The Lakers With(out) Bynum
Posted on February 27, 2009
Over at TrueHoop, Henry Abbott quotes Nuggets Coach George Karl, who suggests that the Lakers have been even better without Bynum than they were with him. As Abbott points out, it is “a question to be pondered, and one many worried about before the season: Do Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol stifle each other?”
While Gasol has joined Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom in upping his production since Bynum’s absence, I think the difference has little to do with The Spaniard. So what has been the difference? Lakers fans would be quick to point to Kobe, who has a well established history of stepping up his game to carry his team when they suffer from injuries.
But if you thought that Kobe Bryant has been the biggest difference for this team in Bynum’s absence, you’d be wrong.
Filed Under Andrew Bynum, Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant, Lakers, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol | 7 Comments
Best Versus Boston?
Posted on February 10, 2009
In the aftermath of the Lakers’s second regular season victory over the Celtics, Kobe Bryant’s poor shooting night in Boston led Henry Abbott of TrueHoop to question the efficacy of Bryant’s style of play against the Celtics. Comparing him to LeBron James and glancing at shot charts, Abbott concluded that James’ ability to get to the hoop enables him to be more successful against Boston’s impressive defense.
His theory makes a lot of sense. In the NBA, getting into the paint is considered a Good Thing™, and no one does this better than LeBron James. But does it hold true in practice? Does LeBron’s ability to get closer to the basket more frequently make him more efficient and effective against the Celtics?
By expanding the sample size to a minimum of eight games and digging into each player’s performances against Boston since last May, I’ve answered the question — and the result may surprise you!