One of the things that makes the Lakers one of the league's best teams is the size and skill of their two biggest frontcourt players, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. But Gasol has yet to play a game for the team in this young season, and now it looks like Bynum will miss some time as well with an elbow injury.Both players are listed as doubtful for Friday night's game against Memphis, and if neither ends up being able to go, the Lakers will be forced to use some rather interesting lineups.
D.J. Mbenga or Josh Powell will be inserted into the starting lineup, and while both of those guys usually bring a lot of energy, they'll be hard-pressed combined to make up for what Bynum has provided on the stat sheet through the team's first five games.
Bynum has averaged 20 points and over 10 rebounds per game, and neither Powell nor Mbenga can really be expected to to match those numbers individually -- especially offensively. That just means that even more of the scoring load will fall on the shoulders of Kobe Bryant, who's already had to put up 41 and 31 in consecutive overtime games just to see his team barely come out of them with wins.
Thankfully for L.A., neither player is expected to be out for very long. Gasol was medically cleared by both the Lakers' doctors and his personal medical team in Spain to play before Wednesday's game, so he could be back as early as Sunday.
Bynum's injury was one to his elbow on the final play of his team's win in Houston on Wednesday, but an MRI didn't reveal any serious damage. It's officially being called a "strain," and he's listed as day-to-day, but will likely sit out the game against the Grizzlies.
And considering that both of Bynum's serious knee injuries in the last two seasons coincidentally came while playing against this same Memphis team, he's probably not all that broken up about missing this one.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
STILL CANT STOP KOBE!!!!!
No one could. Anybody from LA could go down, it doesn't mean much as long as Kobe is healthy. Bynum is garbage anyway. His 20 and 10 will not last the whole season. But, I still got my money on LA. All I need to know is Kobe is playing...I'm good with that.
nope
how that foul , which wasn't a play for the ball, shouldn't have been called a flagrant 1 is beyond me. All i can envision is garnet sweeping the leg a la kobra kai style to take bynum out of the finals..........protect your players, Mr. Stern!!
Bryum is always injured...
Bynum is a big ol choncha. We need to get rid of his butt and trade to Clevland . ( James do you really want to win a trophy?)
Bynum is going to be needed IF the Laker's are going to repeat. Nobody has the length to stop Gasol, Bynum and Artest in the Front-court. And all three of those guys play "D" and rebound the ball on "O" and "D" (and they each score). So, quite hating on the "youngster," afterall he's the "ripe-old-age" of WHAT??? 22-23??? (Yeah, that's why the Laker's are letting him go ANYWHERE... He's no Sam Bowie!!!)