http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5016896
LOS ANGELES -- Andrew Bynum's left Achilles tendon is not torn, and the Los Angeles Lakers are cautiously optimistic their starting center can return from his latest injury in two weeks.
Yet Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Sunday he can't predict a return timetable for Bynum, who strained his tendon early in the third quarter of the defending NBA champions' win over Minnesota on Friday night.
Jackson said. "We really don't know how this therapy is going to come out. The best thing I heard today is that he felt better from Day One to Day Two."
An MRI on Saturday showed the injury wasn't as serious as the Lakers initially feared, revealing no tears in Bynum's heel. Yet Jackson acknowledged Bynum's lost conditioning and the Lakers' overall cautiousness with their oft-injured center could keep him out until shortly before the playoffs in mid-April.
"An Achilles or a leg injury is something you can't really stay in great shape with," Jackson said. "Taking off and landing, all your power moves, are something you're going to have to adjust."
Bynum was inactive for the Lakers' home game against Washington on Sunday, and he won't play on Los Angeles' ensuing five-game road trip. He is averaging 15 points and 8.3 rebounds this season, third on the Lakers in both categories.
Bynum said he has pain and swelling in his heel, but can get around easily in a plastic walking boot. He's hoping to recover well enough to play in the Lakers' next home game against Utah on April 2, but knows he might not be in game shape by the time they return from the road.
Major injuries are nothing new for Bynum, the prep-to-pro center who has emerged as a talented NBA big man during the past three seasons. He missed 46 games during the 2007-08 season with a dislocated left knee, and he sat out 32 games last season with a torn ligament in his right knee.
"Fortunately, this year we got two more months of playing time out of Drew," Jackson said. "Hopefully this [injury] is a short duration."
Jackson moved Lamar Odom back into the Lakers' starting lineup against the Wizards, shifting Pau Gasol from power forward to center. The 6-foot-10 Odom plays multiple positions for Los Angeles, frequently excelling as a guard, but will mostly defend big men in Bynum's absence.
This could make a big difference in the OR finals for whoever faces the Brocheese (either Doug or me). No doubt the Boozer karma is at work here.
Um yeah - looks like it got a little bit closer, but the chances of Trinidad overcoming the 26 point margin with 5 days to go are slim at best.
Looks like we're headed for an Robertson- Brocheese finale.
I'm holding out hope, but I'm not optimistic. Quite the time for half my roster to crap out. Love and Rondo might be playing their way off next year's team.
I have Love on both my semi finals teams. No idea what's going on, but I could REALLY use a couple monster games from him. Sorry Ciwasko . . . .
LeBron and the Schottsies offer congrats to the Brocheese on representing the Empire Conference in the Finals, and good luck overcoming the curse of Boozer against Ciwasko - bring the title back to the Empire! We are proud of our 220 without Shaq and look forward to a grudge match with Trinidad in the Bronze Medal game.
@schottsie
Trinidad might be giving Austin Daye and George Hill some burn in the next round. If Kevin Love takes the court again, fans are likely to riot.
Congrats on reaching the finals, Oscar. Now go beat down the brocheese.
Thanks Doug. It was a tough road through Valley Forge and Trinidad. The Big O is thrilled to be making his first OR finals appearance.
The Brocheese are going to be very tough to beat. They would have beaten us 2 out of the 3 post-season games so far if we had been head-to-head. That said, Amare, Melo, Granger and Big Al are all playing good basksetball and the CATs are more battle tested than the Brocheese. It's going to be a good finals matchup.
Actually, it looks like we would have gone 1-1 head-to-head so far in the post season. Looks like you have a real game on your hands, Broham!
doug: Trinidad might be giving Austin Daye and George Hill some burn in the next round. If Kevin Love takes the court again, fans are likely to riot.
Might want to reconsider. Love's 51/31 put one of my teams in the finals.
Admittedly, it wouldn't have been necessary if he wasn't at .700 after 11 days . . . .
Yeah, he probably saved his spot on next year's roster. I'm in full-on tank mode for the 3rd place game though. Would rather have the better first rounder next year than my entry fee back.
Sweet! I'd rather save the $50 since I have the lifetime contract with LeBron anyway...are forfeits allowed in the official KFBA by-laws? (in case Darko puts up a .1000 at C1 or something)...speaking of Darko, apologies to MRobison - in a perfect world, you would get to sign him to a feel good 1-day contract before he goes overseas next year, but instead he's had full-time emergency Center duties in the playoffs, after I neglected to have any Center insurance whatsoever.
After two years of deep playoff runs from LeBron and the garbage you've had to surround him with, I hope everyone has realized that trading the first pick of the draft doesn't pay. And in case they haven't, Trinidad will be preparing an offer of its own.