Report: Bynum could return before regular season ends

[Bufalay]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3302955&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines

Andrew Bynum might be back before the playoffs after all.

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Bynum

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who on Tuesday said Bynum would not be ready to play until the playoffs begin, said Wednesday that the center could return as early as two weeks before the start of the first round, The Los Angeles Times reported. "I threw that out there [Tuesday] to kind of take everything off the table," Jackson said, according to The Times. "We're [now] saying it was three weeks as of [last] Sunday. It would give him a week -- four games, three games."
Bynum has been out since Jan. 13, when he dislocated his left kneecap and bruised a bone landing on a teammate's foot while going for a rebound. The Lakers haven't been more specific about his recovery than saying he would be out for at least eight weeks.
But Jackson warned on Wednesday that Bynum will have to get back into game shape, having missed more than two months of playing time.
"The reality is if he comes back and he plays the Sunday game and the Tuesday game before the season's over [on Wednesday, April 16], great. It's still not going to get our rotation [settled]," he said, according to The Times. "It's going to be an exercise in kind of getting him back on the court."
Jackson also said Pau Gasol, who has been out with a sprained ankle, is on his way back to health.
"He's come around and he was actually on the court [Wednesday] shooting jumpers a little bit," Jackson said, according to the report.
In his third year, Bynum is averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.06 blocked shots. He was leading the NBA in field-goal percentage (63.6 percent) and was among the best in rebounds and blocks when he got hurt.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

 

[da_suns_fan]

I don't envy Lakers beat writers who get to endlessly analyze if what Phil Jackson is actually true or just mind games.


Regardless, they can have him. I don't fear the Lakers.

 

[TheHopToad]

The problem for the Lakers is, if he is not fully in playing shape, or is rusty, or is tentative or afraid to be aggressive for fear of reaggravating the injury, then he could be more of a detriment to the team than if he didn't play at all. Getting him acclimated back into game situations and tempo is going to be risky.

 

[WuRaider]

Good, I don't want to hear any excuses when we bounce them for the 3rd year in a row.

 

[D-Dogg]

Good, I don't want to hear any excuses when we bounce them for the 3rd year in a row.

 

[Darth Llama]

Good, I don't want to hear any excuses when we bounce them for the 3rd year in a row.

I'm praying for that matchup, believe me.

 

[arwillan]

my thoughts exactly, Donald. Along with every lakers fans on this planet, i have a total of 0 reasons to believe that the suns will eliminate the lakers this year.

 

[nowagimp]

The problem for the Lakers is, if he is not fully in playing shape, or is rusty, or is tentative or afraid to be aggressive for fear of reaggravating the injury, then he could be more of a detriment to the team than if he didn't play at all. Getting him acclimated back into game situations and tempo is going to be risky.

This is too late to get in game shape for the playoffs. That knee needs to heal and then be strengthened. Phil Jackson says alot of things that arent true, its the way he does his job, lots of mindgames. I remember the suns saying amare would be back in 4 months from the microfracture, HAHAHA! I guess ticket sales couldnt survive the truth in that case. Getting amare strong from a simple knee scope (to remove debris) the beginning of this year took 3 freakin months, not a few games. If its my money going to pay bynums guaranteed contract, Im not taking any chances with a weak knee. This is a young, very talented player that could have permanent physical damage if he reinjures that knee. Bynum is the future of the lakers in the post for perhaps 10 years.

As a suns fan, I have already written off bynum as a key contributor in this years lakers squad. The bigger question is how is gasol doing, and will there be enough time to get him strong for the playoffs? A fully recovered bynum, able to take the pounding of the NBA center position for big minutes -and hold his rebounding position- is 3 months away AFTER he hits the hardwood.

 

[D-Dogg]

my thoughts exactly, Donald. Along with every lakers fans on this planet, i have a total of 0 reasons to believe that the suns will eliminate the lakers this year.

I think the Suns could be a dangerous playoff team indeed, if everything clicks at the right time. They have the pieces to be quite dangerous, and if Shaq is healthy he'll give his all in the postseason.

Against a fully healthy Laker squad, I am not terribly concerned though. Of course anything can happen, and we won't be "fully" healthy for a while.

However, I find the assumption by some Suns fans that they will just stomp the Lakers to be myopic.

 

[padsboltsbearssuns]

I must have made a mistake - I have this bookmarked as a Suns forum. I understand that this maybe related to western conference playoffs yadda, yadda but do we always have to read about the Lakers? I'd go to Lakersground or whatever its called to find out about stuff like this. This is supposed to be Suns territory - let's keep on the subject.

