NBA Finals Game Four: By-By Bynum, Might Mean, By-By Lakers

[Erick Blasco]

The play of Boston’s reserves in their 96-89 Game Two victory over the Los Angeles Lakers has gotten well-deserved attention.

 

Nate Robinson’s explosive offense, overwhelmed a Lakers defense so used to defending Rajon Rondo’s lack of range.

 

Rasheed Wallace continued his exemplary defensive postseason. In back-to-back series, he’s successfully shut down Dwight Howard, while severely limiting the effectiveness of Pau Gasol.

 

Tony Allen’s ankle is fully healed, and he’s been the defensive stopper the Celtics have needed to curtail Kobe Bryant’s basket assaults.

 

But the biggest story out of Game Four was Andrew Bynum’s inability to play more than 12 minutes.

 

With Bynum unable to play, many of the things the Lakers did successfully over the first three games of the series were unable to be sustained.

 

• With Bynum’s length, strength, and surprisingly alert defense around the basket, Boston had trouble scoring in the paint with him in the game—especially when pairing with Pau Gasol. However, in Game Four, the Celtics took advantage of Gasol and Odom’s comparatively smaller, weaker defense for profit down low.
• Glen Davis particularly took advantage of Bynum’s absence, using his quick feet to create space against Lamar Odom in the paint or off the dribble, and then using his massive frame to shield off defenders. When Bynum has helped on Davis, though, Big Baby can’t use his body to muscle Bynum out of the way, and Bynum’s length has made it near impossible for Davis to finish in traffic.
• With Bynum out and Odom in, the Lakers monopoly on the boards came crashing down. Boston grabbed 16 (!) offensive rebounds in Game Four.
• Also, while Odom had his moments taking Davis off the dribble, Bib Baby’s quick feet, and his teammates’ alert rotations and quick hands swiping at dribbles make it tough for Odom to get to the hoop. It’s simply harder to get from the perimeter to the basket as opposed to having Bynum set up mere feet from the hoop where he can use his extreme length to finish over Davis.
• Should Odom or Gasol wind up gassed or in foul trouble, the Lakers will have to rely on minutes from inferior players, such as D.J. Mbenga and Josh Powell.
• Indeed, while each team has advantages in some areas, and disadvantages in others, the series has been battled to a near draw. Should Bynum not be able to go, the scales will firmly be tipped in Boston’s favor. It represents the biggest turning point in the series.

Of course the Lakers tried to pick up the slack. Kobe had an outstanding floor game, with correct decisions mixed in with brilliant shooting. With Boston adjusting their on-ball isolation and screen coverage, the Lakers ran more weak-side down screens to give Kobe openings along the perimeter.

 

His passing was likewise sharp, despite his poor-assist to turnover ratio. Many of his passes put teammates in good positions to score, or make extra passes leading to good looks. If anything, Kobe was too passive, forcing the ball into openings that weren’t there.

 

Pau Gasol still didn’t get enough attempts—6-13 FG, 9-10 FT, 21 PTS, and couldn’t find his own easy baskets because he only grabbed a single offensive board.

 

Ron Artest’s poor shooting has gotten into his head. He’s now extremely timid to let loose from the outside, and Paul Pierce has taken away his ability to score inside. All Artest can do is work hard on the offensive glass—4 OFF REB.

 

Sasha Vujacic, Shannon Brown, and Jordan Farmar were all outplayed by the Celtics’ bench counterparts.

 

Meanwhile, Boston won despite missing 13 layups and innumerable open shots. Kevin Garnett was often wide open as a safety valve at the free throw line whenever the Celtics ran a screen/fade or any kind of off-ball action at the basket. He simply missed four wide open uncontested jumpers.

 

Ray Allen found daylight in transition and off his perpetual motion, but still couldn’t find the touch—4-11 FG, 0-4 3FG. On some occasions, he’d put the ball on the floor after the Lakers smartly chased him off the line, but his finishing near the basket has been inept since the start of the series.

 

Paul Pierce ran high screen/rolls to shake loose of Artest early in the game, rebounded strong, and always made the right pass—but was an afterthought after the initial quarter.

 

Rajon Rondo was able to shake and bake, but couldn’t drop the ball in the oven, missing six layups (!).

 

Tony Allen missed layups, and exhibited poor shot selection.

 

Aside from an important late three, Rasheed Wallace was invisible on offense.

 

But in Bynum’s absence, Glen Davis was able to produce a monster game—7-10 FG, 18 PTS—while Nate Robinson playmaking has gotten him off the bench and into the good graces of Boston’s coaching staff.

 

Despite so many subpar performances, Boston’s ability to capture Game Four is a disheartening turn of events for the Lakers.

 

How the Lakers respond without Bynum (or with him severely hobbled) will determine whether or not they win this year’s championship.

[Poe]

How the Lakers respond without Bynum (or with him severely hobbled) will determine whether or not they win this year’s championship.

I completely agree. I've said this the moment I saw that Bynum couldn't play the second half. Not only does the absence of Bynum push the match up in Boston's favor, but they also lose all the other things Bynum brings to the table for LA as far as interior D, length, and post offense goes. What hurts the Lakers even more is the lack of depth to give even a half-decent replacement for him, seeing that Phil Jackson refused to give Mbenga a lick of playing time in the second half of game 4.

 

I don't think it's impossible for LA to pull through without Bynum, but this may ultimately give Boston an edge. They are going to need more from Kobe, Pau, and even Odom and Artest than ever to pull through.

[Check my Stats]

Nate is a stud.