Bynum Hurt (Out 2-3 Months)

Posted on January 31, 2009 by Dave

This post will be updated as new information becomes available, the updates will be at the bottom of the post.

The Final verdict is in, Bynum will be out for 2-3 months, go to the bottom of this post for more information.

This just happened a short while ago out in Memphis:

So, is everyone’s worst fears flooding the gates right now? His teammates looked very worried. The knock on effects from a Bynum injury are massive, it would be a huge detriment to LA, as well as opening up the West for the rest of the pack.

Update: Announcers said it’s being ruled a sprained knee pending an X-Ray and MRI.

In the future, if the Lakers have to play Memphis in January they should just hold Bynum out of the game. Seriously, what are the odds he injures himself against the same opponent at nearly the same time of the year? Weird.

It is not the same knee as before, it’s his right knee this time. Last season he had surgery on his left knee.

Some Information On Knee Sprains – USA Today’s health section hast this to say on knee sprains

By definition, a knee sprain is an injury to a knee ligament. The sprain may vary in severity from a slight stretch to a complete tear of the ligament.

A mild, or grade 1, sprain simply stretches the ligament and causes pain and swelling. A moderate, or grade 2, sprain partially tears the ligament and is much more disabling. A severe, or grade 3, sprain is a complete rupture and often needs surgical repair.

Description of Knee Sprains

Most ligament injuries of the knee involve a tearing of either the medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the medial side of the knee (medial means toward the midline of the body, and lateral means away from the midline), the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deep inside the joint, or both ligaments. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is much less likely to sustain an injury than the ACL.

Update: First X-Ray was negative, so that’s good news. Still awaiting the MRI.

Same responses as last year? Lakers saying it’s a knee sprain and the X-Ray’s being negative. I think so but I’m not sure.

Reaction from Andrew Bynum

“I saw Kobe driving to the basket, and I was able to pick my leg up and that saved me from major damage,” Bynum said. “I can put pressure on it. I can walk. I don’t need the crutch. It’s just there. I definitely feel optimistic as opposed to last year.

“It’s much better than what happened last year. I am able to put weight on it. There were no ‘pops.’ I don’t really need the crutches, but they’d like me to use them for now. I have to stay optimistic. I want to return and continue doing the things I was doing out there.”

Very good article on Lakers.com on how well Bynum had been playing prior to the Memphis game.

Not only is Bynum posting double-doubles to the tune of 26.2 points and 13.8 rebounds per night, but he’s swatting 3.2 shots, shooting 65.3 percent (49-of-75) from the field and 82.5 percent from the free throw line (33-of-40)

The timing of this injury stinks, it could really hold back the progress Bynum was making.

Update: Mike Trudell on Lakers.com reports that Bynum has completed his MRI but results will not be known until later this evening or perhaps tomorrow.

Lakers center Andrew Bynum underwent an MRI on Sunday morning, but results won’t be available until later this evening at the earliest.

“There’s nothing to be talked about until we get the results of his examination,” explained assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who was running practice for Phil Jackson. “There’s nothing we can do about it. What’s happened has happened, and our team has to stay positive and move forward.”

Update: The results will not be known until tomorrow. The doctor brought in to review the scan did not make it in time

Reporting from New York — Results of an MRI exam for Lakers center Andrew Bynum will not be known until Monday, a team official said Sunday night.

Bynum had the exam on his sprained right knee done at 11 a.m. Sunday in New York, but knee specialist David Altchek did not return in time from a trip to Florida to read the results by nightfall.

Also, good article on Kobe Bryant’s reaction and words to young Drew Bynum.

Final Verdict

Update: Yahoo Sports is reporting that Andrew Bynum will be out 2-3 months with a torn MCL.

The Lakers’ worst fear was confirmed Monday when Bynum was diagnosed with a torn MCL in his right knee, an injury that could sideline the star center for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs.

How long is two to three months? It’s eight to twelve weeks, or in other words ….

The 7-foot Bynum was examined Monday by team physician Dr. David Altchek, who stated that the 21-year-old will miss between eight and 12 weeks. The Lakers will complete their regular season in just over 10 weeks

That has Bynum returning sometime in April or early May. If it’s only the two months, then Bynum will return at the beginning of April and have two weeks of games to play prior to the playoffs. If it’s three months, then Bynum would be returning sometime in late April or early May, in time for the second round or end of the first round.

This is of course assuming that he heals as expected and has no setbacks, either of which could rule him out for the count. Remember Bynum healed slowly last season so there is reason for concern in this regard.

Update: This knee, his right knee, is the same knee that Bynum tore his ACL on during his senior year of High School.

I didn’t know he tore his ACL before entering the NBA, I knew he had an injury that year but not what it was. That raises the concern level quite a bit doesn’t it?

