Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  149 responses

Andrew Bynum Doesn’t Agree With Benching, Will Shoot More Threes


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The Los Angeles Lakers may not win the NBA title this year, but they are without a doubt, the champions of drama.

A couple nights after the infamous fourth quarter benching of Kobe Bryant by head coach Mike Brown, it was Andrew Bynum’s turn to ride the pine for not sticking to the game plan.

Early in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors last night, Bynum inexplicably jacked up a three-pointer, which enraged his coach, and resulted in the big fella barely seeing the court again for the rest of the game.

A defiant Bynum told the media horde following the Laker victory that he didn’t truly understand why he was benched, and promised to launch even more three pointers in the future.

From the LA Times:

Brown yanked Andrew Bynum from the game early in the third quarter after the center badly missed a three-point shot, though Bynum appeared amused on the bench as he mimicked the form on his release. “That’s something that I thought could have taken us out of rhythm, so I took him out of the game,” Brown said.

Bynum sat out the rest of the third quarter and played only 2:50 in the fourth quarter, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes. “I don’t know what was bench-worthy about it,” said Bynum, who indicated he wanted to continue taking shots from beyond the three-point arc. “I made one [Sunday] night and I missed one tonight.” Did Brown talk to him about the shot? “Not yet,” Bynum said. “I’m sure he wants to.”

Andrew Bynum has attempted 4 threes so far this season, and actually connected on one. He claims that this is a part of his game that intends to develop going forward.

May God help us all — and may he especially help Mike Brown.

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  • http://www.youtube.com/user/officerbarbrady what

    As a Hawks fan, this comment thread sounds like almost every Josh Smith related comment thread I have ever seen. Here’s an idea Lakers fans, do what we do in Philips Arena. Yell out “NOOOOOOOOOO!” every time Bynum takes a jumper and hope it works.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    You think they are in the hunt thanks to grimace, or thanks to the fact that they have 3 of the top 20 players in the league and they haven’t suffered a single injury?

  • dazzy

    Sounding bitter>>> Sounding like a star-struck teenage girl. I’m sorry I stopped running up to grown men for autographs when I became one myself.

  • What

    Andrew Bynum shuold be kicked out of the league for being the most immature POS in the L. if you dont believe me then watch this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQO-0pfo2IY

  • What

    How can ANYONE respect this POS???

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    NBK
    I think Mike Brown had them playing the best defense they’ve played in YEARS.
    He also had them playing horrible offense. The thing is, I’m not convinced Phil could have done much better with that roster after the botched Chris Paul trade and unloading Odom for nothing.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    cosign nbk 5:17. Browns defensive schemes are good. So I will give him that. That didn’t make them win those games though. Bryant, followed by Drew followed by Gasol a drop off, then Brown, is why they win games. Some people don’t see it in that order. I do. Kobe is the catalyst of the team.
    -It’s popular thought that Brown is one of the worse coaches in the L. I don’t agree fully, but there are merits to this. This isn’t news, but it can never be stated enough, he is a terrible offensive coach. We all know there are two sides to bball. The Lakers skilled players are why they win first and foremost.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Allen, why do you think they are playing the best defense they have played in years exactly? They play at a slower pace this year and still give up more points. Their defensive rating (so points per possession) is even worse this year. So technically, not only is what you said not true, but they played better defense just last season.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    @what: are you one of those mythical figures who go to the Philips Arena? i thought it’s only an urban legend that people attend Hawks home games.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Only fools think Brown is one of the worst coaches in the League.
    He caught a lot more flak than D’Antoni for losing with a less talented roster and being good on only one side of the ball.
    D’Antoni was hailed a genius in Phoenix and it wasn’t until later that his flaws were bemoaned although they were always the same.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    -Albie: FTW
    -Knick’s more talented than the Lakers? Whaaaat?
    - nbk, they play a different style of defense(obviously) and I do like this style better. I think it will bode well for them in the playoffs. I’m not going to say it’s better or worse, but it’s different, and it may be just what the doctor ordered.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    BTW, D’Antoni has gotten more flak than any coach not name Del Negro. Brown has actually been given quite a fair shake. His detractors have valid complaints.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    When I watch them, they seem to play better defense. But, I have no stats to back that up, just my general feeling when watching them play.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Lakeshow
    Clearly you don’t remember the way things were from 2004-2008.
    That’s okay.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I think their defensive philosophy seems better, I also think their literal performance would be better if Mike Brown had a whole training camp and summer to implement his system. They just aren’t actually executing like they are probably supposed to. At time I watch them (the game against the Clippers a month or so ago comes to mind) where I watch them and think they are a top 4 defense in the NBA, then there are games like when they played Sacramento where they look absolutely horrific. They just aren’t consistent enough, which I assume comes from Mike Brown not having the opportunity to do his over-analyzing (in a good way) and a lack of practice

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    I don’t know what your referring to Allen. That’s okay.
    -Agree completely nbk.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    @Lakeshow: how do the Lakers play differently on D?

