Good to believe in Bynum
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Good to believe in Bynum
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
It’s been interesting listening to the differing opinions about who is better, Dwight Howard or the Sixers’ Andrew Bynum (or Da-rue, as Doug Collins has taken to calling him to differentiate from Jrue Holiday).
If you tuned into ESPN’s First Take earlier this week you heard Stephen A. Smith touting Howard over Bynum. Smith’s foil, Skip Bayless, maintains, as he did when Bynum was in Los Angeles, that Bynum is the better center.
Shaquille, who seems to be fighting the angst that some athletes deal with (rather poorly) when the sun has set on his career, suggested that not only was Bynum better (debatable), but that Brook Lopez is also better (absurd) than Howard.
The Sixers I’ve talked to are firmly in their teammate’s camp. This includes Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Dorell Wright and Jason Richardson (who has played with Howard). One of them even went as far to say that Bynum, who will be their first option rather than the third, as he was in Los Angeles, could average 25 points this season.
The good thing about this is that, as far as the Sixers are concerned, what’s being said by others outside of their locker room hasn’t altered their opinion about their teammate, which should help them this season.
It’s sort of like a placebo effect, which is exactly what the Sixers want. It’s about building confidence and developing chemistry. If you think your guy is better, that’s going to help the team down the road. It might not be true (remember, the Sixers got Bynum as a result of their early pursuit of Howard), but if the Sixers believe in Bynum that bodes even better for him when he returns.
Speaking of Bynum, he looks to be in great condition. He’s trim. He’s engaging his teammates and coaches. And if they were playing games right now, Bynum would be out there.
I just hope that Bynum being held out right now really is just precautionary.— power808- All well and good but what are they supposed to say different, really? Of course they'll say he's the best.— Realistic One
- Andrew 'Jeff Ruhland" Bynum.— Rowdy Yates
- 2 comments for Rowdy
The name is spelled Ruland.
The other- you don't have a clue.— Rtmuss - Let's just hope that it's later than sooner that AB has to decide whether to end his career in order to have even a modicum of mobility for the remainder of his life. With a healthy knee, he's can assuredly become the best and we achieve elite status. Crossing my fingers.... Go Sixers!— philsix6
- Nothing going on here. Please stay behind the yellow crime scene tape. Move along.
Oh Katie girl, we miss thee.
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— Quixote II - Can't say that I heard what Stephen A had to say. Probably because I change the station immediately when he comes on.— scootch
i need some of the stuff shaq is smoking that made him say brook lopez is better than howard- We do miss Katie. Man, she knew her stuff. If the crime scene is the major theft the Sixers pulled off, then I'm sorry...I have to stare.— justacarpenter
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
