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Bynum giving Lakers their own Big Three
January 4, 2012
Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
Lakers ride Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant to win over Rockets.
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are the reigning Big Three in the East. But if the Lakers continue to get stellar performances from their trio of stars, Miami might have some serious competition on the Left Coast.
Andrew Bynum, playing in just his third game following a season-opening suspension, torched and bruised Houston for 21 points, 22 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead the Lakers to a 108-99 win over the Rockets on Tuesday at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant was back to his unstoppable self, scoring 37 points with eight rebounds and six assists, while Pau Gasol played through the pain of a bruised right shoulder to post 14 points and eight rebounds.
Bynum is averaging 22.6 points and 17.3 rebounds, and teammates couldn’t be more pleased after he unleashed the first 20-20 game of his seven-year career.
“Well, you didn’t see that from Andrew before,” Gasol said, “but now he’s got one, and we’ll see where he goes from here. It’s great. He has the talent to be a (top) center in this league, but he has to do it every night.
“He’s been really aggressive and really decisive …. in these three games. He’s pursuing every (loose) ball, pretty much. I’m glad to see him with this level of intensity and energy and desire because it takes desire and will.”
Those are two traits never questioned with Bryant, who continues to be remarkable when it comes to playing through injuries. The latest, a torn ligament in his right wrist that has been causing him tremendous pain, limited him to 6-of-28 shooting Sunday at Denver. He didn’t speak with the media afterward, but did tell coach Mike Brown he’d make adjustments and be back on track Tuesday.
He kept his word, shooting 14-of-29 and looking much more comfortable.
“I shortened up my follow-through a lot,” Bryant said while icing his joints. “Following all the way through was causing too much pain and restriction. I felt a lot (better) shooting because (the wrist) wasn’t catching on me. There were times I went back to my original shot with the (complete) follow-through and it caused the ball to go short. But all in all it felt pretty good.
“This is going to be something I’ll have to deal with all year, but I’m able to get around it. So from that standpoint, I’m healthy.”
Asked if he was surprised Bynum has been unstoppable in his own right, Bryant said, “I can’t say that I am.”
“We all know the amount of talent that he has, and he’s really worked on it. The thing that I really like about him is that he has an engine inside of him. He wants to do well; he wants to dominate. He has the ambition to be great, and that’s the biggest positive about him.”
Bynum also feels that his teammates and coaches believe in him, and depend on him, more than ever. He says the team is looking for him in all kinds of situations and that has built his confidence.
“I’m super-confident right now,” Bynum said. “The work I’m putting in is paying off.”
Brown agrees, and is sure his center can be even better once he gets into peak shape.
“Absolutely. He was very productive in the 38 minutes he played. His conditioning is getting better, and if he can ever get it to the point where it’s great — oh my gosh.”
Gasol is glad he’s still around to witness it. It was just about a month ago when he learned he had been included in a proposed three-team trade that would send him to Houston and bring Chris Paul from New Orleans to the Lakers. But the deal was not approved by the NBA.
Gasol said it didn’t seem strange to play against the team he might have been playing for, but the thought did cross his mind.
“I did think about it a time or two during the game, but I refocused pretty quickly and I was able to help my team win,” he said. “I’m glad I’m still a Laker and glad I can still help this team be one of the best.”
They’ll have to be more consistent on the road to be elite, and they get a major test Thursday in their own personal chamber of horrors: Portland’s Rose Garden. LA is just 4-16 in its past 20 games there, so Bryant says the Lakers must control the game from the opening tip.
“We have to dictate the pace of the game, set the momentum, which we haven’t always done there,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy up there, but hopefully we can turn it around.”
Bynum giving Lakers their own Big Three
January 4, 2012
Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE
Lakers ride Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant to win over Rockets.
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are the reigning Big Three in the East. But if the Lakers continue to get stellar performances from their trio of stars, Miami might have some serious competition on the Left Coast.
Andrew Bynum, playing in just his third game following a season-opening suspension, torched and bruised Houston for 21 points, 22 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead the Lakers to a 108-99 win over the Rockets on Tuesday at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant was back to his unstoppable self, scoring 37 points with eight rebounds and six assists, while Pau Gasol played through the pain of a bruised right shoulder to post 14 points and eight rebounds.
Bynum is averaging 22.6 points and 17.3 rebounds, and teammates couldn’t be more pleased after he unleashed the first 20-20 game of his seven-year career.
“Well, you didn’t see that from Andrew before,” Gasol said, “but now he’s got one, and we’ll see where he goes from here. It’s great. He has the talent to be a (top) center in this league, but he has to do it every night.
“He’s been really aggressive and really decisive …. in these three games. He’s pursuing every (loose) ball, pretty much. I’m glad to see him with this level of intensity and energy and desire because it takes desire and will.”
Those are two traits never questioned with Bryant, who continues to be remarkable when it comes to playing through injuries. The latest, a torn ligament in his right wrist that has been causing him tremendous pain, limited him to 6-of-28 shooting Sunday at Denver. He didn’t speak with the media afterward, but did tell coach Mike Brown he’d make adjustments and be back on track Tuesday.
He kept his word, shooting 14-of-29 and looking much more comfortable.
“I shortened up my follow-through a lot,” Bryant said while icing his joints. “Following all the way through was causing too much pain and restriction. I felt a lot (better) shooting because (the wrist) wasn’t catching on me. There were times I went back to my original shot with the (complete) follow-through and it caused the ball to go short. But all in all it felt pretty good.
“This is going to be something I’ll have to deal with all year, but I’m able to get around it. So from that standpoint, I’m healthy.”
Asked if he was surprised Bynum has been unstoppable in his own right, Bryant said, “I can’t say that I am.”
“We all know the amount of talent that he has, and he’s really worked on it. The thing that I really like about him is that he has an engine inside of him. He wants to do well; he wants to dominate. He has the ambition to be great, and that’s the biggest positive about him.”
Bynum also feels that his teammates and coaches believe in him, and depend on him, more than ever. He says the team is looking for him in all kinds of situations and that has built his confidence.
“I’m super-confident right now,” Bynum said. “The work I’m putting in is paying off.”
Brown agrees, and is sure his center can be even better once he gets into peak shape.
“Absolutely. He was very productive in the 38 minutes he played. His conditioning is getting better, and if he can ever get it to the point where it’s great — oh my gosh.”
Gasol is glad he’s still around to witness it. It was just about a month ago when he learned he had been included in a proposed three-team trade that would send him to Houston and bring Chris Paul from New Orleans to the Lakers. But the deal was not approved by the NBA.
Gasol said it didn’t seem strange to play against the team he might have been playing for, but the thought did cross his mind.
“I did think about it a time or two during the game, but I refocused pretty quickly and I was able to help my team win,” he said. “I’m glad I’m still a Laker and glad I can still help this team be one of the best.”
They’ll have to be more consistent on the road to be elite, and they get a major test Thursday in their own personal chamber of horrors: Portland’s Rose Garden. LA is just 4-16 in its past 20 games there, so Bryant says the Lakers must control the game from the opening tip.
“We have to dictate the pace of the game, set the momentum, which we haven’t always done there,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy up there, but hopefully we can turn it around.”