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    albie, their whole scheme is different. I don’t know the technical terms for what they are doing, but there is less running your man into someone with Brown. It was always force the player into the lane with Phil Jackson. He liked having defenders stay up close on guys and force them to dribble into one of the big guys. Brown seems to want them to play off and stop them one on one. He doesn’t like allowing jumpers like Phil did. Phil didn’t mind making 1 player kill you and try and stop the rest. Brown seems to have a much more complete defensive philosophy. Hard to explain for me, but those are some of the things I have been noticing.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    The Lakers this season play better defense on the perimeter and they rebound better. Staples of Mike Brown defenses. Phil Jackson likes to try and outsmart opposing teams by making them do something they aren’t used too, like score in the paint over two 7 footers and shoot a higher amount of 3′s. Mike Brown would rather just force teams into shooting mid range jump shots and grabbing the rebounds. Basically Mike Brown likes to limit the most efficient aspects of offenses. (3pt shooting & second chance points)

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Sound about right Lakeshow?

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    @LakeShow, i’ve only learned basic defense techniques and not much team defense (since i never played organized ball), so i need a bit of explanation: If Phil liked his player to play tight on their individual matchups to force them to dribble to the Lakers’ big (which i agree on), how is that “allowing jumpers”? as in, if you stay close to your man, doesn’t that encourage the drive rather than jump shots (because it’s easier to drive by a tight defender than rise up to shoot due to lack of space)?

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    From 2004 to 2008 D’Antoni was the toast of the League. Steve Kerr was the bad guy when he let him walk.
    People ignored his poor substitution patterns and lack of a defensive scheme because his teams consistently won games.
    Then he went to New York and after the first year or so, the rumblings and nitpicking began.
    In contrast, Brown has always been criticized for running a poor offense and was often portrayed as the numbskull who lucked into coaching LeBron, despite the fact that he build that Cleveland team and LeBron into a very good, at times great, defensive team. People have never seen him as a genius. How many books do you know that have been written about Brown and his defensive schemes despite the fact that they were the backbone of a Cleveland team that won 66 games with a far less talented roster than the Suns.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    -Definitely nbk.
    -I thought you meant this year Allen. You know what i’m about to tell you. It’s about ‘what have you done for me lately’. D’Antoni has a good offensive system that works with the right players. Of course he is going to get praise for how the Suns were playing over those years.
    You also know this Allen. Offense gets more praise than defense(overall) People see D’Antoni running and gunning, and winning and they like what they see. It tantalizes their eyes. Does defense tantalize the masses eyes? No. It does for me when it’s done correctly (Bulls, Philly, MIA, LAL). The majority of people don’t recognize great defense as easily as great offense though.
    -Albie: I should have said allowing certain jumpers from certain players. I’m the wrong guy to be explaining this though to be honest. Not my area of expertise here. I was always so interested in watching the triangle I forgot to pay attention to Phil’s defensive schemes lol.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    @nbk: simple and good analysis/explanation of the difference in D. like i’ve said before you and LakeShow do bring something valuable to these boards and I appreciate it.
    on a related note: did any of you guys play organized ball? if so, does NBA defense differ than the ones you guys learned/played in? just curious.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    albie: I played 2A High School and community college. (I’m not exactly a “straight baller”) From what I have been able to gather they are so very, very different. I mean, in high school we did Zone half the time. The other half we played box and 1 or we would try man to man until it failed. Which it did often lol. NBA ball clubs rarely use the Zone which seems to be a staple of lower divisions of ball. There is also much more help from big guys that is utilized because, well, their are BIG guys. I’m 6’4″ with out shoes, and I have played my fair share of center despite my skill set being more suited for playing on the perimeter.
    You have different players on every level and each coach has to implement how he thinks this tam can play most effectively. Hence Rick Carlise going for the Zone despite the common thought that he shouldn’t. His team was tailor made to do that. He recognized that and went for it and it did well for his team. At the NBA level most coaches like to have their teams play the same type of defense every night so that they are familiar with it. On lower levels of ball you will see defenses change dramatically depending on who their opponent is and how they play.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I really appreciate that Albie.
    .
    Yeah I have been playing organized basketball since I was 4 years old. And the defense in the NBA is much much more complex then anything, even at the Division 1 or European levels (i have friends/acquaintances who have played or play in all the various leagues, which is the only reason i know that for certain). Typically though, all organized defense is based on a few key focuses, for example, my high school defense was focused on keeping the ball out of the middle and stopping the offensive players from splitting two defensive players, it was very team-help oriented. Normally a defense has a few key focuses and then adds layers that make it more and more complex (trapping in a certain zone, switching on picks or certain picks, focusing on stopping a certain pass, etc.)

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    And NBA Zone defenses are a whole different animal altogether. They even play match-up zones that are very hard to even recognize. (the Jordan-led Bulls teams are a great example of this.)

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Good call. The match up Zone always looks like man to man with a switch if necessarily (which I guess it is.)

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Tom Thibodeau has never had trouble getting his credit.

