Cutting Drew
May 18, 2008 | 4:14
pm
Not from the team, or even with big knives or scalpels. Though Andrew Bynum will indeed get his knee scoped on Wednesday to clean up some rough spots under his kneecap. We'll know more about it later in the week, but at this point, it's certainly no surprise to see he needs more work.
BK
Overcoming imjuries and setbacks in Lakers championship history:
In '71-72 we survived the retirement of Elgin Baylor and the season long loss of Keith Erickson due to injury
"79-80 Spencer Haywood who started much of the season was suspended and didn't play in the Finals
81-82 Starting PF Mitch Kupchak was injured and played only 26 games
84-85 Jamaal Wilkes was injured and only played 42 games
01-02 Derek Fisher was injured and only played 21 regular season games
It looks to me like we have a pretty good history of overcoming injuries and going on to win it all!
Add '07-'08 to the list
Posted by: rdlee | May 18, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Lifetime Laker,
"The team looks great, the future is bright, and complaining about the troubles of the Lakers and Laker fans right now would be pretty darned pathetic."
It is not the complaining that is pathetic but it is the long termed treatment that is pathetic. We can't leave the bright side based on chance or laid back attitude, we just want to be dam* sure that it is the right treatment for the Lakers golden duck. One previous misdiagnosis and one correct move does not guarantee successful treatment, it has to be supervised carefully throughout summer. There are histories of prolonged illness or injuries like: Amare, K-Mart, Mihm, Kupchak or Bill Walton and so forth......can't just rely on bright side that he will be back next season and leave it to chance, there has to be constant follow ups from every stage of the procedure i.e. if we consider him a very important player.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 18, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Great teams win on the road.
"Michael Jordan's Bulls were just ridiculous on this count. Over the course of their six championship playoff runs on the road, they won 35 games, clinched all six first-round series and ended 13 series overall, including the Finals at Los Angeles (1991), Phoenix ('93) and Utah ('98). Remarkably, Jordan's teams never won fewer than five road playoff games in any of those seasons."
Check out Sloan's quote...cool....
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/17/SP5K10NKB6.DTL&feed=rss.warriors
Posted by: mel | May 18, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Gary Vitti's time may have passed. This is a MAJOR blunder on the training/med staff's part. As successful as we have been, we haven't played at FULL STRENGTH in about 2 years or so. Dang.
Dear God, one simple prayer: HEAL ANDREW BYNUM. You blessed him to embrace his potential & greatness this season. Finish Your work, Lord. You did not bring AB this far to forsake him now. Use the doctors to accurately service his knee. Give them the wisdom & insight that they need. Allow him to recover over the summer and send him back to us this fall rested, healed and ready to ball!
We thank You in advance for answered prayer - AMEN!
Posted by: utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER | May 18, 2008 at 10:30 PM
pslakerfan:
"Some of us have been hardcore Laker fans for 20 years, but just found the blog recently. Like I said celebrate the longevity, but don't call it loyalty as if the rest of us aren't loyal."
I couldn't have said it any better.
Posted by: hoping | May 18, 2008 at 10:38 PM
moving story...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3402358
Posted by: mel | May 18, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Am I the only one that is tired of the title of "The Big Three" in Boston. I know they play a slower tempo, but here is a comparison of their big three and ours. (Playoffs only)
PPG Lakers - 68.9 Celtics - 51.2
RPG Lakers - 25.6 Celtics - 17.0
APG Lakers - 14.3 Celtics - 10.4
BPG Lakers - 5.0 Celtics - 1.77
Sh% Lakers - .527 Celtics - .441
Big three my @$$
Posted by: pslakerfan | May 18, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Do you realize that LO has taken 5 three pointers in the playoffs? (made 2, 40% by the way). That has got to be a conscious effort/coaches directive. Either way it is exactly what we asked for all season. (Maybe they read the blog?.......nah)
Posted by: pslakerfan | May 18, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Edwin,
>>> Let's move on and win the Championship for Andrew.
Bravo!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | May 18, 2008 at 11:19 PM
by the way Bynum's doctor, Dr. David Altchek is ranked as as one of the five top orthopedic surgeans in the United States, and Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City, where Drew will have his procedure, is THE top ranked Orthopedic practice in the the country...so, at least we as his "extended family" know he's in good hands...
http://www.hss.edu/newsroom_16572.asp
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | May 18, 2008 at 11:35 PM
How can anyone hate on Lebron, when he continues to recognize and respect Kobe?
