Los Angeles Lakers centre Andrew Bynum demands more of himself, Kobe Bryant approves – NBA Update
The Los Angeles Lakers are well placed in their Western Conference first round playoffs series against the Denver Nuggets after winning 2 games in a row. Centre Andrew Bynum has been pivotal in both; grabbing a monstrous triple-double in the first and scoring
career post season high 27 points in the second.
Bynum though is still not satisfied.
"I left a lot there," Bynum said in the locker room after the game. "I need to do better. I want to be perfect."
The centre has been in terrific form this season, and propelled himself to the position of most dominant centre in the Western Conference. With Dwight Howard out inured, he is probably the most dominant centre in the playoffs right now.
That though is still not enough for a player who is increasingly portraying himself as a perfectionist, someone with an undying hunger to be the best. Day in day out. It’s no coincidence that one of the foremost perfectionists the game has ever seen plays
alongside Andrew.
That is Kobe Bryant. The legendary Lakers super star is still going strong and he was lethal in the last encounter against Denver, piling on game high 38 points as he spearheaded the offence. Bryant has always been a serious customer, and he was pleased
to see that Bynum is turning into a version of him.
"He expects greatness out of himself,” Bryant said. "He believes that he can have monster games on a consistent basis like he did the last game, so it’s a great thing to hear."
The irony is that though Bynum and Bryant have grown close to each other, and have even started resembling each other’s personalities, they were long the two players on the Lakers roster most at odds with each other.
It is no secret that Kobe wanted Andrew traded away, because he wasn’t mature enough. The centre though has grown this season; he has proved himself to Kobe with his performance on the court and bonded with the super star off it.
Bryant says the turning point was their trip to the All-Star Weekend.
"We were always around each other and we really didn’t care what the other guys were doing," Bryant said. "It was really about us and being in constant communication, 'What are you doing, let’s go out, let’s hangout, let’s grab some dinner.' From that point
on, we've always had this chemistry."
If the Lakers continue to play like they have so far, and demand more of themselves, there is no telling how far they will go this post-season.
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