Photo credit: Associated Press

In their 92-86 win over the Boston Celtics Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers added another win to their much-criticized record against the NBA’s top teams (1-6 in games vs. SA, BOS, MIA, DAL & CHI, the lone win coming against the Bulls). A key contributor in this win was the Laker center, Andrew Bynum, whose name had been thrown into the Carmelo Anthony trade fracas this week. With his play, though, he submitted favorable testimony as to why the Lakers would be wise to keep him. I am not one who likes to place too much significance on one regular season win or loss, especially early in the month of February. The focus here isn’t that the Lakers beat the Celtics, but on an example of how Andrew Bynum’s play can contribute to a Laker victory against a formidable opponent.

Bynum scored an efficient 12 points on six FG attempts in the 1st half, and played good defense, including an emphatic block of a Kendrick Perkins jump-hook. It was his play in the 2nd half, however, that provided the strongest impact. The Lakers had rallied from a 15 point deficit to trail only 53-45 to end the 1st half. They carried that momentum into the 3rd quarter as they staged a 10-0 run during which Bynum made multiple positive plays. Let’s examine his contributions.

First it’s important to note how the Lakers use Bynum. They do not run a lot of plays for him, nor do they frequently run the offense through him. He is primarily stationed on the weak side as he either looks to be a cutter to the basket or to receive a pass in the post on ball reversals; other times he will work as a screener in pick-and-roll (P&R) tandems with Kobe Bryant.

Byunm filled his role ably throughout the game and especially during this run as he set solid screens, and made strategic dives when rolling to the basket. Watching him, it was clear that he wanted the ball, yet the Lakers don’t always get it to him. He is at least 2nd to Pau Gasol in the post-touches pecking order, and the Lakers have been criticized for not even getting it enough to Pau. Still, he remained active and didn’t merely stand around when his number wasn’t called. He kept his hands extended, always ready to receive a pass when the ball was in his area. Twice, Kendrick Perkins chose not to rotate off of the cutting Bynum, even as Kobe Bryant eluded the other Celtics to score layups right in front of Perkins. Pau Gasol was also able to work Kevin Garnett one-on-one in the lane while Perkins was hesitant to leave Bynum.

This off-the-ball activity eventually netted him an easy dunk when the Boston D was overly focused on a Bryant drive; Kobe drew the D and passed out to Gasol, and as the Celtics rotated to close out on him, Pau found Bynum alone under the basket. Although he was anxious to be involved in the offense, he was patient and did not force shots when he finally received the ball. On his first touch he was doubled on the baseline, and made the right pass out to Gasol who converted an elbow jumper. Later when he caught the ball in the middle of the lane, he found an open shot as he turned away from the double team to nail a turn-around jumper.

His defense was particularly impressive, if not obviously so. During the Lakers’ 3rd-quarter run, he always made the right rotation, and exerted commendable effort showing on the pick-and-roll (P&R). His defensive highlights included a fine close-out on a Ray Allen 3PT attempt when he was drawn away from the lane defending the P&R; a forced turnover when Kendrick Perkins tried to face him up on the baseline; through his aggressive hedges, he twice forced Paul Pierce to give up the ball on the P&R; still another time he showed on the P&R and then rotated to close out on a Glen Davis jumper (which he missed). He secured rebounds, and only once (by my count) did he fail to contest a shot taken in his area.

Bynum and the Lakers continued their solid play in the 4th quarter as they were able to hold onto the lead they worked hard to build. Bynum never scored in the fourth quarter (0-2 on two good looks in the paint that just missed), but he continued his solid defense, and stayed out of the foul trouble that plagued him in the first match-up against Boston (an uneven 28 minutes with 5 fouls). This allowed him to be on the court for more minutes than any game in which he has played this season (nearly 34). This also showed trust from Phil Jackson, as he played him the entire first quarter and gave him extended run in the 3rd and through a good portion of the 4th while Pau Gasol rested.

There is still over a third of the season left to play, and to date, the Lakers have been one of the best teams in the league, even though they haven’t run away with the West as most predicted. They haven’t needed Bynum in every game to do this – their wins in games when he has played are nearly equal to those in which he has been out. They will need him in the playoffs, however, when the game typically slows down, and the size, skill and production of the Laker big men – including Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom – can overwhelm some opponents, and help them mitigate the front-courts strengths of others. Thursday night, Bynum, with his activity on both ends and his efficient scoring demonstrated the advantage the Lakers have when he plays well.

Jason Frazier is the founder of  NBAWiz.com, and a regular contributor to Stacheketball. Follow him on Twitter @NBA_Wiz.