"Paul Pierce is one of my favorite players," said James. "I always say, second to Kobe Bryant, he has some of the best footwork I've ever seen in a player. I love going against the best, and Paul Pierce is one of those guys."
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | May 19, 2008 at 12:12 AM
In case you have all forgotten, our medical staff probably saved Turiaf's life by diagnosing his heart condition. They also did one hell of job on Kobe's back last week. I'm no doctor, but I thought Socks was out for the season when he went down - I had friend in college dislocate his knee, that's a 6 - 8 month deall.
Posted by: Lincoln Laker | May 18, 2008 at 09:48 PM
[I was going to say the same thing and then some but you beat me. I agree totally.
I will say the Dr's and trainers did get too much unnecessary abuse from bloggers.
Drs' I agree probably saved Turiafs life and career.
The trainers also got Kobes back prepered to play and devised a splint for Kobe's finger, when taping the two fingers did not work. This then helped Kobe to play MVP type basketball. I am sure they helped Fish with his foot injury to allow him to play. I can go on but the point is made.
As to getting similar injuries as Jon K said he has had does not mean AB will heal like him. Every one has different recovery times dictated by genes and conditioning and other factors. Jon K is not AB and there is no indication the same treatment will get the same recovery time.
Plus the fact that cutting was avoided to see if non evasive healing could have restored the health of the knee. Only when that failed was surgery opted for.
There is no cover up or malpractice here but a cautious approach to the future franchise player.
I would however agree to get new or old medical technologies or approach to better evaluate injuries as any advancement is worthy of consideration.
So end with the AB injury situation and thank the Laker organization for being cautious about his health and still providing the fans with a Championship calibur team still fighting for the title.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | May 19, 2008 at 12:20 AM
I'm not ready to fully blame the medical staff for this issue with Bynum.
I don't know how much medical treatment the rest of you have received, but I've had a great deal.
Many doctors provide a series of options for how to treat the current condition. They often have a recommendation based on their experience, but they provide these options to patients with the benefits and drawbacks for all of them.
I suspect that arthroscopic surgery was a consideration for a long time prior to today. I suspect that it was delayed for as long as possible.
Doctors, trainers and physical therapists are not totalitarians that get whatever they want. In the real world they must work with patients to find the best possible treatment fit for that patient. Lakers management, Bynum's family, Bynum himself, and Bynum's agent all could have played a role in deciding how to deal with Bynum's injury and rehabilitation.
It is always the case that surgery is considered aggressive and less preferable to all other forms of medical treatment. Many of the recent advances in medicine have involved making prescription drugs available to treat conditions that were only previously treatable by surgery. In performing surgery, some damage occurs and there is risk of serious complications. That's why it's a last resort and why it should be. With Baby Bynum they were probably just doing what they could to protect him and his future value for himself and the Lakers franchise by putting off a surgery that he probably needed.
While this situation with all of its ambiguities, twists and turns and incrementally worsening news is understandably frustrating, I still don't believe that it means the people involved in the treatment, rehabilitation and training of Bynum are incompetent or lower tier performers.
It doesn't look good, however, and unless Bynum's injury is pretty unusual, I'm unsatisfied with the way we as fans were treated regarding his injuries.
Maybe we just hit the anti-Daily 3 numbers with Mihm, Ariza, and Bynum? Genetic differences and unique injuries can account for a lot of what we've seen here.
Let's hope this situation means we can keep Bynum cheaply and hope that it also means he can have an excellent recovery.
I don't have a problem with people dissing the Lakers medical staff or whatever doctors they see that are not actually Lakers staff. However, if you're going to do so, you should be fair. Assuming a 20 year NBA vet that's been with the Lakers for that entire time sucks at his job just because of a few recent slow healings doesn't make sense when you can explain away those slow healings by genetic variation and unique injuries.
It seems to me that people are unsatisfied and want to blame someone. It's like when someone gets murdered police feel pressured to produce a convictable suspect even when that person may not have committed the crime. I'd like to think that we're better fans than that.
The doctors the Lakers have seen (how many doctors has Bynum seen now?) call a little more into question, but if Bynum is seeing multiple orthopedic surgeons specializing in knees and they can't figure it out, maybe it's the knee that's the problem.
