Hoops

Perkins vs Bynum

Thanks Isaac, hopefully I can build up my little basketball count in '09.

Two points-

Can i make it any clearer to some people that i AM NOT SAYING PERKINS IS A BETTER PLAYER THAN BYNUM IS OR EVER WILL BE.

My point was that there is only one ball and only 5 per team on the court, so he and Perkins will have similar roles for their teams.

I give the edge to the Lakers because i can see Bynum having a big game at some stage of a finals series, Perkins just doesn't have a top game in him.

Second point- i'm a fan of Odom and the intangibles he brings to teams. Teams have nearly always had success when he is on them, and he deserves a bigger role than he is getting now, when he is in his prime.

The knick trade for Q-rich would be optimal, the Gasol off the bench would be interesting for a couple of reasons. Gasol, like Manu is a 'Euro' player and they are often described as team first players, willing to accept defined roles for the benefit of the team. He would still play starters minutes, just at times when he can be 100% the focal point of the offence, and when he is being guarded by the second string bigs from their opponents, who he can flat out dominate.

Yeah- probably right, but that kinda is the point, when the finals are played, Perkins will be doing the same things as Bynum, so i would expect the Celtics to be pretty happy right now.

How about Gasol move to the bench? I think Odom was a bit of a scape goat for last years result and he would appear to fit better with Bynum than Gasol.

Plus Gasol would be of huge value as a post option when Kobe sits, to keep the offence flowing in his absence.

Or they could always swap Odom for Q-rich and James expiring contract from the knicks...

Gives them a big body off the bench, plus a guy that would slot in perfectly at sf and complement Kobes game to a tea....

Agree, to an extent, but my point is that when the finals come around and he is squared off against Perkins, its pretty much a saw, and not the one sided Laker win that some people propositioned last season.

Cheers K-4-MVP, illustrates my point pretty clearly.

If they were on teams that needed them to be the franchise players, Bynum is killing Perkins.

But with regards to the roles they play on the current teams, is Bynum that much better than Perkins?

I'm just asking if all the fuss and talk about how much of a dif a healthy Bynum would make to the Lakers chances of beating the Celts, has the devolopment of Perkins and his perfect fit within the team structure been undervalued?

Right now you would have to say their production is practicaly equal... Identical rebounding and block numbers, the only dif being that Bynum has scored more. 9-12 dif in points per.

I agree he has not reached his peak, but i think with the giant leap he took last season, people were perhaps expecting even more from him this season. He is still improving but it will be a longer process and i think Perkins may be a step ahead right now.

The other key is Odom...

Will the lakers persist with a plan that doesn't seem to be getting the best out of LO?

He is great insurance against a major injury to either Gasol and Bynum, but really, they didn't win with him last year against the celts, so is he reallt the insurance they need?

He would look great as a knick... and i bet the Lakers would love a Q-rich...

The question is... is Bynum better than Turiaf (The guy he replaces in the line-up)? and the answer is yes. If they play each other again it will be a great series.

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