Bynum's role play
LOS ANGELES – Five months ago Kobe Bryant wanted the Los Angeles Lakers to "(bleeping) ship his ass out." So forgive Kobe Bryant if he wasn't waiting at Andrew Bynum's locker Sunday night with a bouquet of roses or, for that matter, a $4 million, 8-carat purple diamond ring.
Kobe Bryant rewarded Andrew Bynum instead with a soft tap to the back of his head as the Los Angeles Lakers' 20-year-old center walked off the court following the team's 119-109 victory over the Utah Jazz. And that was just fine with Andrew Bynum: He got more than enough love when the Staples Center's sellout crowd showered him with a standing ovation.
"I think that was the first one I've gotten for fouling out," Andrew Bynum said.
Andrew Bynum collected more than his six fouls against the Jazz's rugged frontline, scoring 15 points and taking nine rebounds in only 19 minutes. His energy, along with that of the Los Angeles Lakers' equally impressive and almost-as-young point guard, Jordan Farmar, gave Los Angeles its second victory in three nights over an elite Western Conference opponent.
"It was a really good effort on his part," Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Andrew Bynum.
What the Los Angeles Lakers need Andrew Bynum to do now is duplicate it. If they are to mend their relationship with Kobe Bryant and become a legitimate contender, Andrew Bynum will serve a significant role in one of two ways: Either he gives them their much-needed interior presence or they trade him for a more proven talent.
No other young player on L.A.'s roster is more attractive on the trade market. And no other Laker can reach Andrew Bynum's ceiling for improvement.
The Los Angeles Lakers have started Kwame Brown at center for the first three games, but few people around the league expect him to ever shed his label as one of the biggest draft busts. High-energy forward Ronny Turiaf has been a welcome addition to the rotation, but like almost all of L.A.'s big men, he is foul prone. Chris Mihm, eight years into his career, is a serviceable backup, but little else.
Andrew Bynum, as he showed Sunday, has the potential to make a difference. On advice from Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum repeatedly hurt the Jazz in the fourth quarter by cutting to the basket for dunks or lay-ins. He finished the quarter with 11 points and six rebounds, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to turn a close game into a near rout.
Jackson and Kobe Bryant were both reserved in their praise of Andrew Bynum, and for good reason: They've seen this before. Andrew Bynum played well through the first 10 games of last season only to have his production drop off significantly because he was in poor shape.
Kobe Bryant famously revealed his displeasure with Andrew Bynum this summer when, unaware he was being filmed, he told two fans he was furious the Los Angeles Lakers balked at trading their young center to New Jersey for Jason Kidd. Andrew Bynum responded by spending more time in the gym this offseason, and the Los Angeles Lakers remain hopeful his confidence and consistency will continue to grow.
"It looks like he's starting to come out of his shell a little bit," Kobe Bryant said.
Still, even Andrew Bynum didn't want to celebrate his one-night performance too much.
"I don't consider myself a monster yet," he said. "I still have a ways to go."
Three games into his third season, the clock is ticking.
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