Posted by: Benjamin | May 19, 2008 at 12:53 AM
mel,
That link was an interesting read. In my opinion, these individuals are the following I "hate":
Player still in the playoffs:
Bruce Bowen..I know that Sasha whines and flops but Bowen takes his game to another level. He whines, flops, chops, shoves, stomps, cuts underneath, and does a lot of other dirty tactics.
Player in the Lakers during the playoffs.
Vlukemar.This choice is a triumvirate among Vlad, Luke, and Farmar. Vlad has been a space cadet during these playoffs. Although Luke had an exceptional first round, he dropped dramatically with a rejection during an open fast break to highlight the fall. Farmar has been Smush Parker part 2 and in my opinion would have been worse if it wasn't for Fisher.
Crowd during the playoffs
*Utah Jazz (Western Conference)
-Just referring to those individuals who threw food at the Lakers. Someone also posted two Jazz fans with one holding a blowup doll and another covering his eye while Fisher was shooting a free throw.
*Boston Celtics (Eastern Conference)
-Just referring to those individuals who were chanting USA USA while Pachulia was shooting free throws.
If I wasn't a Lakers fan, player I would hate but would love to have on my team:
Kobe Bryant
Posted by: never | May 19, 2008 at 01:26 AM
well I hope the KID gets better and come up next season with the same strong will he showed at the begining of the season....
GO GO GO GO GO LA LA LA LAKERSSSS
Posted by: LakerAngolaN | May 19, 2008 at 03:06 AM
Rick Friedman,
Well, I guess we have been vindicated to a degree. After months of bloggers yelling at us, "YOU'RE NOT A DOCTOR! YOU DON'T KNOW!" Well, it looks like neither does the Lakers Training Staff. If this injury would have been properly diagnosed, Drew would have had surgery months ago and would be back right now dunking on Tim Duncan.
I'm still upset about 2004's misdiagnosis of Karl Malone which arguably cost us the Championship and lead up to the Apocalypse of the Shaq-Kobe conflict.
Thank God we're as deep as we are this year and that Pau Gasol compliments the Triangle so well. Otherwise we'd be screwed without Andrew Bynum.
As a veteran of three knee surgeries and countless injuries after a lifetime of being an athlete, one gets a certain sense as to whether or not a doctor's prescribed treatment is working/correct or not.
And after nearly five months of Bynum's progression stalling, it's clear that something wasn't right and hasn't been for at least three months.
It's good that Drew is getting this surgery. He'll be fine in six weeks.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 19, 2008 at 06:09 AM
Good morning Charles.
Good Moring to the “Morning MOB”: Toad “pig” Miller, Hmrhead
JohnnyP, JustAnotherMambaFan, PsychedLakerGirl, Bozz, JesterGuru,
Fearless, Edwin Gueco.!
WE ARE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS THE WINNERS OF 14 NBA TITLES…..
AND THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN EVER DEFEAT OR DIVIDE US IS US
LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
IT ‘s DESTINY
It’s a all over but the shouting and the good guys won
Heres to you LA Lakers this was a job well done.
You won the game and walked off with Class.
You saluted the losers after whipping their @ss
The entire NBA is now shaking with fear
That you played this well without Bynum being here.
Everyone is tiptoeing around an obvious reality
This team is for real, it’s a team of destiny
Bring on the Spurnettes, Mr. Fair-weather wants Duncan
Sure bring them on, we’ll just turn them into a pumpkin
Our number 2 scorer”the beast” is out for the year
So why does the rest of the NBA still shake with fear.
They say the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts
If one Laker goes down we have another ready to start.
We have a coach who sits back when a timeout should be called
Causing the other team to become confused, panic & stall
We have a player who can shoot better with a broken shooting hand
Than the next best player in the entire NBA land
This same player with a back that’s in excruciating pain
Can still outplay any other NBA player in the game.
Another player comes straight from a daughter being operated on
Flies a 1000 miles and shoots the shot on which the game is won
Now you have these people all playing on the same side
And imbued with skill and spirit and Freakin La Laker Pride
Thank you Bench Mob for also coming thru
Thank You Lamar, DFish and Pau, as stars you really grew
Thank you Kobe, Phil and Mitch for getting the job done
Godd@mnit isn’t it obvious, The Freakin Lakers are the chosen ones
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 07:00 AM
*____________________________________*
Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this
Championship Run to you Bandwagon
*___________________________________*
(01) Edwin Gueco – Driver Owner
(02) Milo Rambaldi – Team Prophet, Bynums personal Soothsayer
(03) Mamba24 – The Beasts Advance man.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 07:10 AM
Hey Stranger in the Night,
WELL SAID.
