How Andrew Bynum trumps Howard - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

**Basel** · 04-16-2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

LOS ANGELES -- Pau Gasol won a brief 3-point shootout with Dirk Nowitzki on Sunday afternoon, and that wasn't even the most surprising development in the world of NBA big men this weekend.

Andrew Bynum has now played in more games than Dwight Howard this season, and if Howard's bad back is going to keep him sidelined this will be first season ever that Bynum finishes with the higher number of the two in the "G" category.

So if Bynum's numbers since the All-Star break are comparable to Howard's (21.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, 58 percent shooting for Bynum; 21.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, 61 percent shooting for Howard) and Bynum is suddenly more durable than Howard, while his whims and transgressions don't rise to the level of franchise-altering as Howard's have, it follows that Bynum has become a more valuable center than Howard.

Even if everything in that last paragraph turns out to be fluke -- especially the durability part, given Howard's healthy history and Bynum's penchant for having people roll into his knee -- there's something Bynum was Sunday that Howard has yet to develop into: a reliable option in crunch time.

According to 82games.com, Bynum is 23rd in the NBA in points per 48 minutes of crunch time (the last five minutes), with 29.5 points. Howard is 44 spots below, scoring 20.2 points per 48 minutes.

In a game with major playoff seeding ramifications (even if it was without Kobe Bryant), the Lakers went to Bynum repeatedly in the fourth quarter and overtime. He delivered eight points in the fourth, and in overtime he hit a big jump shot from by the free-throw line in the fourth quarter that elicited a swooping, Tiger Woods-style fist pump from him.

His baskets were all more conventional than Gasol's who hit two 3-pointers sandwiched around a Nowitzki 3, a shootout Gasol conceded he would win only one out of 10 times.

Bynum, on average, is going to score about six out of 10 times he shoots.

It's why his teammates kept looking for him even though he was only 5-for-18 in the first three quarters Sunday. Matt Barnes was especially determined. In the midst of a near-triple-double (11 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists), Barnes kept passing in Bynum, kept "making sure he eats," as Barnes put it.

"It's great, they have confidence in me," Bynum said. "Tonight I couldn't buy a basket, but we got it done somehow."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/78...-step-superman

**Eternal** · 04-16-2012, 01:43 AM

I like how he brings the health into it. I guess one season being more healthy makes up for all the other seasons..

Teams do not want Howard for his low post scoring game. They want him because he's the leagues best defensive player. I seriously doubt Bynum can single handily bring his team to the Finals like Dwight did.

M.V.W. · 04-16-2012, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eternal

I like how he brings the health into it. I guess one season being more healthy makes up for all the other seasons..

Teams do not want Howard for his low post scoring game. They want him because he's the leagues best defensive player. I seriously doubt Bynum can single handily bring his team to the Finals like Dwight did.

Yep, that's why Phil said that Bynum needs to be the defensive captain a week ago. Bynum occasionally slacks on that end.

Da Grinch · 04-16-2012, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eternal

I like how he brings the health into it. I guess one season being more healthy makes up for all the other seasons..

Teams do not want Howard for his low post scoring game. They want him because he's the leagues best defensive player. I seriously doubt Bynum can single handily bring his team to the Finals like Dwight did.

howard cant single handily bring a team to the finals, no one can...he had a good team around him then and he doesn't now, which is why he wants out.

Bynum isn't the defender howard is , but he is a better offensive player , he has become a real franchise center . someone you can build a defense and an offense around.

**Luke** · 04-16-2012, 10:04 AM

Good to see some posters in here that haven't been around much this season. Hopefully you'll stick around for the postseason.

I love Bynum, but he's not better than Howard. He probably never will be because of Howard's defensive ability, but just the fact that he has made this a question is very good for the Lakers' chances.

Kneejoh · 04-16-2012, 10:18 AM

Didn't realize that Bynum has played that well since the all-star break.

Wilt_The_Stilt · 04-16-2012, 12:11 PM

Bynum doesn't quite have Howard's motor. Dwight is more active and it shows on the defensive side more than anything.

As far as the offense goes, it is interesting to note that since Kobe went down and Bynum has become the focal point, his shooting percentage has dropped significantly.

jazzy1 · 04-16-2012, 01:29 PM

Bynum is playing well but for alot of the reasons already listed including playing with 2 other allsas Kobe being the best at his position in the league and Pau arguably ...so makes it a helluva lot easier for Bynum than Howard has it.

We'll see if Bynum can be one of the main offensive thrusts on a title team. He's good in a role as rebounder defender 2 areas I hope he gets better at heading into the playoffs. Its the thing that can make us champions again.

04-16-2012, 01:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Eternal Times Like These Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Age: 28 Posts: 5,658 Rep Power: 2695710	Re: How Andrew Bynum trumps Howard I like how he brings the health into it. I guess one season being more healthy makes up for all the other seasons.. Teams do not want Howard for his low post scoring game. They want him because he's the leagues best defensive player. I seriously doubt Bynum can single handily bring his team to the Finals like Dwight did.

04-16-2012, 10:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Luke Go Dawgs Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11,910 Rep Power: 4300832	Re: How Andrew Bynum trumps Howard Good to see some posters in here that haven't been around much this season. Hopefully you'll stick around for the postseason. I love Bynum, but he's not better than Howard. He probably never will be because of Howard's defensive ability, but just the fact that he has made this a question is very good for the Lakers' chances. __________________ Formerly VanillaPrice

04-16-2012, 10:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kneejoh Star Join Date: Dec 2004 Age: 23 Posts: 3,713 Rep Power: 2520996	Re: How Andrew Bynum trumps Howard Didn't realize that Bynum has played that well since the all-star break. __________________ team kobe member #18 Favorite 15 Players A/T: 1. Kobe Bryant 2. Pau Gasol 3. Tim Duncan 4. Vlade Divac 5. Dennis Rodman 6. Gary Payton 7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 8. Jerry West 9. Karl Malone 10. Robert Horry 11. Peja Stojakovic 12. Manu Ginobili 13. Hakeem Olajuwon 14. Dirk Nowitzki 15. Derek Fisher

04-16-2012, 12:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wilt_The_Stilt Star Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 3,974 Rep Power: 1038152	Re: How Andrew Bynum trumps Howard Bynum doesn't quite have Howard's motor. Dwight is more active and it shows on the defensive side more than anything. As far as the offense goes, it is interesting to note that since Kobe went down and Bynum has become the focal point, his shooting percentage has dropped significantly. __________________ "We've learned Kobe Bryant has been asked to run the Federal Reserve. The feeling is, he can do more with three quarters than most of us can do with a whole dollar." --Peter Vescey, NY Post

04-16-2012, 01:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
jazzy1 All-Star Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 9,423 Rep Power: 587126	Re: How Andrew Bynum trumps Howard Bynum is playing well but for alot of the reasons already listed including playing with 2 other allsas Kobe being the best at his position in the league and Pau arguably ...so makes it a helluva lot easier for Bynum than Howard has it. We'll see if Bynum can be one of the main offensive thrusts on a title team. He's good in a role as rebounder defender 2 areas I hope he gets better at heading into the playoffs. Its the thing that can make us champions again.

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