Bynum has torn MCL, out 8-12 weeks

Feb 3, 2009 - 6:49 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers once again will have to make do without Andrew Bynum.

The Lakers' worst fear was confirmed Monday when Bynum was diagnosed with a torn MCL in his right knee, an injury that could sideline the star center for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs.

Bynum suffered the injury, which the Lakers initially termed as a sprained knee, in Saturday's victory over Memphis and underwent an MRI the following day at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery.

The 7-foot Bynum was examined Monday by team physician Dr. David Altchek, who stated that the 21-year-old will miss between eight and 12 weeks. The Lakers will complete their regular season in just over 10 weeks.

"Well ... we're going to try to put it into perspective," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "It's going to be a little harder now without 'Drew. He's going to be missed. We have to continue to get better without him. We're just going to hold it down until he comes back."

Bynum, one of the NBA's top young centers, missed the final 46 regular-season games in 2007-08 due to a left knee injury. He also was sidelined for the entire postseason as the Lakers were defeated by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

The long-term absence of Bynum could prove devastating for the Lakers (37-9), who own the league's second-best record and once again are vying for the top overall seed and home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs.

Widely perceived as a soft team, the Lakers have benefited from the interior presence of Bynum, who has averaged 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and a team-leading 1.9 blocks in 46 contests this season.

"He was playing as well as anybody in the NBA, as far as what he was doing defensively, his presence, scoring, rebounding and dominating the middle," Odom said. "He was playing like a true center."

Bynum had been one of the NBA's most productive big men of late, averaging 26.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks in the five games prior to Saturday's 115-98 rout of the Grizzlies.

But that hot streak came to an abrupt end when the 285-pound Bynum was hurt while crashing into teammate Kobe Bryant just over five minutes into the contest.

"We know we're going to miss his presence, his rebounding ability, but this is a very capable team," head coach Phil Jackson told the Orange County Register.

Bryant said during Monday's shootaround that the Lakers still are talented enough to win an NBA title without Bynum.

"There's been plenty of teams who lost in the Finals that go back and win the next year," Bryant said. "I think having Andrew in the lineup makes us a very dominant team. (With) him out of the lineup, we're still a great team. You put him in the mix and it takes us to another level."

The Lakers will play their first game without Bynum on Tuesday when they visit the New York Knicks. Pau Gasol figures to replace Bynum at center while Lamar Odom, who has been used as a reserve this season, likely will start at power forward.

Bryant said that Gasol's experience as a starting center last season will prove invaluable this year, especially if the Lakers are without Bynum in the playoffs.

"Pau, it was his first time out of the first round," Bryant said. "A lot of things were new. I think having a year of experience and also learning a lot from the (NBA Finals), now we take those lessons and apply them to this season."