Report: Bynum could return before regular season ends

[Treesquid PhD]

Who are the Lakers?

Isn't that the team we spank every year in the playoffs?

You know the team with Pau (0-12) Gasol and Andrew (Best center in 2007 who hasn't played) Bynum.

 

[da_suns_fan]

You know the team with Pau (0-12) Gasol and Andrew (Best center in 2007 who hasn't played) Bynum.

I think I remember them.

Oh wait....they were the team who USED to have Shaq, right?

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I think I remember them.

Oh wait....they were the team who USED to have Shaq, right?

of course that's when he was "good".

Now let's hypothetically reverse it and pretend Amare was on the Lakers and we had Gasol, what do you think Dons n' Llamy would be saying? Wash? bwhahaha, sure they would.

 

[D-Dogg]

of course that's when he was "good".

Now let's hypothetically reverse it and pretend Amare was on the Lakers and we had Gasol, what do you think Dons n' Llamy would be saying? Wash? bwhahaha, sure they would.

I clarified that since you seem to have an issue with it.

Nobody has said that Gasol = Amare. Amare is the far better scorer. He's a top ten player, IMO.

Pau is a top 30 player in the league, however, but brings vastly different things to the Lakers that fit their offensive schemes. Neither can defend. Amare will outscore Pau, but Pau makes the total offense run better and does things to facilitate others. He is more important in the flow of the offense and forcing decisions by defenders than Amare...Pau isn't going to be asked to shoulder the scoring burden...Amare is. Amare isn't going to be asked to post up and hit the cutting player, or kick out for a three...Pau is. When Amare gets the ball, he's going to try and score....when Pau gets the ball he's going to see what the defense does and adjust; shooting is often his last choice, which works perfectly in the triangle.

Pau is no longer the focal point of an offense...Kobe is that. He's a second option. He doesn't face double teams every trip like he used to. His playoff performance in the past is irrelevant, because he's no longer the "man" on the team...he's now the "man's" right hand man. HUGE difference.

 

[D-Dogg]

Who are the Lakers?

Isn't that the team we spank every year in the playoffs?

Why must people bring up history? Especially when the Lakers have spanked the suns in the playoffs like nobody's business historically.

Last year has no bearing on this year. At all.

 

[D-Dogg]

That's funny this coming from the guy who thinks Gasol and Stoudemire are a wash. I forget, how many playoff games has Gasol won in his career? Maybe we are using NCAA tournament selection committe logic.

Amare gets meaner during the playoffs Gasol turns into a poor man's Dirk, Amare will destroy Gasol.

Perhaps you could stick to the topic at hand and not bring in other, irrelevant things. No? You quoted a post about Shaq and Bynum and talked about Pau and Amare.

 

[da_suns_fan]

of course that's when he was "good".

Now let's hypothetically reverse it and pretend Amare was on the Lakers and we had Gasol, what do you think Dons n' Llamy would be saying? Wash? bwhahaha, sure they would.

I remember when Amare dropped 40-something on Gasol on Martin Luther King day last year.

But why bring up silly statistics about when these players previously went up against each other?

 

[Chaplin]

Can this be moved to the Smack Shack? I am TIRED of threads degenerating into Lakers vs. Suns idiocy.

 

[Darth Llama]

Compare all you want, but the bottom line is, Amare is the Suns #1 option, Pau is our #2. I never said that Pau was as good as Amare, but Pau can score enough to minimize the damage Amare does offensively since Amare is a soft defender. Amare is a good defender when he feels like it, which isn't often enough for the Suns. I love these Suns fans who dig up the past to mention that they beat us twice in the playoffs, but when we mention that the Lakers have 21 titles, then history doesn't matter.

You know what? You guys keep talking. You think you're gonna continue to beat the Lakers in the playoffs then good luck. We'll finish the conversation later this year.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Compare all you want, but the bottom line is, Amare is the Suns #1 option, Pau is our #2. I never said that Pau was as good as Amare, but Pau can score enough to minimize the damage Amare does offensively since Amare is a soft defender. Amare is a good defender when he feels like it, which isn't often enough for the Suns. I love these Suns fans who dig up the past to mention that they beat us twice in the playoffs, but when we mention that the Lakers have 21 titles, then history doesn't matter.

You know what? You guys keep talking. You think you're gonna continue to beat the Lakers in the playoffs then good luck. We'll finish the conversation later this year.

I think it does matter, but you can't just go giving yourself an extra seven titles can you?

btw - Im sure the Celtics would have no problem with the Lakers since they won all those titles in the 60s.

Oh wait....Magic, Bird, Kareem, McHale, Russel etc don't play anymore.

And the guy who brought the Lakers their last title plays for us now.

There's history, and then there's ANCIENT history.

