Bynum’s Back in the Starting Lineup

Lakers center Andrew Bynum struggled during the series with Utah but will be back in the starting lineup on Monday, and hopes to pick things up against Houston or Portland. After taking Tuesday off, the Lakers had a low-key practice yesterday, but Bynum stayed after everyone else left, shooting off to the side with Lakers’ Assistant Coach Kurt Rambis. The Lakers will play either the Houston Rockets for the Portland Trail Blaers on Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center and Bynum needs to be ready to bounce back from his poor performance against Utah. Game 6 is tonight in Houston and the Rockets lead Portland, 3-2.

Bynum averaged five points and three rebounds, shooting 39.1% against Utah while picking up 16 fouls in 77 minutes in the five-game series and was offered some words of encouragement after Wednesday’s practice, which was not attended by Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson due to personal reasons. Lakers’ Special Assistant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is also Bynum’s mentor, told the L.A. Times, “Andrew, he wants to excel. So he’s looking to dominate the game and sometimes you have to be patient … He’s figuring it out. I’m sure by the end of the playoffs, people won’t be talking about these issues.” A lot was expected of Bynum against Utah, after the 21-year-old missed 32 games due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, but he has admitted that he lost focus and his play suffered when he lost his spot in the starting lineup to Lamar Odom. Bynum will start in the next series because of Houston’s 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming (or alternatively because of Portland’s 7-foot centers Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden).

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