The good news for the Lakers is that, in another day or two, Pau Gasol is coming back. The bad news is Andrew Bynum, therefore, must be leaving.
Not leaving in the literal sense, unless you put much stock into Bynum going to Toronto for Chris Bosh, which doesn't make much financial sense for the Lakers (more on that later). Just leaving in terms of visibility. Bynum's best games happen when Gasol isn't around, which presents a conundrum for the Lakers. When one of their important big men checks in, the other checks out, at least mentally.
All of Bynum's seven double-doubles this season happened without Gasol in the lineup. Bynum went 23 straight games without getting double figures in points and rebounds until -- you guessed it -- Gasol grabbed his left hamstring last week. Then the big Bynum games, not so mysteriously, began to reappear. He had 24 points and eight rebounds against the Rockets, 15 and 14 against the Clippers. Earlier, with Gasol gone, he managed 19 points against the Mavericks. He averages 19 points and 11 rebounds without Gasol.
With Kobe Bryant slogging through one of his worst shooting games in quite some time, Bynum put the Bucks away Sunday with 17 points and 18 rebounds, and did it against Andrew Bogut, not exactly a slouch. As he has lately, Bynum looked totally in control in that game, demanding the ball, taking up space in the paint, playing aggressively, taking charge.
So maybe the question isn't whether Bynum can handle himself in the presence of Bogut, but rather, in the presence of own teammate?
"I think so," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, a firm believer in the duo.
Well, the Bynum-Gasol combo remains a work in progress. They're still ironing out the wrinkles, which may be the difference in the Lakers winning a second straight championship. It's pretty clear that whenever Gasol is around, Bynum becomes passive and adopts a role-player mentality, willing to assist but rarely looking to step forward. That's understandable to a degree, especially offensively. Along with Kobe, Gasol casts a rather large shadow. Most of the offense in the low post goes through him.
Another reason is familiarity. Entering this week, they've appeared in only 22 games together, and because of injuries have never played a full season together since Gasol arrived almost two years ago.
"I'm still learning," Bynum said, and that, too, is an issue: He is just 22.
Bynum has never truly been a team go-to player for any long stretch of time, not really in high school, where he was awkward until his junior year, and he never spent a day in college. The Lakers will go to him early in games and he'll have a few aggressive moments, but in tight situations he almost never sees the ball, not with Kobe and Gasol around. One rival general manager suspects Bynum will never fully flourish and learn a signature move until he gets his number called regularly and he's asked to carry more of a load.
Because the Lakers are built to win now, and because of the presence of Kobe, that scenario will have to wait. Bynum will not see 12-15 touches, and a good portion of his scoring will likely remain off missed shots or an occasional layup.
So the Lakers will gladly accept defense and rebounding from Bynum when Gasol is on the floor. The problem is, he suffers in those areas, too. Bynum averages 12 rebounds without Gasol, six with him. He had a stretch of four games with Gasol when he grabbed three or fewer rebounds.
"I tend to defer," Bynum admitted.
The Lakers have hitched themselves to Gasol, the only player Kobe will defer to in certain situations, for good reason. Gasol is better skilled and his low-post moves and passing ability mean the Lakers will likely get something out of any possession that goes through him. They've looked vulnerable without him recently, although Kobe's broken finger perhaps also played a role in that. The Lakers were so worried about life without Gasol that they handed him an extension through 2013-14 worth $64 million, even with a recession, a mushrooming luxury tax and a pending labor deal.
"He's a very nifty, gifted player," said Jackson. "Has a good touch. Maybe he's not a center, maybe more of a power forward. His athleticism is often overlooked. Pau just has a real sense of what he's going to do with a basketball, more than most players his size."
The Lakers seem just as committed to Bynum, effectively dismissing any thoughts of a deal for Bosh. That trade would require a new contract for Bosh this summer and push the Laker payroll well over $100 million, considering they still must sign Kobe to a contract extension this offseason.
It makes much more sense to keep their big men together. And, maybe, just tell Bynum to pretend Gasol isn't there.
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