 

[cobbler]

Darth....it's always the same with a team that has won exactly, wait a sec, let me get the calculator out, yes.... confirmed.... NOTHING. They have to resort to claiming division titles and/or a playoff series victory. I am always amazed how they also act like the trounced the lakers in the playoffs. One last second 3 is not dominance. I find it amusing that sus fans even bring up that series as it took them 7 games and a last second 3 to beat a mediocre at best laker team. That's kinda sad to have to resort to that as your crowning accomplishment. Yes, last year the suns had a good run but guess what, they sill won nada.

Of course Amare is a better player than Gasol. More explosive and a better scorer at the rim. Gasol is a better mid range shooter. The difference is that Gasol (theoreatically) fits better with Bynum than Amare does with Shaq. Amare is a pick and role player, a slasher. The reason Bynum owned him earlier in the season is Bynum has length around the rim. Shaq's presence in many ways inhibits Amare's movement. As defenders, both Gasol and Amare are soft. Yes, Amare can beat Gasol off the dribble but ones he gets by him....guess whos there? His ole buddy Andrew. Now gasol can also use Amare at will on the perimeter which will also take away from Amare's rebounding.

So, the point that Amare and Gasol are a wash is actually a valid assumption. Does it mean that Gasol = Amare. NO. But guess what. Its not a one on one tournament. And when you put the players in the context of the team enviroment and the systems they play i'll bet they post pretty similiar numbers.

My 2 cents.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Darth....it's always the same with a team that has won exactly, wait a sec, let me get the calculator out, yes.... confirmed.... NOTHING. They have to resort to claiming division titles and/or a playoff series victory. I am always amazed how they also act like the trounced the lakers in the playoffs. One last second 3 is not dominance. Yes, last year the suns had a good run but guess what, won nada.

Of course Amare is a better player than Gasol. More explosive and a better scorer at the rim. Gasol is a better mid range shooter. The difference is that Gasol (theoreatically) fits better with Bynum than Amare does with Shaq.

I just laughed at this one.

You know this how?

btw - Bynum won't be able to guard the smaller Amare now.

Shaq will certainly have his way with that kid.

 

[cobbler]

I just laughed at this one.

You know this how?

btw - Bynum won't be able to guard the smaller Amare now.

Shaq will certainly have his way with that kid.

It's called 30 years of playing and coaching basketball. It's called an opinion based on experience and knowledge.

And in case you didn't see the word i purposely put in paren's just to avoid such responses..... it's "theoretically"

look it up

 

[arwillan]

A lot of you tend to under estimate Shaq. I am not expecting giant dominate stats from him, but clearly on any given night he can make it difficult for ANYONE on him. Picking up fouls on guys and getting into the bonus early...

I have seen one game of Bynum, because I don't root for the Lakers. The game I saw, he had a nice spin move on Shaq, but Shaq clearly stuffed the ball down his throat the posession before...

It's all subjective until we get to a series against the 2 teams.

I just happen to think Shaq will be more of a factor in the series than Bynum.

considering that bynum and shaq haven't played each other this year, i assume that this game you saw was last year or before .Bynum is a candidate for most improved player this year because he has gotten so much better. Don't let anything of the past fool you.

 

[Bufalay]

bynum sucks

 

[cobbler]

I think Shaq will definetly have an impact. However, i think it will also be hard for him to do so consistently over a 7 game series especially when hes not even on the floor late in games due to his horrible free throw shooting. Oh wait, that's right. He will make those "When they count" *grin*

 

[cobbler]

.

There's history, and then there's ANCIENT history.

How about the most recent history. 3-1 season series.

hmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[da_suns_fan]

It's called 30 years of playing and coaching basketball. It's called an opinion based on experience and knowledge.

And in case you didn't see the word i purposely put in paren's just to avoid such responses..... it's "theoretically"

look it up

I see, well you must have won a lot of basketball games during your 30 years of playing and coaching, judging by your X's and O's analysis of why Gasol and Bynum will play better together than Amare and Shaq.

Oh wait, you didn't even address that. All you claim is that, yes, Amare will blow by Gasol every time he wants to (which we all already knew), but now Bynum will there waiting for him.

But then again, you completely forget that Bynum will have his hands full trying to contain the 320 pound monster he's going to be asked to guard (all with a bum knee, no less).

I hope the Lakers aren't seriously expecting all-nba weak side defense from the 20 year old kid who's suppose to be guarding Shaquille Oneal.

On second thought, maybe I am hoping that.

Youre so clueless to even realize that the biggest problem the Suns have against the Lakers is Odom. I guess you didn't learn much during those thirty years.

 

[cobbler]

I see, well you must have won a lot of basketball games during your 30 years of playing and coaching, judging by your X's and O's analysis of why Gasol and Bynum will play better together than Amare and Shaq.

