Feb 22, 2008 4:42 pm US/Pacific
Bynum Will Return On Schedule, Begins Rehab
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
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Andrew Bynum #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Thaddeus Young #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on December 21, 2007 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Phillip Gharabegian/CBS
Here's the latest on Bynum:
He ran in a swimming pool earlier this week, which is encouraging.
But what is really important is how much that knee swells now. That could determine if and when he can come back.
By the way, I keep hearing and reading these reports that Bynum is "behind schedule" in his recovery and "could miss the rest of this year." Anybody saying that is just making it up.
The truth is that it's too early to tell what his timeline is.
I've talked to two different doctors about Bynum and they both agree about one thing: the original projection of "at least eight weeks" is still accurate.
They told me that with an injury like this, the most important thing to do is rest it for at least a month, which Bynum has done.
Now, over the next month, he'll test the knee to see how it holds up.
If it swells a lot, it's an indicator that he needs more time.
When I asked if it's unusual for a knee like that to swell after five weeks of rest, I was told, "no, it would be unusual if it didn't swell."
So for anybody to suggest that his recovery is behind schedule is just speculating.
Could he miss the season? Sure, but so could anybody else.
His original return time was projected as mid-March.
If he's not back by April, he's behind schedule...but not until then.
Plus, what's the hurry? The Lakers have won nine of their last ten games (eight of those wins coming on the road) and are in first place in their division. Gasol is playing center, and he's been fantastic.
The Lakers probably need Bynum to compete for a title this year, but not at the expense of hurting that knee long-term.
I say let him sit until he's totally ready, and until then, go to battle with the team that looked so good on Wednesday.
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