We're heading back to the infamous Garden once again for the final road game.
Now let me be the first to tell you that I'm surprised in a sense that I didn't truly believe this series was going to be this tough for the Lakers.
Even after game two's loss at home, I still had high expectation for the Lakers.
Why?
Andrew Bynum, that's why.
Is it me or does Boston seem to play timid when Bynum's in the game?
The fact is, that they do, and for a good reason.
Boston isn't stubborn, they know that Andrew Bynum's presence down low is nothing to reckon with.
But why can't Bynum stay healthy for the important series' such as the NBA Finals?
Before we get into that, lets look at Bynum's stats and how he affects the series as a whole.
2010 NBA Finals Statistics:
Game One: 10 (PTS), 6 (REB), 4-6 (FGM-A).
Game Two: 21 (PTS), 7 (BLK), 6 (REB), 6-10 (FGM-A).
Game Three: 9 (PTS), 1 (BLK), 10 (REB), 3-9 (FGM-A).
Game Four: 2 (PTS), 3 (REB), 1-2 (FGM-A).
Considering Bynum has been dealing with his bad knee, these numbers are very impressive.
Imagine having to run up and down full speed on a bad knee, with a skin-tight brace on.
I can't run when my knee is swollen can you?
The more important aspect about Bynum is his mere physical presence in the paint.
He could go scoreless and the Lakers would still be competitive.
Like the say, "you can't teach size."
Bynum was born with unmeasurable talent and a "tank-like" body.
This is why Bynum is the key to every series and especially this series against a very physical Boston team.
The advantage the Celtics have over the Lakers is simple:
They play physical and "dirty basketball" ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
