Bynum Is NOT The Problem

Yes, yes, Andrew Bynum's defense in these NBA playoffs has been lethargic at best. But will no one else stand in defense of Andrew Bynum?

From the moment the NBA playoffs started, everyone has put the young Laker center under the microscope and proclaimed him mentally and physically unprepared.

He's not playing defense. He's out of sync offensively. He's not focused.

To that, I respond: Why is Bynum being singled out?

At least he has an excuse. He missed three months with the knee injury, for Jiminy Cricket's sake.

After watching the Nuggets outhustle, outsmart and outplay L.A. in their 120-101 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Memorial Day (a Memorial Day Massacre mini-me?), what Laker is focused, in sync and playing great defense?

Lamar Odom's play has been non-existent for a 7-foot (or 6-foot-10 or whatever he is on that given night) player on the interior. He's not rebounding or playing much defense, either. He's provided zero inside presence (where at least Bynum has been a threat).

OK, OK, Odom's still playing with a bad back from the spill he suffered in the needlessly extended Houston series that was supposed to wake up the Lakers. If his back is ailing that much, why not put a healthier Bynum in for the bulk of the minutes? At least he can go up strong with it around the rim.

If Odom has one more LAYUP swatted this series ... is he incapable of driving and dunking a ball? And the way Nuggets Nene, Kenyon Martin, Birdman, Linas Kleiza, Earl Boykins (oh wait, the 5-5 guard doesn't play for Denver anymore) keep ripping rebounds out of his hands, Odom might as well be called "Manos de Malvavisco" (Hands of Marshmallow).

And the rest of the Lakers? On Monday night, they made J.R. Smith look like a cross between Magic Johnson and ... well, J.R. Smith. Every time he drove, he either got a good look at a short jumper, drew defenders and made a pass to Denver's bigs for a dunk or got fouled.

Why was he able to do that and when Kobe penetrates, he ends up with a triple-teamed midrange jumper with a 2.9 degree of difficulty? Odom and Gasol should be the beneficiaries of Bryant's drives, but they're not. I guarantee you they'd be scoring 30 points each on dunks off Kobe passes if they were being defended by ... the Laker defense.

The same Laker defense that for some reason beyond me decided to try to lock down a flu-ravaged, ankle-killing Carmelo Anthony in the fourth quarter Monday night. Melo was 3-of-16 from the floor, yet the Lakers were so concerned with him that they kept fouling him and bailing him out or doubling him and leaving someone else open -- like Smith!!

Memo to the defense: If someone is shooting 18.8 percent from the floor, step back and LET HIM SHOOT! That's what killed the Lakers late in Game 4 -- poor defense (or stupidity, if you prefer). Not fatigue. And if the Lakers can't figure out whom to and not to guard, where is the coaching staff and all its experience?

Bynum was playing great basketball before he went down with the knee injury and  the consenses maintained he was the X factor that the Lakers were missing last season and that would put them over the top in 2009.

If Bynum gets his timing back, he becomes a huge offensive threat to take more burden off Kobe. In turn, his defense gets better. Obviously, the hope would be that Bynum's defense would be strong, no matter how he plays offensively.

As we all know, the ENTIRE LAKER TEAM PLAYS BETTER DEFENSE IF THEY'RE PLAYING GOOD ON OFFENSE!

So why does Zen Master keep messing with Bynum's head and benching him in favor of Odom, who is playing no better? The coaching staff should be doing everything they can to pump up Bynum and get him involved. If he plays the way he's capable, then it becomes easier for the Lakers.

Then, Kobe isn't doubled over during postgame interviews after wins.  Then, the Lakers aren't struggling and having to listent to us critics. Then, the Lakers should celebrate a 15th NBA title as a franchise.

Disagree? OK.

But we've already seen what the Lakers are and aren't capable of using Odom on the interior.

That Laker D was real good in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against Boston last year, wasn't it?