Yours truly,
THE REAL STRANGER IN THE NIGHT
DOO BEEEE DOOOO BEEE DOOOOOOOOOOOO
Posted by: Stranger in the Night | May 19, 2008 at 07:27 AM
Good Morning Mamba24, Good Morning Charles, Good Morning ALL of the Laker Nation, especially the "Morning Mob"
Mamba, great job once again on the poem.......just what we need while waiting to see who we beat next!
LET'S GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8 TO 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: toad | May 19, 2008 at 07:44 AM
*___________________________________*
Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this
Championship Run to you - Bandwagon
*___________________________________*
(01) Edwin Gueco – Driver & Owner
(02) Milo Rambaldi – Team Prophet, Bynums personal Soothsayer
(03) Mamba24 – The Beasts Advance man.
(04) Rick Friedman – Personally found a Dr. for Socks
(05) Jon K. – Made Bynum get a second opinion.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 07:45 AM
You know when 9Rings came to the Lakers after leaving the
Bulls he tried to get the Bulls trainer to become the Lakers trainer but
that was shot down. During all the Bulls championship runs they
had the fewest injuries in the NBA and when a guy was injured
he always returned far earlier than anticipated. At every victory
celebration Phil always gave Chip Shafer the trainer a good
deal of the credit for their title run.
Posted by: Mammba24 | May 19, 2008 at 07:51 AM
JustaLakerFan,
Good point. If we're going to lay blame, we should also lay credit where credit is due.
The Lakers training staff screwed up Karl Malone, Chris Mihm and Andrew Bynum.
And they did a fantastic, arguably life-saving job with Ronny Turiaf.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 19, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Good morning Mamba24, Charles, Pig, Toad, JonK & the rest of the morning crue, and also to this great Laker Nation a great big GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!
It's a great day to be a Laker fan - just like every other day!
Mamba24 - great poem - Poet Laureate keeps it comin! Also - please put me on the "win it for the Beast" bandwagon (or whatever it's called - LOL)!! Thanks, man - and good to have you back!
I'm looking forward to the game tonight to see who we'll end up with on Wednesday. I personally don't really care who it is, but I guess if I had to choose I'd want the Spurs just cuz they're the defending champs. However, whichever way tonight goes I'll be just fine - and so will the PURPLE & GOLD, BABY! We can take either team, and wilth home court advantage, Laker Nation will be on hand personally to enjoy the festivities. I'd like to say we'll sweep (homer speaking there), but more realistically would be a 4-2 series - IMHO....
GET WELL SOCKS!
8 to O'brien......
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 19, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Good morning everyone!
Mamba 24,
Can you put me down on the Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this Championship Run to you Bandwagon? Thanks buddy.
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | May 19, 2008 at 08:30 AM
*___________________________________*
Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this
Championship Run to you - Bandwagon
*___________________________________*
(01) Edwin Gueco – Driver & Owner
(02) Milo Rambaldi – Team Prophet, Bynums personal Soothsayer
(03) Mamba24 – The Beasts Advance man.
(04) Rick Friedman – Personally found a Dr. for Socks
(05) Jon K. – Made Bynum get a second opinion.
(06) JustALakerFan – Was called in to consult on Dr. Choices
(07) Never – Told Bynum to have surgery immediately
(08) BronxLakerFan – suggested NY doctor for Bynum
(09) Bozz – Director of WCF win # 2.
(10) JustAnotherMambaFan - Director of WCF win #2.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Good morning LAL friends!
Thanks Mamba!
Not so bummed about AB anymore although more curious about the timing of things. I am curious why they scheduled this on same day as G1? He couldn't watch the 1st game @ Staples, then fly Thursday? It seems like he should have been there for the TEAM....
I took in what all of you said above. On the one hand - we all knew he had knee problems (now both) early on as AB said Dr. Alt... has been his Dr. for many years. That should have told us there were "issues". PJ even said he has some structural challenges that need to be taken into consideration. And the kid is barely 20, so he is still growing.
