There has been a lot about Bynum's future and most people say that he's too young and has so much potential to be a star in the future. My opinion is that he's in the right place physically, but not mentally. He has a big body with long arms, which is very valuable for a center, and when he wants to, he plays very well. Still I don't see the passion and hunger in him. A player like that will never be very good, because you have to be there mentally and physically. I'd compare Odom to him - a great body for basketball, but for him also I don't see the hunger for wins. Shows up when he wants. First, do you agree with me and do we need a player like this in the future, or would you rather want a player, who is always 100% out there hustling and playing with his heart?
Great question. This will be Bynum's 5th season in the NBA and I saw more passion from him in his rookie season dunking on Shaq than I've seen lately. What concerns me is the dropoff in his game when Gasol is on the court. Bynum should flourish with Gasol because Gasol is a great and willing passer and draws double teams in the post. Bynum needs to learn how to move without the basketball and make himself effective playing weakside offense. Bynum also needs to take a lot more pride on the defensive end and rebounding the basketball. I want to see how he performs in the playoffs this year before I can get a true sense of his future. He hasn't really had the opportunity yet because of injuries and foul trouble to be a factor in the post season.
So you can get the sense of how a player is goign to be when he is 22 and in the post season? When he isn't a top option? That is amazing.
An all-star, 1st option player. The kid is dominant as a 2nd option to Kobe when Gasol is hurt. He's only going to mature and get better as he ages if he can avoid injury.
But when Gasol is playing, he is not that good anymore. How long do we have to wait for these two to work it out? Gasol is always playing good, with or without Bynum, so it's Drew's problem. Has Bynum ever had a big game against a good team? We don't need a player who could dominate in the regular season and when it's necessary to go against Kendrick Perkins, Shaq or Dwight, he's not that good anymore. Last season he came back from the injury and had some good games in the regular season but in the playoffs Gasol needed to step up.
I think what Shape is saying is that there can be alot to be said about how Bynum takes the pressures of playoff basketball and how he plays with all that on him. That does say alot about his mentality.
Kobe airballed and tried to dominate in the playoffs at a young age. Does that also say a lot? To judge a kid @ 22 in the post season when he hasn't had a healthy season (fair game to judge the health) is a joke. To judge a kid @ 22 in the post season is even questionable. Let him finish growing and maturing.
Drew had 19 and 8 or something like that lst night against Shaq. That isn't good? Gasol and Drew are both C's. You can't play them together and expect both to dominate. Talk to Phil about that.
I think Drew can become a good second option in the future, but I don't see him as a first option, a go to guy. Those guys I usually equate to being superstars, or borderline superstars, and I just don't think Drew has the mentality to be one.
That speaks of Kobe's confidence to take those shots especially after the first airball. A lot of players in the league don't want the responsibility of taking shots under pressure. I'm not projecting Bynum's career on just a single playoff performance, but I want to see how he responds under that environment. Can he actually elevate his game like superstars do or will he fold?
