Bynum still out, confident knee will be better soon

THE HOPE - not thought, but hope - around the 76ers organization in recent weeks was that newly acquired center Andrew Bynum would be on the court practicing with his new teammates at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on Wednesday.

But Wednesday's practice was just like all the others that have taken place since Oct. 2 - no Bynum - and they will continue to be as such for the near future.

"Two days ago he had the Synvisc injections [bone joint lubricant in each knee], which he routinely does before the season," general manager Tony DiLeo said. "He still has some discomfort in his [right] knee, so we are going to hold him from basketball-related activities until he is pain-free. He is improving, so it's nothing new, but it is something that is not completely healed, so we are going to hold him out until he is pain-free."

The pain that is costing Bynum time on the court stems from something that happened while he was working out before training camp.

"I didn't go down [to the floor in pain], it was just an up-and-under [move]," he said. "I didn't feel any pop or anything like that. It just kind of buckled. From that point on, we're just being really cautious and just using the doctor and listening to them, and they've basically been saying to let it rest and everything will be fine, and I'll be all right."

On Sept. 15, Bynum had Orthokine treatment in Germany on both knees. He decided to have that done after former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant raved about how much better his knee felt after the procedure. Sometime between getting back from Germany and the start of training camp, Bynum suffered the bone-bruise injury that still has him sidelined. The Synvisc injections on Monday also were planned before the knee injury.

An optimist would look at Wednesday's news and say that, while Bynum has had knee troubles in the past, this is a particular injury and the team is just practicing caution in delaying his return. A pessimist would wonder whether the Sixers invested a lot of money in a player who can't seem to stay healthy. Bynum and his new organization are positive this is nothing more than a bump in the road, though the 7-footer hasn't been running or doing any basketball-related activities.

"Every day that he is not here on the court diminishes his chances of being there for the opener," DiLeo said of the Oct. 31 game against the Denver Nuggets. "We just have to talk to Andrew every day and see how he's feeling, and when he is pain-free, that's when we'll start basketball activities. Now he's going to rest a bit, and then he'll slowly do the low-impact things and build up. The same things that he was doing before but probably a little more rest after the Synvisc injection, and then after that, he'll do the same activities, low-impact, and build it up to a place where he can get out on the court and do basketball-related activities.

"His pain isn't as much as it was before. It is healing, it is improving. It's not completely healed. He is a big investment for our team, so we want to be cautious and we want to make sure, especially at the beginning of the season, that he's healed and that we can put him out on the court at the right time."

Bynum played in 60 of 66 games last year in the lockout-shortened season, missing four with a suspension because of a hard foul committed against J.J. Barea in the 2011 playoffs, another because of a sore ankle and the final one to rest for the playoffs.

He averaged a career best in points (18.7) and rebounds (11.8), while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor. It is that type of season that has Bynum optimistic he'll be back before too long.

"It's progressively getting better," Bynum said of his right knee. "We're still having caution, the doctors and the team. We're all cautious. We just want to avoid any type of setback. That's really all. Definitely [he can be pain-free]. I've carried a certain amount of swelling in the past, but it's always resolved and I've always been able to play. Last year, I was able to play every game after the suspension, so I'm confident that this issue will be resolved if I give it time to rest and time to heal."

With Philadelphia at a frenzied pitch over a team that appears to be much improved, Bynum is trying to be as patient as he can in getting back on the floor.

"I don't feel pressure, but psychologically, I feel like it stinks not being able to play," he said. "It's tough to come in and stay motivated and things like that. My teammates are there patting me on the back and wanting me to get back. That helps. Coach [Doug Collins] has been a great person for me to talk to. Everything is about the big picture."

It doesn't appear the picture will include Bynum, at least not on Opening Night, though Bynum said, "It's a possibility" that he'll play. Again, that may be just hope. The reality is that when Bynum gets out on the court, he'll be doing so as a pain-free player.

"I think this is different than anything he's had," DiLeo said. "It's our understanding that when this heals, it will be over, and it's not something that will be a reoccurring thing. It heals and then he doesn't have the pain and it's over."

That is certainly the hope.

The team was quite shorthanded Wednesday as Evan Turner (ankle), Kwame Brown (calf) and Maalik Wayns (head contusion) were all out. In addition, Dorell Wright (quadriceps contusion), participated only in non-contact drills. Coach Doug Collins said he expects all to be fine in plenty of time for the season opener . . . Collins said that as long as Andrew Bynum is out, Lavoy Allen is his starting center. Look for an Opening Night starting lineup of Jrue Holiday, Jason Richardson, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young and Allen.