 

[Renz]

I must have made a mistake - I have this bookmarked as a Suns forum. I understand that this maybe related to western conference playoffs yadda, yadda but do we always have to read about the Lakers? I'd go to Lakersground or whatever its called to find out about stuff like this. This is supposed to be Suns territory - let's keep on the subject.

Then don't open the thread. Pretty simple. Some posters in this forum obviously want to know info. on division opponents.

 

[WuRaider]

However, I find the assumption by some Suns fans that they will just stomp the Lakers to be myopic.

Stomp? Not this year. Your team is def better by shedding Smush and Kwame, and getting a gift from Memphis. The only reason the series went 7 two years ago was because Amare didn't play. When he did, the series went only 5. This year if they match up, it will go 6.

I'm not trying to imply that the Suns will murder the Lakers if they match up but they will win. This team just has too many weapons for the Lakers. If you think Pau is going to handle Amare, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Outside of your big 4, I see a bunch of role players who are going to get tentative when the pressure is on.

 

[WuRaider]

my thoughts exactly, Donald. Along with every lakers fans on this planet, i have a total of 0 reasons to believe that the suns will eliminate the lakers this year.

Buy yourself a laker jersey.

 

[TheHopToad]

This is supposed to be Suns territory - let's keep on the subject.

As a true Suns fan, yes it's pretty important to keep up with what the Lakers are doing and going through. It's also relevant to the Suns.

Indeed, this is Suns territory, and part of managing your territory is knowing what your neighbor is up to and what is happening at the boundary line. And we've had plenty of border skirmishes with this particular neighbor.

Remember the famous quote: "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer".

 

[D-Dogg]

Stomp? Not this year. Your team is def better by shedding Smush and Kwame, and getting a gift from Memphis. The only reason the series went 7 two years ago was because Amare didn't play. When he did, the series went only 5. This year if they match up, it will go 6.

I'm not trying to imply that the Suns will murder the Lakers if they match up but they will win. This team just has too many weapons for the Lakers. If you think Pau is going to handle Amare, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Outside of your big 4, I see a bunch of role players who are going to get tentative when the pressure is on.

Really? Fisher isn't going to get tentative, at all. .4 proved that much. Farmar started in the playoffs last year and has proven to be a good player under pressure, leading his young UCLA team to the title game and being the only guy who showed up. Luke has played several playoff series. Sasha isn't going to be tentative either, he just doesn't play that way. Vlad would probably be tentative.

The Lakers have too many weapons for the Suns...Pau and Amare is a wash...Amare can not guard Pau any more than Pau can guard him. Bynum can handle Shaq, but Shaq will have problems guarding him. Hill can not guard Odom, no way. Raja can contain Kobe to the tune of a hard fought 30 points. Nash will destroy Fish and Fish and Farmar will make him work hard on defense.

I don't think we'll end up facing each other, though, anyway. One of our teams will probably lose before that happens.

 

[WuRaider]

Pau and Amare is a wash

If you sincerely think that, I tap out.

 

[arwillan]

Really? Fisher isn't going to get tentative, at all. .4 proved that much. Farmar started in the playoffs last year and has proven to be a good player under pressure, leading his young UCLA team to the title game and being the only guy who showed up. Luke has played several playoff series. Sasha isn't going to be tentative either, he just doesn't play that way. Vlad would probably be tentative.

The Lakers have too many weapons for the Suns...Pau and Amare is a wash...Amare can not guard Pau any more than Pau can guard him. Bynum can handle Shaq, but Shaq will have problems guarding him. Hill can not guard Odom, no way. Raja can contain Kobe to the tune of a hard fought 30 points. Nash will destroy Fish and Fish and Farmar will make him work hard on defense.

I don't think we'll end up facing each other, though, anyway. One of our teams will probably lose before that happens.

i haven't seen enough of bynum vs shaq to make a judgement on that matchup. may i also point out that odom vs hill is probably a wash too. Neither of them can really guard each other. That is assuming that Bynum returns to the starting lineup, and that lamar moves to the SF position. I think if the two teams meet, it will be the best series we'll see this post-season, which is really saying something. That being said, i doubt these two meet until the WCF, if at all. Judging by how the lakers have beaten the suns with Bynum in the lineup as well as without him there, i think they will easily be the favorite to win. If the lakers stay healthy, they are the last team in the west that i want to face.