Three serious knee injuries and he’s only 21 years old. That’s a little frightening.

I’ve seen a question in a few other places, is it fair to call Andrew Bynum injury prone now? It’s might be, it’s certaintly close to that time anyway.

Update: Unconfirmed further reports on the injury

Partial tear, not a full tear
No surgery planned, just rest and rehab.
Grade III – complete tear

I’ll try to find some confirmation on that, until then don’t take them as gospel, may just be rumours.

Some Information on MCL Injuries: Here’s the link

Update: LA Times is reporting the following on Bynum’s injury

He will rest the knee for the next seven to 10 days and will then begin rehabilitating it. Surgery is not required for this type of injury, said Lakers spokesman John Black.

I’ve read a lot of fans say – the MCL is the least severe out of the serious knee injuries because it heals itself well. It’s big and receives a lot of blood flow. I don’t pay much attention to injuries so I don’t know and will take their word on it.

Update: Doctors described severity of the MCL to Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum said his doctor told him that the tear in his medial collateral ligament is between the levels of medium and high

Tagged: Lakers, NBA

Posted in: General NBA

7 Responses “Bynum Hurt (Out 2-3 Months)” →

Dave

February 27, 2009

The LA Times has an update on Bynum’s recovery

He has started riding a stationary bike, using an elliptical machine and doing partial lunges and squats with his lower legs.

He continues to lift weights to maintain his upper-body strength but has not yet started running.

All indications are that he will return between March 30 and April 27, within the original eight-to-12 week forecast released by the team after Bynum suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

“It feels fine, very little pain,” Bynum said Thursday. “The swelling’s all the way down. I’m optimistic. I just hope it keeps going the way it’s going now.”

Good to hear Bynum’s return is on schedule
Dave

March 13, 2009

InsideSoCal.com offers an update on Bynum’s recovery

Andrew Bynum took another step toward his return to the Lakers’ active roster when he began running on a treadmill earlier this week. He had has no setbacks so far, according to an email team spokesman John Black sent to beat reporters today. Bynum’s first session on the treadmill was Tuesday.

The LA Times offers up a few Bynum quotes, and he says he’ll definitely return this season

“It’s been a good six weeks,” he said Sunday afternoon. “I’m running on the treadmill, no pain, every day. I just hope that the lateral movement gets a little better in the next couple of weeks. That’s what the doctor told me.”

“I went to get on the court and see what happens if I start trying to do some moves and things like that,” Bynum said. “I don’t have a [specific] date. I just know in a couple of weeks, hopefully, I’ll be able to participate with the team a little bit more in practice, and a week after that, I should be back in game shape.”

Bynum said this wouldn’t be a repeat of last season, when he went down with an injury to his other knee and never returned.

“I’ll definitely be back this season,” he said.
Dave

March 19, 2009

A new update on Bynum’s recovery process, and even a date named on a possible return

Lakers center Andrew Bynum said Wednesday that he plans to begin basketball-related activities Friday, the next step in his recovery from a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

“I’m going to increase my lateral movement come Friday and I’m going to try to get back on the court and do a little bit of drills on Friday as well,” Bynum said during an interview with John Ireland and Steve Mason of KSPN (710-AM).

Bynum said his participation in a full practice with his teammates is still a few weeks away, and he remains hopeful of playing in an undetermined number of regular-season games next month. The Lakers end their season April 14.

“As far as when I’m coming back, it’ll be as soon as I’m ready, man,” Bynum said. “It will definitely be some time in the middle of April.”

The line of most interest — Bynum saying he’ll be back sometime in mid April.
khandor

March 20, 2009

Dave,

Good news for NBA fans everywhere.

The Lakers will definitely need Andrew Bynum’s services if they’re going to win the title this season … given the other roster moves which they’ve made so far this season.

e.g. Exchanging Radmanovic for Morrison … based on how they’ve used the former Zag to this point … is a severe dent in the Lakers’ 2nd Unit.

AB will need to be close to 100% for them to win it all.
Dave

March 20, 2009

ESPN reports on Bynum’s comeback, with some good quotes from Phil Jackson

Andrew Bynum might not return to the Los Angeles Lakers before the NBA playoffs begin in April, coach Phil Jackson said Thursday.

Jackson said Bynum is probably a month away from returning from a torn MCL in his right knee. The Lakers end their regular season on April 14, with the playoffs starting soon afterward.

“I would say he’s still like a month away from being a player,” Jackson said, according to Los Angeles-area media reports. “And if he had to do that in the postseason, then he’s going to have to do it. That’s just part of it. It’s going to change how he comes back obviously.”

