"Sometimes You're Open for a Reason"

"Sometimes your open for a reason." - Jeff Van Gundy

Van Gundy's comic wit comes at the expense of Laker's big man Andrew Bynum. Now Jeff has reasons galore to shade his commentary in the direction of the Magic. His brother Stan is their coach. The Magic's big man coach is Patrick Ewing, the star of Van Gundy's Knicks teams in the 90's. Even his unhealthy man crush on JJ Redick clouds his judgement.

Now as many of you know (seeing as this post is further behind schedule than the United States' discovery of WMD's in Iraq), the Lakers won the NBA Title. This is a certainty. It is also a certainty that said title had very little to do with Andrew Bynum.

Bynum came out firing like Plaxico Burress, taking the semi-contested elbow jumper like it was his job. Just over 4 minutes into the first quarter of Game 5 Bynum had taken -- and missed -- six shots and though I can't find the stat to back me up, I doubt more than one or two would be approved by the zen master.

In the new world of basketball sabermetrics and the Hockey-esque +/- rating Bynum had the lowest on the Lakers. In his 17 minutes on the court the Lakers were outscored by 6 points while Bynum himself had as many fouls as rebounds (5 each). The next closest Laker in the starting five was Trevor Ariza who was still +12 while on the court.

On the other hand JJ Redick was the lone bright spot for the Magic, and by far the most in the positive of the +/- stat with a +6. The only other players in the postive numbers were Jameer Nelson (+2), Marcin Gortat (+1) and the irreplacable Tony Battie (also +1). The much criticized (by me) shooting guard came on late and made all three shots he took including two threes to give the Magic a punchers chance in the fourth. Redick did cost his team the game late, but through no fault of his own as Stan Van Gundy decided the always defensively challenged Redick would draw the assignment of Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant. Really Stan Van? Didn't wanna give Adonal Foyle some run instead?

As the Lakers celebrated their 15th NBA title one thing was perfectly clear; Andrew Bynum was not the difference last year. In 2008 Bynum's injury took the heat for the Lakers' inability to hold serve inside, while really it was the fact that Luke Walton and Ronny Turiaf had to see major minutes on Kevin Garnett. Dwight Howard is a hell of a talent and he'll alter more shots than the ones he blocks/goaltends on the defensive end but his offense and and on the ball defensive leaves alot to be desired when compared to KG. Garnett can step away from the basket on either end and do damage. His savvy and developed game allows him to hit 20 footers and defend in the post and on the perimeter without picking up stupid fouls. Last year KG and the Truth had intensity off the charts and they took it to the title. This year Kobe was there with that same intensity. He had the underbite to prove it.