 

[arwillan]

If you sincerely think that, I tap out.

he's right, to an extent. Amare can not guard Pau, and Pau can not guard Amare. i see nothing wrong with that statement.

 

[joshstmarie]

my thoughts exactly, Donald. Along with every lakers fans on this planet, i have a total of 0 reasons to believe that the suns will eliminate the lakers this year.

0 reasons? why do you even watch the suns then?

I really hate your kind of attitude.

 

[D-Dogg]

If you sincerely think that, I tap out.

Amare will score like the dickens, but he'll also give Pau a good 20 points plus at the least. . He may score more than Pau, but Pau will set up the offense and flow better than Amare. Pau is a terrific triangle player, and his two man game with Kobe is dangerous. Kobe also can play the pick and roll with bynum...so that alone will put the pressure on Nash and Shaq to defend a play they can't defend, and really put backside pressure on Amare to help in the P&R.

So yes, Amare is the better scorer and will put up more points, but he'll have his hands full on the defensive end not only in the points that Pau scores but in the defensive thinking he's going to be forced to do.

 

[arwillan]

0 reasons? why do you even watch the suns then?

I really hate your kind of attitude.

please endow me with some knowledge that you have that makes you think that the suns can beat the lakers in a 7 game series (assuming both sides are healthy). There really are none at this point. i never said we wouldn't beat them, i just said i don't think we will. Why do i watch the suns? that's a pretty stupid question. It's because they are my favorite team, and the most entertaining team in the league on top of that. If you don't like my realistic attitude, please feel free to use the ignore feature at any time.

 

[joshstmarie]

please endow me with some knowledge that you have that makes you think that the suns can beat the lakers in a 7 game series (assuming both sides are healthy). There really are none at this point. i never said we wouldn't beat them, i just said i don't think we will. Why do i watch the suns? that's a pretty stupid question. It's because they are my favorite team, and the most entertaining team in the league on top of that. If you don't like my realistic attitude, please feel free to use the ignore feature at any time.

you call it realistic, i call it negative and pessimistic.

realistic would be, yea the lakers are defiantly improved and if we meet in the playoffs its going to be a huge test.

im not going to sit here and tell you why i think the suns have a chance to beat the lakers in a 7 game series, the roster, our playoff experience and the addition of shaq should speak for itself.

 

[nowagimp]

please endow me with some knowledge that you have that makes you think that the suns can beat the lakers in a 7 game series (assuming both sides are healthy).

There is no knowledge either way that the suns can beat the lakers healthy or that the lakers can beat the suns as presently constituted. That is unless you think the suns that lost to the 76ers, denver and utah AFTER they lost to the lakers while acclimating shaq and allowing opponents to shoot over 50% are as the same teams that has limited oppoents to 43% in the last 6 games. If the suns arent better than when shaq came aboard playing high post on offense, then yes they have no shot at beating any of the west contenders.

Perhaps even more uncertain is whether the lakers will be healthy this year for the playoffs. Bynum had a serious knee injury, far worse than amares routine scope this past fall, and amare was pushed around by even small forwards for 3 months while he regained some strength in the knee. The assumption that bynum will come back strong enough to be even close to his former self by seasons end may be the biggest assumption of all. He will need to be strong enough to bang with shaq. Without Bynum healthy, sure the suns can beat the lakers, they have no one who can even stop shaq from getting any spot he wants on the low block. On the other hand if Raja is not healthy(and maybe even if he is), kobe bryant will have a field day with the suns wing defenders. The suns are likely to get even better before the playoffs if they can stay healthy. The lakers chances at an NBA championship depend on bynum coming all the way back because even if they do get out of the west, the celtics or pistons look very tough to beat. The suns will have the same problems, they would rather see the celtics than the pistons, I suspect because Rasheed and the pistons bigs match up better against shaq and amare than do KG and the celtics bigs. Both teams have along road to go to get there and I suspect the utah Jazz will have alot to say about who gets to the NBA finals from the west.

 

[TheHopToad]

Bynum can handle Shaq, but Shaq will have problems guarding him.

Are we talking about the pre-injury Bynum or the Bynum who dislocated his kneecap and hasn't played in three months?

In the case of the former, I agree. In the latter, not so much.

 

[D-Dogg]

Are we talking about the pre-injury Bynum or the Bynum who dislocated his kneecap and hasn't played in three months?

In the case of the former, I agree. In the latter, not so much.

In all honesty, we don't know what Bynum will return like. His aggression level and trust in his kneecap is going to be key to how the Lakers look in the playoffs.