Oh wait, you didn't even address that. All you claim is that, yes, Amare will blow by Gasol every time he wants to (which we all already knew), but now Bynum will there waiting for him.

But then again, you completely forget that Bynum will have his hands full trying to contain the 320 pound monster he's going to be asked to guard (all with a bum knee, no less).

I hope the Lakers aren't seriously expecting all-nba weak side defense from the 20 year old kid who's suppose to be guarding Shaquille Oneal.

On second thought, maybe I am hoping that.

Youre so clueless to even realize that the biggest problem the Suns have against the Lakers is Odom. I guess you didn't learn much during those thirty years.

ouuuuch.... im so hurt by your personal attacks... NOT.

I was discussing the topic introduced that was Gasol and Amare will be a wash. I certainly do not have enough time to address all your matchup problems with Odom and Kobe. They are (if we match up) going to torch your weak perimeter defense... if you can actually call it a defense.

That you diss Bynums achievements and insinuate that he is going to get used by Shaq only shows your cluelessness. Go out and poll all the GM's and anyone with any bball knowledge and ask.. right now.... you can have shaq/amare or bynum/gasol.... and lets see the results.

 

[nashman]

Shaq / Amare hands down if its about right now, and maybe even for the future because Bynum is still unproven and Gasol is soft with no D, Amare can play some D if he wants thats the thing Gasol just can't he's terrible. Bynum played well early in the season but he very well could never play at that level again you don't know. Shaq and Amare the more comfortable they get with each other will absolutely dominate teams in the paint!

 

[Bufalay]

It's called 30 years of playing and coaching basketball. It's called an opinion based on experience and knowledge.

you're old

 

[nowagimp]

That you diss Bynums achievements and insinuate that he is going to get used by Shaq only shows your cluelessness. Go out and poll all the GM's and anyone with any bball knowledge and ask.. right now.... you can have shaq/amare or bynum/gasol.... and lets see the results.

For this year, I doubt many would choose bynum/gasol over shaq/amare, for the future, yeah OK. If you wanted to frame a "lakers favorable" argument, you should have included odom at SF, then it would fly. Remember amare was first team all NBA last year, his stats/contributions just crush gasols. Bynum may be a great center in the future if he heals up. His achievements, so far, amount to 3 months of stellar play and no playoff achievements to speak of. Amare stoudemire has averaged 25/10 in the playoffs for his career on 54% FG's. Pau gasol is 20/6 on 52% for his playoff career. Bynums achievements are 95% yet to be.

 

[cobbler]

Amare can play some D if he wants thats the thing!

Can play some D if he WANTS to? And your proud to have a player that doesnt give his all? Aparently he hasnt wanted to for quite a few years now. Maybe if he used some of the energy he wastes trying to pat his stats and make highlight dunks and put it into D he could fulfill the expectations put on him.

 

[cobbler]

For this year, I doubt many would choose bynum/gasol over shaq/amare, for the future, yeah OK. If you wanted to frame a "lakers favorable" argument, you should have included odom at SF, then it would fly. Remember amare was first team all NBA last year, his stats/contributions just crush gasols. Bynum may be a great center in the future if he heals up. His achievements, so far, amount to 3 months of stellar play and no playoff achievements to speak of. Amare stoudemire has averaged 25/10 in the playoffs for his career on 54% FG's. Pau gasol is 20/6 on 52% for his playoff career. Bynums achievements are 95% yet to be.

25/10 for 54% vs. 20/6 for 52% is not a huge margin. Lets not forget that Amare had Nash feeding him a lot of bunnies and Gasol had squat in Memphis. Again, i conceede that Amare is the better player, just not a dominating difference, which is what was being commented on.

As for Bynum, of course its early. He could go down again and career could be over in a heartbeat. But his upside is huge. Shaq vs Bynum is a no brainer. If we told you we would trade you Bynum for Shaq right now... you would be salivating and you know it.

Again, the replys were in reference to amare being able to torch the lakers. I say the shaq/amare vs bynum/gasol is basically a wash as was stated by another poster. I simply agree. The mismatch that favors the lakers is the SF and SG positions. You have no answer for Odom/Kobe and i think thats a huge advantage. Of course you get the nod at PG.

 

[arwillan]

Can play some D if he WANTS to? And your proud to have a player that doesnt give his all? Aparently he hasnt wanted to for quite a few years now. Maybe if he used some of the energy he wastes trying to pat his stats and make highlight dunks and put it into D he could fulfill the expectations put on him.

He fulfills his expectations very well. we expect him to score, rebound, and block shots. He does all of those things very well (6th in the league in scoring (58% from the field), 21st in rebounding, 7th in blocks)