Yes, he's the franchise future and they are obviously taking that into consideration since that equates to $$$. But I think there are a lot of unknowns given he is still growing into his body. And I am sure since the Lakers want him to be the big man to go up against Oden, Howard, etc- he has to pack on some serious muscle and bulk. All of this will put strain on his body hence the very slow progress we have seen.
Lastly, since they saw what happened with Oden and having micro-fracture surgery before he even started in the NBA - they probably said we don't want to go there.
I know medical circumstances are different for everyone - but we have our team now, we are doing well (really well) and we are behind them 100%.
Our team, our year!! GO LAKERS!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | May 19, 2008 at 08:49 AM
On to an old subject but still important. The Bets still in control as was seen these last platoff series and for that fact the entire season.
See update from Fox Sports on MSN.
Here is article;
Disgraced basketball referee Tim Donaghy is bickering with federal prosecutors in Brooklyn over how much money he cost the NBA by betting on approximately 100 games over the last four years, new court papers reveal.
The new filings state that he bet on about half of the games he officiated in each of the last four seasons, and the government claims he cost the association $304,858 by depriving them of his "honest services."
The rogue ref already coughed up $30,000 in restitution to the government; the $304,858 figure would only be used to drive up his prison term when he's sentenced on July 14.
But Donaghy disagrees, saying that he only cost the NBA $40,000 in losses.
Court papers also revealed that Donaghy bet on 14 games he officiated during the 2006-2007 season, and about 30 games for each of the preceding seasons starting in 2003.
Donaghy, who lives in Bradenton, Fla., faces up to 25 years in prison for conspiring to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information though interstate commerce but could receive a much lighter term under federal sentencing guidelines.
Donaghy and two accomplices are scheduled to be sentenced within 3 days of one another. Donaghy has admitted to supplying inside information to James Battista and Thomas Martino in return for cash payments.
Battista is facing 10 to 16 months in jail, while Martino faces 12 to 18 months when sentenced July 11.
Now who really thinks that over a 100 games and 4 years (if totals are true but probably more) would not have involved more refs? I don't believe in a second that with at least 4 years no one else (bets) knew about or participated in this disgrace. Yeah right.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | May 19, 2008 at 08:54 AM
With regards to Bynum,
Are you guys not concerned with his skill level possibly regressing once he comes back? With a player this early in his career, isn't it quite a big deal to be sidelined for such a long time? The time required to polish up on his skills, get back into some formidable game shape, etc, would lead me to believe that Bynum won't be effective until the second part of the season next year? Any thoughts?
Posted by: Lakafo0 | May 19, 2008 at 08:55 AM
*___________________________________*
Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this
Championship Run to you - Bandwagon
*___________________________________*
(01) Edwin Gueco – Driver & Owner
(02) Milo Rambaldi – Team Prophet, Bynums personal Soothsayer
(03) Mamba24 – The Beasts Advance man.
(04) Rick Friedman – Personally found a Dr. for Socks
(05) Jon K. – Made Bynum get a second opinion.
(06) JustALakerFan – Was called in to consult on Dr. Choices
(07) Never – Told Bynum to have surgery immediately
(08) BronxLakerFan – suggested NY doctor for Bynum
(09) Bozz – Director of WCF win # 2.
(10) JustAnotherMambaFan - Director of WCF win #2.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 08:55 AM
How did the Lakers training staff screw up Karl Malone?
My understanding is that he had a torn MCL which typically heals on its own. My further understanding is that he pushed to keep playing even when he should have rested and only made it through what part of the season that he did as a result of desperate and frequent cortisone shots. My understanding is that Malone's health was holding on by a thread the entire season subsequently to Malone's MCL tear.
This course of treatment served to alleviate Malone's discomfort, but didn't allow healing to occur. A tough guy like Malone wants to be a warrior, but he should have sat his ass down instead. This decision wasn't just the training staff's, nor his doctor's, it was Malone's decision. Malone was like 41 in his year for the Lakers. At that age, even a top-conditioned athlete like Malone will heal slower.
Posted by: Benjamin | May 19, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Good morning Lakers Nation.
Just another manic Monday and yet it is a good day to be a Lakers Fan.
A ton of good comments on match ups over the weekends. Way to go blog.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 19, 2008 at 08:57 AM
And they did a fantastic, arguably life-saving job with Ronny Turiaf.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 19, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Are you crediting the Laker medical staff with Turiaf's open heart surgery? What are you referring to?
