Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been undergoing supervised basketball and conditioning workouts at L.A.’s practice facility since Monday, March 23, making progress towards the full rehabilitation of the MCL in his right knee that was torn on Jan. 31st in Memphis.
According to team spokesman John Black, Bynum is operating under the watchful eyes of both Lakers Director of Scouting/Basketball Consultant Bill Bertka and longtime team physical therapy consultant Clive Brewster of Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Bertka has been putting Bynum through various basketball drills while Brewster – who has successfully rehabilitated injuries suffered by Mitch Kupchak, Magic Johnson, James Worthy and others – is in charge of Bynum’s step-by-step rehabilitation.
When Phil Jackson was asked his opinion of a photo of Andrew Bynum, he came to the defense of his young center:
“You know what, I think there’s a lot being made out of that that’s unnecessary … Andrew’s a 21-year-old guy who’s been out of basketball for six weeks, and he’s got to have some energy and have some fun. I don’t know if putting a girl on your shoulders or not is (the way to go) … But the fact that people are beating him up about it, I think that’s crazy. Andrew’s doing fine and he’s going to be fine.”
Jackson was much more concerned - for the better - with Bynum’s claim on his official website that he’d been playing 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 under Mitch Kupchak’s watchful eye.
“I think the best news out of his blog that he sent out is the fact that he said he thinks he’s going to play in a regular season game,” he said. “That shows me some confidence. The last time I talked to him before we left on this road trip, Andrew said he was ‘Hopeful.’ But this time he sounded confident.”
Here’s the pregame audio of Jackson’s comments not just on Bynum, but on Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats.
Prior to L.A.’s win over Detroit, Phil Jackson answered a few questions about Andrew Bynum. Here’s the word-by-word transcription, followed by a chronological trail of Bynum updates since he tore his MCL on Jan. 31st against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Q: On if the Lakers are just as good offensively without Bynum:
Phil Jackson: “We’re more fluid as an offensive team without Andrew. With two seven footers, you don’t run as well … You don’t have probably as quick a fast break or as consistent a flow game, which the NBA is really suited for. Pau Gasol is a very mobile, active player that can step off the post, shoot shots, make passes and plays and gives us an opportunity to play Lamar Odom considerable minutes. He’s a terrific player, and gives us a whole different (way) to play - it releases Kobe (Bryant) to play a forward position, striking position and he’s much more aggressive in that spot.”
Q: On if Bynum will start or come off the bench:
Jackson: “We just have to see how he comes back. Is he going to be in condition where he can play 25-30 minutes and (be able to start) or is he going to play 12-14 minutes a game and increase it that way. We’ll see how it fits in.”
Q: On Bynum’s current activity:
Jackson: He’s running on the court and that’s about it. He’s doing some basketball skills, but he’s a considerable amount of time yet before he’s going to be able to even (practicing) with us.
Q: On why L.A.’s better defensively with Bynum:
Jackson: Better rebounding team, have a shot blocker that’s a considerable talent back there to face drivers. There’s a lot of things he gives us that we don’t have right now.
Two weeks ago, when Phil Jackson mentioned that he wasn’t interested in answering questions about Andrew Bynum until April, it didn’t keep reporters from asking.
Sure enough, prior to Thursday’s media session, the latest news we had was that the center had begun running on a treadmill with no negative repercussions, and that he had begun basketball-related activities, but he was still a ways away from playing with his teammates.
But Jackson went further prior to L.A.’s game against Golden State
Right now Andrew is, it looks like, a month away, and that’s like the end of the season. This is a from a guy who has been watching players recover and not a trainer, and certainly not a physical therapist, but I think he’s still a month away from being a player.
Jackson went on to say that the best case scenario is that Bynum plays in early April, but qualified his statement by saying that it’s “really hard to see him (playing) in two weeks.”
Good news on the Andrew Bynum front: The young center began running on a treadmill Tuesday, and there have been no negative repercussions thus far.
The news is at least a tad surprising, since in Portland on Monday Phil Jackson had informed reporters that there would be little to talk about until April.
Just after the injury, we spoke to Bynum in New York City, and he already was in high spirits. With the ongoing news all suggesting that he remains on schedule, chances are that his mood hasn’t changed.
Phil Jackson made it quite clear prior to Monday evening’s tip in Portland that he won’t have anything to add when it comes to Andrew Bynum until April.
Phil’s exact quote: “We’ll find out when we get back (to L.A.) whether or not (Bynum) will start running or not. We’re just allowing this part of his body to heal and come back at the appropriate time. I think I said last week, “Don’t ask me again until April.” … There’s nothing that’s going to go on here until April.”
Lakers center Andrew Bynum has progressed in his rehabilitation regiment to include cardio work on a stationary bicycle as well as on a Precor machine. The Precor machine simulates cross country skiing and is popular with athletes because it does not create any impact on one’s joints.
