Blaming Andrew Bynum Is Plain Lazy
Yes, Andrew Bynum has some growing up to do. I’m aware that is an understatement like saying John Edwards has some explaining to do.
We didn’t need Bynum’s take on the difficulty of close-out games to know his head is more congested than the air in Downtown Los Angeles. Just like the Nuggets didn’t need bulletin board material to get motivated for what could have been their final game of the season.
This is the NBA playoffs we’re talking about and the man coaching Denver has been in a big time hoops battle or two. George Karl would have found something, anything, to get his team up to the task of staying alive. Bynum just gave him an easy to hit target.
Anybody who thinks Bynum’s ignorant choice of words was somehow the reason why L.A. lost miserably at home on Tuesday night is fooling themselves.
What? Did Andrew’s easy-going opinion of close-out games convince Pau Gasol – who has played in his fare share of close-out contests – that playing with no intensity at all was the thing to do? I’m guessing Gasol didn’t need Andrew Bynum’s permission to slack off like it was the 2011 playoffs all over again.
How can you blame Bynum when his words had nothing to do with Matt Barnes’ inability to hit the rim on an open three?
And if your argument is had Bynum said nothing at all about how easy it is to close as series then the Nuggets wouldn’t have been inspired then I’ll take a double of whatever you’re drinking. We’re talking about paid professionals. If Denver needed Bynum for inspiration with their season on the line then Andrew’s words would ring even truer.
Fact of the matter is Bynum was wrong for what he said but that alone had nothing to do with how uninspired the Lakers played in Game 5. Kobe Bryant played a great game but where was his fire when his team was sleepwalking? If we’re to believe that Bynum has that type of affect on his team then where is the necessary leadership from Bryant to right the ship? Where was Mike Brown to put a foot or two in the backside of his squad when they limped into the locker room at halftime?
Sure, Bynum deserves blame as he didn’t do much to back his words. But he’s far from alone when it comes to pointing fingers. It just so happens he made himself the easiest target. L.A.’s embarrassing loss had nothing to do with Andrew’s words and everything to do with the Lakers’ actions or lack thereof.
Should this series come back to Los Angeles who then will you blame?
If you seriously think this Laker team is in the title hunt then maybe it’s time you start treating them like champions. Those that lift Larry O’Brien trophies both win and lose together. Just like you can’t give all the credit to one player when a team wins you can’t attribute all the blame when that same squad loses. That’s just plain lazy and as ignorant as Bynum’s words.