Posted by: Lakafo0 | May 19, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Ok the 'scope is necessary for now, but there are many possibilities. I noticed during the Jazz series the TV announcers made a reference to some incredible bodyworker that Kobe credited with getting his back in shape to play (I think her name was Judy?). Anybody know who she is and can we get her to take a look at Drew??? Western medicine often does not have all the answers - believe me I know from first hand experience!
Oh and Mamba - put me on the "dedicate to Drew championship bandwagon". And we WILL go all the way!
Posted by: Jay Jay | May 19, 2008 at 09:03 AM
R. Turiaf on Rome today (radio)
Posted by: Fire32 | May 19, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Good Morning Everyone!
MAMBA24, please put me on the "Win this for Socks" bandwagon.
Charles - I hope you're having a fantastic monday!
To the Family - I hope your day is fruitful and enjoyable, and that you remain in good health (unlike me - I got sick on Friday).
Let's Go Lake Show!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | May 19, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Sorry if this comment has already been made but,
one way or the other, Bynum is directly responsible for the large amount of success the Lakers have enjoyed this season. First, with his amazing blossoming as a top NBA center, then, by going injured and forcing management to go after a same-value replacement.
I seem to remember another rookie, James Worthy, breaking a leg bone in his rookie year. I think we'd all agree he came back nicely from that ! !
Have a good dinner tonight, boys. Speedy and complete recovery to you, Andrew.
GO LAKERS ! ! ! ! !
Posted by: Stockton_Showtime | May 19, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Lakafo0,
The Lakers training staff found the abnormality in Ronny Turiaf's heart that probably would have lead to complete heart failure if not corrected by surgery.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 19, 2008 at 09:27 AM
"How did the Lakers training staff screw up Karl Malone?"
Malone was on Fox Sports net on January 2004 and admitted that the staff didn't prescribe the correct scan the knee. They missed a good portion of the knee in being scanned.
It was recommended for Malone to be limited to stretching and bike work. Turned out the cyclical motion was worse for his knee. Further delaying his healing.
Posted by: Charles | May 19, 2008 at 09:31 AM
*___________________________________*
Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this
Championship Run to you - Bandwagon
*___________________________________*
(01) Edwin Gueco – Driver & Owner
(02) Milo Rambaldi – Team Prophet, Bynums personal Soothsayer
(03) Mamba24 – The Beasts Advance man.
(04) Rick Friedman – Personally found a Dr. for Socks
(05) Jon K. – Made Bynum get a second opinion.
(06) JustALakerFan – Was called in to consult on Dr. Choices
(07) Never – Told Bynum to have surgery immediately
(08) BronxLakerFan – suggested NY doctor for Bynum
(09) Bozz – Director of WCF win # 2.
(10) JustAnotherMambaFan - Director of WCF win #2.
(11) Caliphilosopher – Will participate in Socks Rehab
(12) Jay Jay – Purchased a Shaq punching bag for him
(13) PsychedLakerGirl – Director of WCF win # 3.
(14) Stockton Showtime _ believes Socks deserves more credit
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 09:34 AM
Last of my comments on Bynum case...
Gary Vitti is no cardiologist so he cannot detect the Ronnie Turiaf's problem. However, that was a success story so kudo's to the cardiologist who detected the problem.
Garry Vitti is not an orthopedic doctor so he does not determine the recommended theraphy for Socks. Dr. Altchek may have the best credentials in NY, but he blew it now he has one misdiagnosis and he's no LA MD. We don't trust the Knick's doctor! lol I only recognize Mamba24 as a bonafide NuYoker, j/k so with bronxlakerfan, lakersrydeordie, zakee and many more pseudo doctors in the blog.
Gary Vitti has been 20 years on the job so like any boxer or old b'ball player, time to retire and give the young athletic trainers and practitioner the chance to prove themselves. He has proven his worth to the organization so just hand him the golden handshake.
Bloggers don't abuse the doctors, it is the doctors who abused the bloggers for not taking care of Bynum. If Bynum was not their patient, we don't even know that they exist. lol again!
An adversity for Bynum is an opportunity for Mbenga, Mihm and Gasol. Just win this Championship for Socks and everything will be OK......
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 19, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Ever since Alex McKecknie, Laker med staff seems to be more focused on prevention, rehab and time with surgery coming at the end of an extended period.
