Andrew Bynum’s Suspension Reduced By One Game

Today the NBA tossed the Lakers a bone. As if to say, “Sorry for that whole Chris Paul thingy, get your supposed franchise center back one game earlier for the troubles”, Andrew Bynum’s 5-game ban was dropped to 4.

When can we start planning the parade route?

Citing the lockout shortened schedule as the reason, the league office did the same for Charlie Villanueva. So maybe this wasn’t a gesture to make nice for gifting the Clippers prime position on nightly highlight reels.

In case you’re not catching the sarcasm this doesn’t help the Lakers’ cause much early in the season. Bynum will still miss the back-to-back-to-back games that initiate the 2011-12 campaign for the Lake Show.

Also, Jerry Buss is now on the hook for one more game check he initially wouldn’t have had to pony for Drew.

Truth be told Bynum is luck he wasn’t punished more severely for his cheap shot on J.J. Barea. Hopefully that is the last we’ll see of baby Bynum. On the bright side at least David Stern hasn’t begun to drop fines for illegal parking. If that were the case Drew would be drawing those Mark Cuban sized fines.