one after he did on two consecutive defensive possessions. He can't use the injury as an excuse because he played fine at home. He's just been lazy on the defensive end and not focused on the details. I'd also like to see him take a hard foul, nothing dirty, but a good hard rake across the arms or put one of the Phoenix guards on their butt. This is one thing I miss about Shaq. I remember in those playoff games against the Spurs and Tony Parker had a strong game driving to the basket, the next game Shaq would lay the wood on him and put Parker on his back.
Yes, I've been yearning for this. Not like we need Bynum to play a whole lot of minutes anyway. I remember that Parker game, lol.
I say maybe put in Powell to defend Amare. At times, PJax put Artest on Amare, but I think the Lakers need to defend the three point line, so the perimeter defenders should stay on the perimeter. Also, as well as Kobe has played in Phoenix, he was lazy at times on defense, not respecting their shooters. DFish, IMO, has actually played the best defense for our team this series (cannot believe I just said that). We just cannot allow Dudley or JRich to get hot (I couldn't care less about Frye. He's been shooting awfully, and questions his own shot selections in the game when playing in LA. Big stage scares him).
Bynum played well last night. He got after the rebounds and altered a lot of shots in the paint. I liked his energy level a lot better than the previous two games in Phoenix. The Suns didn't have any 2nd chance opportunities last night.