The perfect ending to this year would have been Andrew's return for this round. We can live with Pau and just short of perfect.
Posted by: Vman | May 19, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Mamba24, sign me up for the new g-ride, the Championship for Drew bandwagon!!! thank you, sir!!
to the family, great monday. should be some good basketball tonight. It'll be fun to see who goes up against our Lakers. Young and hungry or old and veterans. The best thing is, I think we have the best mix old and new.
Posted by: #4 | May 19, 2008 at 09:48 AM
utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER,
As I've mentioned on this blog before, I don't follow sports, please stop bugging me about stuff like this.
Posted by: God | May 19, 2008 at 09:49 AM
And they did a fantastic, arguably life-saving job with Ronny Turiaf.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 19, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Are you crediting the Laker medical staff with Turiaf's open heart surgery? What are you referring to?
Posted by: Lakafo0 | May 19, 2008 at 09:02 AM
I can't answer for Jon K but I will say that yes the Laker medical staff had a great deal to do with Turiaffs surgery and recovery.
It was the Laker medical that diagnosed and found the problem. And it was the Laker organization that paid for the open heart surgery. I will do as referees do and BET that the Lakers medical team shared and were consulted on the diagnosis.
Heck they paid for the surgery why would they not share information and recovery regiment with patients consent?
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | May 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Jay Jay,
"Kobe credited with getting his back in shape to play (I think her name was Judy?)."
Oh-oh, don't let Vanessa hears that, it could be another punch and Judy show.
I definitely agree with you that Western Medicine does not have all the answers. There are many bone setters in Asia (a higher degree than quacks and faith healers) wherein orthopedic surgeons refer cases to them if there are no fructures only displacement. I have seen so many patients who walked out of the clinic without their wheelchairs and canes walking and happy with the treatment. They were cured by bare hands, castor oil, wintergreen, and x rays (no cats scan yet) verification that the nerves, ligaments and muscles were back in their proper places. We have also heard of chinese acupuncture and traditional herbal medicine discussed by Jon K.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM
*___________________________________*
Andrew the Beast Bynum We dedicate this
Championship Run to you - Bandwagon
*___________________________________*
(01) Edwin Gueco – Driver & Owner
(02) Milo Rambaldi – Team Prophet, Bynums personal Soothsayer
(03) Mamba24 – The Beasts Advance man.
(04) Rick Friedman – Personally found a Dr. for Socks
(05) Jon K. – Made Bynum get a second opinion.
(06) JustALakerFan – Was called in to consult on Dr. Choices
(07) Never – Told Bynum to have surgery immediately
(08) BronxLakerFan – suggested NY doctor for Bynum
(09) Bozz – Director of WCF win # 2.
(10) JustAnotherMambaFan - Director of WCF win #2.
(11) Caliphilosopher – Will participate in Socks Rehab
(12) Jay Jay – Purchased a Shaq punching bag for him
(13) PsychedLakerGirl – Director of WCF win # 3.
(14) Stockton Showtime _ believes Socks deserves more credit
(15) #4 - Director of WCF win #4
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 10:00 AM
mammba24: "At every victory celebration Phil always gave Chip Shafer the trainer a good deal of the credit for their title run."
Chip Schaefer is on the Lakers training staff.
Beyond the disappointment, is the question "how much time, if any, will Bynum have to work on his conditioning?" A huge reason why he was so effective earlier this year was because he worked for a month with a personal trainer. This off-season he was looking forward to 3 months. He would've come back a beast. Now, the decision to go under the knife 4 months after the injury and on the cusp of the off-season cuts into that. Players have always said, the off-season is when you do the conditioning work to prepare for the year. Given the schedule of games, practices and travel, it's extremely difficult to do that once the season starts.
Posted by: lakers_sth | May 19, 2008 at 10:02 AM
laker Sth:"Chip Schaefer is on the Lakers training staff"
Thanks I never knew that. Well I guess we can shoot
that theory down.
Posted by: mamba24 | May 19, 2008 at 10:14 AM
YOu can't blame the trainiing staff for Bynum; possibly you can for Malone and Mihm.
And Bynum was looked at by the physician in New York, too, with no recommendation for surgery. So this is not a case of the orthopedic team used by the Lakers being the only ones to not recommend surgery right away.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | May 19, 2008 at 10:40 AM