Posted by roblackman:

12 pts 5 boards in 30 minutes...probably what everyone expected at this point.

he's done very well. His big problem right now is conditioning. this is probably warp speed to him and the reports I get is he plays very well for stretches and tires out. he had 7 points in the first Q today prety early and then was dragging for most of the game. Not because of weight,he's actually quite skiiny, simply he isnt use to the pace and for a real big guy, it takes time--his biggest thing was game flow and they are doing the right thing getting him 30 minutes.

They must be very happy with what he has done, very consistent effort. I think the first real time you can judge Andrew is when he is done growing and is physically prepared conditioing_strength wise. The Lakers think he will end up at 7-3/7-4[they brought him to their doctors]and that could still be a two year process. I think when he is done you'll be looking at a more athletic stronger version of BIG Z and he will be able to score 20 points a night shooting 55%. He's not a Shaq, but there is nothing that I have seen or heard that changes my mind that he will be a franchise C and NBA all star 5 for a long time.

I agree with you, Briggs, about Gomes. Basketball-wise, I think Gomes is much better than Lee.

Gomes can play the 3 or the 4, inside or outside, he rebounds well, has a good handle for a guy his size. Going to BC, I've seen him play a lot in person and he's always been an above-average player.

That being said, Isiah wants to be "young and athletic", and Lee certainly fits the "athletic" more than Gomes. I, personally, would rather have better basketball players than athletes, but if that's the direction Isiah is taking, you can't really fault him for sticking with his plan.

Some random stats from tonight's SL:

Gomes -- 14 points, 11 rebounds (4 offensive)
Gerald Green -- 13 points, 2 rebounds (5 fouls)
Chris Taft -- 9 points, 5 rebounds

I wasn't too turned off w/ Frye, a 4-year college player with a seemingly low ceiling, I thought it was a pretty safe pick from Isiah. I expected him (being that he has a great track record) to go for one reach, but he didn't. (I don't call Nate a reach, if you watched him in college you knew he was pretty special).

I've never seen Bynum play, so I was more comfortable with Frye as well, but it sure seems that Bynum is playing well.

Just a random question, what teams is Bynum playing against? Isn't he playing against like travelling all-star teams, like low level Harlem Globetrotters? If so, I'd like to see him against actual SL teams or even actual NBA teams before we write off his 12/5's as pretty good. If he is playing teams w/o guys over 6'8", that isn't very impressive.

Posted by BigSm00th:

I agree with you, Briggs, about Gomes. Basketball-wise, I think Gomes is much better than Lee.

Gomes can play the 3 or the 4, inside or outside, he rebounds well, has a good handle for a guy his size. Going to BC, I've seen him play a lot in person and he's always been an above-average player.

That being said, Isiah wants to be "young and athletic", and Lee certainly fits the "athletic" more than Gomes. I, personally, would rather have better basketball players than athletes, but if that's the direction Isiah is taking, you can't really fault him for sticking with his plan.

Some random stats from tonight's SL:

Gomes -- 14 points, 11 rebounds (4 offensive)
Gerald Green -- 13 points, 2 rebounds (5 fouls)
Chris Taft -- 9 points, 5 rebounds

I wasn't too turned off w/ Frye, a 4-year college player with a seemingly low ceiling, I thought it was a pretty safe pick from Isiah. I expected him (being that he has a great track record) to go for one reach, but he didn't. (I don't call Nate a reach, if you watched him in college you knew he was pretty special).

I've never seen Bynum play, so I was more comfortable with Frye as well, but it sure seems that Bynum is playing well.

Just a random question, what teams is Bynum playing against? Isn't he playing against like travelling all-star teams, like low level Harlem Globetrotters? If so, I'd like to see him against actual SL teams or even actual NBA teams before we write off his 12/5's as pretty good. If he is playing teams w/o guys over 6'8", that isn't very impressive.

No NBA teams play NBA teams, the pro SL has different divisions. The competition he has played against has been the Summer league teams of Memphis,Toronto and the Mavericks. Guys like Lawrence Roberts Hakim warrick Charlie V Dahntay Jones etc and then some real size with guys like Eric Chenisworth etc.. very normal NBA SL rosters.
He is averageing 13.5 6 and 1 shooting 55% in 3 games--bad parts of his game is conditioning and FT shooting only 14 of 27. Hasnt rebounded that well, had 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in the first half of the first game and hasnt kept up that level. That is expected. Anyone who thinks he was coming in and giving 20-10 is nuts. I thought 8 points 5 rebounds and 1 block and he has exceeded what I thought hed do. He's a 3 year process, 2 at a minimum. He could be given some minutes this year--perhaps 10 minutes a game for 50-60, but I dont expect anything more than that. He has to finish growing / get conditioning and strength taken care of, continue fundamental work. It is possible he could come on quick and earn a starting spot next year, but more realistic this is a 3 year process. But he must have the Lakers feeling pretty good.

Posted by Bonn1997:

I still think Bynum has more upside than Frye and would have given Isiah an A+ instead of an A- on draft night if he'd drafted Bynum. I'll give Isiah some credit for reportedly trying to get a deal done to get Bynum in addition to Frye but I would have preferred it if he drafted Bynum and tried to deal for Frye.

[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 07/11/2005 23:04:39]

choke, cough-cough............I agree with you.

Posted by roblackman:

Bynum has more upside...but also more downside--he could be totally worthless if he cracks under the pressure.

Great point!

BTW, is Diop available because he can be our future center with potential. He is only like 22 or 23 now. If Aguire can do something with him then Aguire is a frickin coaching legend in the making.

[quote]
Posted by misterearl:

We HAVE our Bynum Already

Jackie Butler, 6-7 13 points 3 boards and, worth noting - 2 assists


I like Jackie, but when all is said and done, Im just guessing that Bynum might be 5 or 6 inches taller and a tad better. I think Jackie has a place in this league as a banger with an effecient jump hook and nice touch around the basket--somewhat like sweetney without the higher skill set.
If they stood next to each together now Bynum would dwarf him in height, and when he stops growing and puts on strength and muscles, well, one if a PF one will be a legit 5.

I guess Bynum could be a bust, but there is not one thing that i have seen heard on any scale --even his minor knee injury turned out to be nothing. They all seem to be very high on him, Tex Winters, Phil Jackson, Jim Calhoun, those are some big time names saying this guy will be very good. Maybe he wont, but i wouldnt bet against it.

I'm rooting for Bynum (Well, not now that he's on the Lakers) and even a little of Bogut, but I am getting fed up with these youngin's challenging some of these stars, superstars and established vets who have marked their places in the league. Vets like Longley, who was solid to say the least. Bogut challenging him and Kobe. Bynum now challenging Shaq. These kids have A LOT to learn and keeping your mouth shut is one of those things that's nescessary sometimes.

Trust me, this season class will be in session. You don't get to the level those veterans have gotten to without having an incredible desire to win and destroy your oponent. These kids don't know what it's like to face that type of will, drive and desire on this level. Well, they are sure about to learn.