  • http://idunkonthem.blogspot.com albie1kenobi

    thanks for the input guys. those are awesome.
    now some follow-up:
    it seems like lower level ball usually play zone D. i thought it’s a much more difficult defense to execute correctly (because everyone’s on a string), so why are the lower levels employ it almost universally? is it because lower level players are less equipped/skilled to play man to man, and need the team to help out? what’s interesting to me is that when we play “un-organized” ball, no one plays zone. i guess the question is, why does zone work for lower level basketball but doesn’t work for NBA, where everyone IS equipped AND skilled so the zone should even be better? I know NBA used to outlaw zone, and it’s not consider “manly” to use zone, but like LakeShow mentioned, the Mavs executed it to the T, so why doesn’t more team use it more often? they are only employed in spots (the warriors only used it in a couple of possessions last night against the lakers).

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Mike Brown ain’t no Thibs defensively. He is good, but not that good.
    Erik Spoelstra doesn’t get any credit at all, for anything, ever, and practically everyone figured he’d be outta Mia by this time last year.
    Or are you saying that its because Brown is black that he doesn’t get the credit he deserves?

  • http://www.nba.com Red

    Lakers are no longer a serious contender plain and simple. Idk why we’re discussing it.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Thibs just has trouble getting his opportunity is all

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Albie the teams that played zone thought my “career” lol are either offensive power house type teams, teams that think other teams can’t pass or shoot, or teams that have coaches who don’t really know what they are doing. Growing up I loved playing against zones. Absolutely loved it.

  • MikeC.

    I forget who mentioned it above, but, yes, the Knicks are more talented than the Lakers. I’m not talking about on-court results, but talent on paper. Maybe not right meow with Amare out for weeks, Lin sitting to rest his knee and Melo battling a mystery injury. On paper, with everyone healthy, the Knicks have more talent that the Lakers. Talent doesn’t win unless there is cohesion and teamwork. The Knicks are just an utter failure to me. They should be anywhere from 3-5, not scuffling for the 8 and praying Milwaukee doesn’t go on a run. When you’re worried about Milwaukee, you’re in trouble. Talent-wise, the Lakers are playing above their heads. Give Grimace some credit. I do like the new grit the Knicks are showing under Mr. PotatoHead, so maybe they’ll ready to go on a run too. Please NY. Please go on a run.

  • MikeC.

    @nbk – and when you get older, slower and fatter like me, you’ll love playing zone instead of chasing around young, quick kids. I love playing the back line of a 2-3 zone. Smashing the cutter has become my contribution to the team nowadays. Aging sucks.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Oh typically Albie the zone works at a Lower level because people can’t shoot, and don’t know the fundamentals to beating a zone. Well coached teams typically trash a normal zone defense. There are only a few zones. At any level that are even decent defenses, (the 2-3 zone run by Syracuse obviously, Rick Carslisle’s zone, Alvin Gentry runs a quirky little zone, I cant really think of anyone else? Don Nelson used to use a zone, but it wasn’t any good)

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Sh*t Mike my men’s league team plays a zone. We just win by hitting a ton of 3′s and running on people, so the zone saves energy. (and our league is nba 3pt line so there aren’t many guys who can really hit that consistently enough to exploit it)

  • http://slamonline slams chuck barkley

    Racial insinuations from allen? No way, that never happens. I’d guess because grimace was lebrons coach and didn’t win a ring, as opposed to thibs being bostons defensive guy and winning. Just a guess. Bynum is a dumbass

  • Robin

    Retard… This team just don’t care and complain so much about how odom left and how gasol was going to get traded and how phil jackson left…

    S T F U

  • http://www.nba.com VanCityBBall

    if i were the shooting coach i would let bynum secretly practise the 3point shot so if that play was run again with little time left and kobe for some reason fouled out or was injured i’d run that play and let bynum shoot it… he would be wide open and nobody would respect it till it goes in (maybe)… i still like him in the paint more obviously but it cant hurt

  • http://www.nba.com Red

    Wow the R word Robin? Yeah you’re an idiot. & Van if you were the shooting coach & were teaching your center 3s, you’d get fired.

  • MikeC.

    @Red – I agree that Bynum has no business shooting 3s, but there’s a Mr. Geschwinder who might feel strongly about allowing 7-footers to learn to shoot 3s.

  • b-nEWT

    Maybe Bynum has been playing as Dirk on NBA2K12

  • DukeFromDeep

    Bynum is the only Laker that makes me laugh, apart from MWP (but not lately). Shoot those trey Drew, shoot em!

  • Golakeshow

    Ha ha mikec is a grandpa!!! Ha he’s old!

  • Golakeshow

    Andrew Bynum is the best center in the league and you bench him for one stupid decision!

  • ToddK

    Andrew Bynum has been in the NBA for 7 years. He has only 8 3-point attempts in NBA games, and has made a grand total of ONE. Until he demonstrates to his coach and teammates in practice that he can shoot a much better percentage, he has no business taking such shots, especially if his coach has instructed him not to. His attitude sucks and his coach was right to bench him.

  • AQWORD

    LOL at all the bitter chumps getting their little hearts broken. Like i + care care that Kob3$3xuals dont respects my view ? Worst you can do is give me a bad haircut? I was stating facts anyway :-)

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