There is no schedule for Bynum’s return, as he’ll simply progress on the rehab of the torn MCL in his right knee based on his response to the training.
We’ll be sure to include updates as soon as they’re made available.
Before L.A. took the floor against Atlanta, Phil Jackson was asked how Andrew Bynum’s doing.
“I saw him this morning,” Jackson responded. “He was on the floor shooting toe-up shots and looked relatively active for his condition. He’s doing pretty well. It’s still been mostly rehab work, not an exercise regimen, but that will start soon.”
A reporter followed up by asking if Bynum’s expected to come back earlier than the original 8-to-12 week timetable.
“No,” Jackson said. “Until he’s on the floor sometime in March, we won’t know anything about that. Getting on the floor, doing activity drills, core strength and those types of things he has to do to get those things tied together again … The healing aspect still takes a while, but when we feel like he’s healed, then (he’ll start) the (training).”
Alas, we didn’t learn much, but it’s fair to say everything’s gone normally thus far for Bynum.
Even with a potentially exciting, high-tempo contest looming in New York City as the Lakers get set to play in “The World’s Most Famous Arena” for the only time this season, it’s hard to focus on anything that doesn’t have the letters M, C or L capitalized and featured prominently.
After a bit of a time lag since Andrew Bynum went down in the first quarter of L.A.’s Saturday night win over Memphis, we learned that Bynum tore the MCL in his right knee, and is expected to be out 8-to-12 weeks. If that schedule holds up, eight weeks leaves two weeks of regular season play in the regular season, while 12 weeks is roughly two weeks into the NBA playoffs.
The funny thing is, the person who feels best about the situation is Bynum himself; we learned as much while speaking to him courtside about an hour before tipoff. In fact, since Lakers.com’s Ty Nowell is here with us on the trip, that video will be available shortly. ***UPDATE: The video is above but here’s the link***
Until then, let’s think about this: What does Bynum’s injury mean for L.A.’s potential title aspirations? Well … maybe nothing. First of all, he’s expected to be back for, if not before, the playoffs. Secondly, the Lakers made it to last year’s NBA Finals without Bynum or Trevor Ariza, and with barely any meaningful playoff experience for many players. Sure, the situation with Bynum is similar to what happened last season in terms of city (Memphis), body part (knee) and time (January), but the injury is entirely different (last season’s was a subluxed patella). So, while nothing is guaranteed, it does appear that we haven’t seen the last of ‘Drew in 2009.
Again, the talent isn’t lacking: there are guys named Kobe and Pau, a thirsty Lamar Odom looking forward to big minutes, talents like Ariza, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar, and even capable bigs Josh Powell and Chris Mihm. Bryant, who couldn’t have been more upset when the injury occurred, still has complete confidence in his squad: “Without (Bynum) in the lineup, we’re still a great team,” he said.
The question now is how Phil Jackson plans to tweak the rotation. Does he just go back to last year’s mix, plus Ariza? At least for this game, Odom is starting, and Gasol sliding to the center position. Even so, there are other variable we could see as well:
A) Vladimir Radmanovic playing power forward
B) Josh Powell seeing a big increase in minutes
C) Chris Mihm seeing a big increase in minutes
D) Powell and Mihm seeing increased minutes depending on matchups
We’ll see how that plays out tonight, and certainly keep track throughout the next eight (to twelve) weeks.
Results of an MRI on Andrew Bynum’s right knee showed a tear of the medial collateral ligament, it was announced on Monday.
Bynum, who suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Saturday’s victory over Memphis after having scored seven of the Lakers’ first 13 points, will be out approximately 8-12 weeks.
The MRI was performed Sunday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and Bynum was examined this afternoon by Dr. David Altchek.
Bynum, who prior to the game against Memphis had averaged 26.2 points on 65.3 percent shooting, 13.8 rebounds and 3.20 blocked shots over his previous five games, ranks among league leaders in rebounds (19th/8.2), field goal percentage (8th/.558), blocked shots (6th /1.87) and double-doubles (17th/16).
Named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 19 through Sunday, January 25, Bynum is averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.87 blocked shots in 46 games this season.
We’ll see what Phil Jackson and a few Lakers players have to say about the news at Madison Square Garden in a few hours.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been undergoing supervised basketball and conditioning workouts at L.A.’s practice facility since Monday, March 23, making progress towards the full rehabilitation of the MCL in his right knee that was torn on Jan. 31st in Memphis.
When Phil Jackson was asked his opinion of a photo of Andrew Bynum, he came to the defense of his young center:
Lakers center Andrew Bynum has progressed in his rehabilitation regiment to include cardio work on a stationary bicycle as well as on a Precor machine. The Precor machine simulates cross country skiing and is popular with athletes because it does not create any impact on one’s joints. 
