Bynum's return turns Lakers into favorites

Bynum's return turns Lakers into favorites

Conventional wisdom says big men just don't mean as much as they used to.

The three-point line has literally turned basketball inside-out.

Instead of getting the ball to the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Moses Malone on the blocks, today's NBA guards throw the ball inside, hoping they get the kickout for a three.

It's simple mathematics. If you shoot 40 percent from beyond the arc -- a mark great shooters hit easily these days -- you need to shoot 60 percent from inside to match it, something even the great Chamberlain couldn't muster.

Of course, offense is just part of the game, and defense and rebounding are still staples of any potential championship team, especially in the postseason.

For those who only concentrate on the offensive side of the floor, it's hard to explain why Andrew Bynum is so important to the championship aspirations of the Lakers.

After all, the team is loaded and has been rolling along since Bynum was sidelined with an MCL tear in his right knee on January 31. In fact, the talent-laden Lakers are a gaudy 25-7 since Bynum went down in Memphis.

It may be LeBron James' year but Kobe Bryant is still the best all-around player in basketball. Meanwhile, Pau Gasol is a legitimate All-Star that defines the new big man, an agile guy who can shoot the three and kill you while facing the basket.

Lamar Odom is still one of the most skilled 6-foot-10 players you will ever see, an excellent shooter and rebounder with a deft passing touch, and a handle that would make any point guard envious. In addition, Lakers coach Phil Jackson can survey his bench at any time and call upon a slew of solid role players like Trevor Ariza, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton.

But, if you look at a tape of last year's NBA Finals, you saw the Boston Celtics destroying the Bynum-less Lakers on the boards and abusing them with the pick-and-roll.

It's not about 65 wins in the regular season for the Lakers, it's about the world championship.

When Bynum went down last season after suffering a partially dislocated left kneecap in January of 2008, also against Memphis, the Lakers, whether they knew it or not, were done.

Lightning struck twice on Beale Street this year and LA has been holding its collective breath ever since. What was originally diagnosed as a sprain turned into the MCL tear and derailed what was shaping up to be the 21-year-old's breakout season.

This time it wasn't a season-ender, however, and Bynum returned to the hardwood against Denver on Thursday at Staples Center. The big man started at the pivot alongside Gasol and Ariza on the front line, notching 16 points with seven rebounds in just over 21 minutes of action during the Lakers' comfortable 116-102 victory.

"I was nervous and had butterflies," Bynum said. "But I settled down in the second half. I started to get down the court better and get into position."

"It's nice having Andrew back," Gasol added. "He gave us a great performance in his first game back. It shows he's been working hard. He attracted two defenders and it gave me more room. I was able to put back some shots. We're definitely a better team with him."

The win was the fifth straight for the Lakers (63-16) and drew them within one-half game of the Cleveland Cavaliers (63-15) for the NBA's best record.

Perhaps more importantly, Bynum's return means that Jackson, who is struggling with plantar fasciitis, is the only Laker limping.

And that's a scary thought for the rest of the NBA.