UPDATE 1:36 pm: Once again, things did not go according to schedule on Andrew Bynum’s knee. I don’t want to say you should get used to that, Sixers fans, but… well, just ask some Lakers fans about it.
Bynum did not practice with the Sixers and was held out due to knee “discomfort” tweets Sixers beat writer Tom Moore. Bynum did a drill, felt discomfort and was pulled at that point, according to Moore. The Sixers, as they have been (and should be) through this entire process are being very cautious. They have put their chips in with Bynum and can survive just fine if he misses some games to start the season. He is not going to play until he feels 100 percent.
Bynum said this:
Bynum: ‘I’ll be out there as soon as possible.’ still a chance to play in opener, he says.
— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 24, 2012
He can say that, but the opener is a week away and if he hasn’t practiced with the team… exactly. Let’s be kind and say it’s not likely.
11:43 am: Andrew Bynum should be on the court with the Sixers Wednesday.
After missing most of the preseason with a bone bruise — and because the Sixers were being cautious following his German blood spinning treatment for his knee this summer — Bynum has sat out. On Monday he was scheduled to get an injection of a synthetic lubricant into his arthritic knee.
But Wednesday he is supposed to be practicing with Philadelphia.
So how soon is he going to be ready to play for the Sixers? The season opener next Wednesday? Good questions. Doug Collins was intentionally vague speaking with CSNPhilly.com.
“A lot of that is going to be how he responds to increased activity,” Collins said when asked if Bynum would be ready for the opener. “I know how important the home opener is, but we’re not going to do anything silly and have another setback where it costs you and now you have to miss those kinds of games.”
There are no more exhibition games for the team.
There’s a buzz in Philly around the team, and when the 76ers went 6-1 in the preseason without Bynum it seemed to amplify it. The 76ers got out and ran this preseason and opponents couldn’t adapt. That pace could carry over to the regular season, even with Bynum on the floor, and with the Sixers athletes they should run more. They would be tough to stop.
But the 6-1 record is utterly meaningless. Because the results of preseason games are meaningless and not a reliable predictor of the regular season at all.
What matters is how Philadelphia looks against Denver on Halloween night. How they play against a Nuggets team that would be more than happy to pick up the pace and run with them. Philly could really use Bynum for that game.
