It’s easy to point the finger at the 7-foot-center considering prior to the Lakers’ win over the Raptors Sunday, Bynum hadn’t made a significant impact, but realize his last meaningful game was played on June 17th. A post first-quarter-of the-season game for the rest of the team is for all intents and purposes, Bynum’s training camp.
His first game back against the Wizards was decent, posting seven points, four rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 17 minutes. His next against Indiana was uneventful, playing 18 minutes and finishing the game with three points, three rebounds.
“My first couple of games, like I said, the game started moving fast because I had been out for so long,” Bynum said after Sunday’s win. “But now it feels like it’s slowing down a little bit. I feel a little bit more comfortable out there.”
Against the 76ers, Bynum played only 13 minutes contributing only three points and four rebounds. In fact, it was Lamar Odom who carried the Lakers on his shoulders posting a season-high 28 points in the Lakers’ victory over Philadelphia on 11 for 18 shooting.
This wasn’t the first time Odom has made an impact in favor of the Lakers this season, he is after all the perennial x-factor, but it may be the last time he does so—at least as a starter. While Odom has been on a tear since the start of the season, averaging a double-double and shooting at such a high percentage that he’s ranked 3rd among all players, once Bynum returns to regular season form, Odom will slide back into his role as the NBA’s top 6th man.
Next: Adding Bynum to the mix stabilizes the starting lineup
