After being limited to just 12 minutes in Game 4 due to swelling in his right knee, Lakers fans were bracing themselves for moving forward in the series without young center Andrew Bynum. Turns out, they may not have to go without him after all, as he has told reporters that he is playing in Game 5 tonight, saying he’s “100% sure” he’s playing.
Bynum has showed great determination through this series, playing through the pain of a torn meniscus and giving the Lakers a high level of production in his limited run. But in Game 4, it looked like the constant pounding had taken a toll on Bynum. His stride was notably affected and he had very little lift in his jump. However, Bynum had fluids from his swollen right knee drained yet again Thursday night, a process that seems to have paid off.
“The swelling will come back after game, but as long as I’m out there and affective that’s what counts. This is the biggest game,” said Bynum today.
In what is a critical game for both teams, the Lakers need all of the help they can get, so Bynum’s participation could be huge for them. He has clogged up the middle on defense, and been efficient in the low post on offense. This is also important because the Lakers won’t have to rely as heavily on Lamar Odom, who has been largely ineffective in this series.
Lakers reporter Mike Trudell posted a picture of a smiling Bynum from the media session today, indicating that he’s in good spirits. That’s impressive for a guy who probably should be out recovering from surgery at this point. You have to respect a guy who embraces the importance of his presence to his team’s chances and fights through adversity to contribute. While his persistent injury issues are a concern, there is no denying Bynum’s heart.
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When Bynum’s in there, the Cs don’t go hard to the rim. They’re afraid of him. They throw up these weak reverse flip shots. They double clutch on wide open layups. Nobody’s afraid of Pau.
i.e. Glen Davis runs rampant and gets whatever he wants in the paint! The C’s definitely respect Bynum’s presence in the paint though.