“The best case is that he plays the first part of April,” Jackson said. “On the pace he’s been going at this point, it’s really hard to see him in two weeks all of a sudden being able to do that.”

Fairly similar report to the previous one — mid-April return — so it does look like Bynum is going to have to play himself back into shape during the playoffs.

At this pace, it’s a near certainty that Bynum will come off the bench for LA in the postseason.

It’ll also be a major test of Phil Jackson’s confidence in his young center, because he was inconsistent about Bynum playing late in the fourth quarter earlier in the season, so Bynum will have a very limited opportunity to change his mind before the games. This will very likely be an issue we talk about more in May+June.
Dave

March 31, 2009

A new Andrew Bynum update

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum could return as early as Sunday to play the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to his website, AndrewBynum.com, Bynum has been “playing 2 on 2 and 3 on 3.” He hopes to get in a full practice on Saturday and scrimmage 5 on 5.

The article adds

The Lakers are scheduled to play the Charlotte Bobcats and Milwaukee Bucks on back-to-back nights on Tuesday and Wednesday. Coach Phil Jackson wouldn’t be likely to hold a full practice on Thursday.

The team’s next home game is on Friday against the Houston Rockets, likely without Bynum. If, however, he can get in a full practice on Saturday, April 4th . . . perhaps the Lakers will be able to get him on the court against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

That assumes that Bynum’s knee responds well to the increase in activity. A delay might take him to April 9th against the Denver Nuggets or even as late as the Memphis Grizzlies on the 12th.
Dave

April 4, 2009

Another update on Bynum’s road to recovery

Andrew Bynum worked out for about 45 minutes before Friday night’s game, an event that drew a horde of curious reporters and fans eager to get a firsthand look at how the injured center is progressing.

Sweat poured from Bynum’s brow after assistant coaches Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw had him shooting jumpers, running pick and pops and doing post moves that required him to plant off his injured right knee. He moved well despite a bulky knee brace that he said he’ll continue to wear the rest of the season.

“It’s just a precaution,” Bynum said. “It doesn’t allow you to run properly, but it will protect the knee when I go side to side.”

So we now know that Andrew Bynum will be wearing a knee brace for the rest of the season.

The article also describes a recent practice session, not a full practice, that Bynum partook in.

Bynum has yet to practice 5-on-5 but remains hopeful he’ll play before the end of the regular season, possibly even against the Grizzlies on April 12.

Bynum participated in a structured half-court game of 3-on-3 with several teammates during Thursday’s optional practice. Backup center D.J. Mbenga said Bynum looked good considering the circumstances but nowhere close to full strength.

“The first practices can be dangerous because you don’t know if you’re ready or not,” Mbenga said. “It’s normal after an injury like that not to have your confidence. I think he needs a couple of hard practices for him to catch up and be in shape. The rest is by himself, his mind and his confidence.”

Bynum said the knee held up fine during Friday’s pregame workout.

“We haven’t really done anything difficult yet,” he said. “We haven’t done 5-on-5 or screen-and-roll coverage yet. I’m getting ready to have a couple practices, and we’ll see what happens.”

I think (fuzzy memory) I read some Phil Jackson quotes elsewhere, and that Phil said Mbenga outplayed Bynum in those drills/practice games.

The Lakers are tentatively scheduling his date of return as April 12th, against he Memphis Grizzlies. Am I the only one who’s a little superstitious at this stage? Two knee injuries against the same team in two years? How about we let Drew sit this one out and come back the game after.

Update: Good article in the OC Register and they’re very complimentary of Bynum’s fitness

Just in watching Bynum do his thing in a pregame workout session with Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw on Sunday night, anyone would conclude that Bynum can do pretty much whatever he is needed. He is pain-free and if this were the postseason would undoubtedly be playing right now.

He’s fully capable of helping right now, too. Phil Jackson, hardly Pollyanna when it comes to this sort of thing, allowed that Bynum was “kind of the dominant force in there” in his 5-on-5 work at practice Saturday.

Update: According to ESPN, Bynum is set to return Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum will return to action Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, according to a source close to the Lakers.

Bynum, the team’s budding star at center, has missed the past 32 games after suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee Jan. 31 at Memphis. The source said Lakers coach Phil Jackson telephoned Bynum Tuesday night and told him he was going to be activated for Thursday’s game.

One other note

Jackson has said recently that Bynum probably will start once he returns, a move that likely will send Lamar Odom back to the bench.

I’m not sure if that above quote is accurate. We’ll see shortly if ESPN have it right.

Bynum Hurt (Out 2-3 Months)

Recent Comments

Categories

Follow “nbaroundtable”

Bynum Hurt (Out 2-3 Months)

Share this:

Like this:

Recent Comments

Categories

Follow “nbaroundtable”