Andrew Bynum

[Lakers held the Thunder to just 77 points on 42.0 percent shooting while forcing 13 turnovers.]

A follower sent this link of an SI.com article titled “OKC exploits Andrew Bynum’s weakness” which turned out to be a pretty interesting an informative read. They use an array of videos to pretty much dissect how OKC …well, dissected Bynum, saying, “No opponent game-plans around exploiting a Howard weakness on defense like it does with Bynum.” It’s always entertaining to watch Bynum on defense, since an engaged Bynum can not only protect the basket, but at times step out and guard opposing guards.

… it’s important to understand that this problem does not mean Bynum is a bad defensive player. If your biggest issue is a vulnerability to mid-range jumpers against star mid-range shooters, that’s about the least-harmful flaw you can have. Bynum is a beast of a post defender when he’s engaged, he changes piles of shots at the rim and he’s one of the best defensive rebounders in the league. The Lakers gave up about 2.5 fewer points per 100 possessions when Bynum was on the floor during the regular season, per NBA.com. And Bynum can make up for his down days on defense by scorching opponents in the post when the Lakers have the ball; he looked pretty darn powerful early in Game 1 against the Thunder on the block.

But he has weaknesses on defense, and unfortunately for the Lakers, they have run into two teams well positioned to attack those weaknesses. The Nuggets used Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee and Al Harrington to run Bynum to death in transition during the first round, and though Bynum’s effort in getting back was blatantly lacking at times, he was also at a speed disadvantage that no amount of effort was going to overcome. In this round, with the Lakers working as big underdogs to begin with, the Thunder have gone at him the same way Paul did in raining mid-range jumpers on Los Angeles in last year’s first round.

The net result: In eight playoff games, the Lakers have allowed 109 points per 100 possessions with Bynum on the floor and 98.9 when he has been on the bench, per NBA.com. That’s roughly the difference between the league’s fifth- or sixth-ranked defense and one that would have ranked last in the regular season.

P. Gasol: 23 Pts, 17 Reb, 6 Ast, 1 Stl, 4 Blk

A. Bynum: 16 Pts, 18 Reb, 6 Blk

In 29 minutes of game action, Pau Gasol scored 3 points on 1-for-10 shooting while only grabbing 3 rebounds. He was flat-footed on defense and was continuously beaten to loose balls by Kenneth Faried. He earned his team-worst minus-29 on the night. (espn)

As for Bynum … well, it seems a lot of people are growing tired of him rather quickly. The love that he received after an amazing Game 1 is all but gone after comments that seemed to have motivated the Nuggets, as well as not participating in huddles because he was, “in amazement at the shots they were hitting.” Is D12 still available?

“Maybe closeout games aren’t so easy.” - things Bynum should say at the podium

“A lot of players are arrogant, man. That was an arrogant statement. That definitely did give us fuel and motivation to win this game. We don’t like people saying stuff about us. We all looked at each and other and were like, ‘All right, let’s go.’ “

- Ty Lawson in reference to Andrew Bynum’s “Closeout games are actually kind of easy. Teams tend to fold if you come out and play hard in the beginning” quote.

　What do you think of Bynum’s statement and the impact it had on the game?

(Source: fuckyeahbynum)

foreverla:

3 down, 13 more to go… (Photos by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

More images from tonight’s game.

Lakers lose to the Nuggets in Game 3, 99-84.

Javale McGee (yes, that Javale McGee from the Wizards) outplayed Bynum, putting up 16 points and 15 rebounds on 8-12 shooting. Bynum had 18 points and 12 boards, but on 5-11 shooting, and tons of frustration on either not getting touches, or foul calls … or goaltending calls.

Ty Lawson burned the Lakers in the first half and ended the game with 25 points and 7 assists. More remarkable was the fact that he had 0 turnovers.

And after averaging 34 points in the first two games of the series, Kobe had only 22 on 7-23 shooting. Even worse were the 6 turnovers. To put that number in contrast, the entire Nuggets team had 6 turnovers. Kobe did have 6 rebounds and 6 assists however.