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Bynum set a new career high in scoring with 42 points to go along with 15 rebounds (8 offensive) and 3 blocked shots on January 21, 2009 against the Los Angeles Clippers. On the next night, January 22, versus the Washington Wizards he scored 23 points to go along with 14 rebounds. On January 27, 2009, in a double overtime loss against the Charlotte Bobcats, Bynum committed a flagrant foul, fracturing the rib and subsequently collapsing the lung of Gerald Wallace of the Bobcats. While playing against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 31, 2009, Kobe Bryant had an off balanced shot, fell and collided with Bynum's right knee, resulting in a right knee sprain. On February 2, 2009 it was revealed that Bynum had suffered a torn MCL in his right knee and would be out 8–12 weeks. This was the second straight year that Bynum had suffered a knee injury against the Memphis Grizzlies. He had averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds in his previous five games, posting five straight double-doubles.
Bynum missed the next 32 games. On April 9, he returned in a home game against the Denver Nuggets. He went 0–2 in the first half, but finished with 7–11 by the end of the game. With the 21 minutes that he played, Bynum scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Still recovering from his knee injury, he played in the playoffs wearing an awkward knee brace. He was not the same player, averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds while often in foul trouble. The Lakers advanced to the 2009 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic. Although Bynum averaged just 19 minutes against the Magic and their center Dwight Howard, the Lakers won the championship.
2009–10 season
In the 2010 NBA playoffs, Bynum injured his knee in Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. It was the third consecutive season his knee injuries impacted the Lakers postseason. However, he kept on playing, and the Lakers won their second championship in a row. Postponing surgery until after the playoffs, Bynum appeared in all 23 of the Lakers' playoff games, averaging 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. Teammate Pau Gasol called Bynum's "tenacity remarkable. He gave his best. He sacrificed himself in order to help the team and have a better chance to win the championship."
When healthy he was pretty much the best offensive ctr. in the league as far back as 09...injuries were the only thing holding him back...numbers don't lie
As far as Bean's 15 rebs in game 7, those caroms were almost cancelled out w/his inefficiency (405.% for the series)....luckily Artest was on in that game and don't forget abt Gasol who had 19pts 18rebs in gm 7 and 19/12/4 for the series
>>
>>Misfits? Oh word...so Artest was a misfit (who pretty much
>won
>>game 7 in the finals vs Boston when Kobe was misfiring the
>>entire game 6-24)...Bynum, too? (who was arguably the best
>>center in the league at that time)...Odom?!?!? (who was LA's
>>most versatile player and *6th man* of the year)....Fisher
>>(who had championship pedigree and had hit numerous big
>shots
>>in the postseason/finals for LA)
>
>Just a few facts....Kobe had 15 rebounds in game 7.
>
>Bynum averaged 6 and 4 in 17 mpg during the 2009 playoffs, and
>9 and 7 in 24 mpg in the 2010 playoffs. He was a good young
>player, but absolutely nobody was arguing that he was the best
>center in the league at that time. 2012 was the only year
>anyone tried to make that claim, which was not a title season
>and was the end of the line for those Lakers.
>
>
grassrootsphilosopher
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