Bynum's momentum fails to carry over

Bynum’s momentum fails to carry over

By Mike Bresnahan and Mark Heisler

May 15, 2009 12 AM PT

HOUSTON — Andrew Bynum’s breakthrough lasted one game.

The Lakers’ center did not score in 19 minutes of the Lakers’ 95-80 loss Thursday to the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

He missed all three of his shots, had three fouls and seven rebounds.

“I did the same things,” Bynum said. “I got offensive rebounds. Last game I made the put-backs. This game I didn’t make my put-backs. I played the exact same way.”

He appeared to take a step toward relevance in this series after compiling a 14-point, six-rebound effort in Game 5.

In Game 6, he was held scoreless for the third time this series. He might have also lost his starting job, again.

“We’ll look at the tape and make a decision, see how much Lamar [Odom] improves over the course of the next three days,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

The other issue nagging the Lakers is Odom’s health.

Odom didn’t seem to be himself in Game 6, unable to react quickly on defense or drive to the basket often because of a bruised lower back, an injury that will take some time to heal.

He had eight points before fouling out. He had a noteworthy 14 rebounds but no assists in 28 minutes as a reserve.

Jackson said Odom was only “half a guy right now.”

Odom will have two full days to rest before the Lakers play Game 7 on Sunday.

“I’ll just take my time, and whatever I can give, I’ll give,” Odom said before the game. “It’s less pain, but it’s there when I’m jumping. That means I will jump, but it’ll hurt.”

Stern was stern

In a news conference before Thursday’s game, NBA Commissioner David Stern defended the process that has resulted in a spate of suspensions and fines in the first three weeks of this postseason.

“We have a rule and we decided to enforce it,” Stern said. “And we like the game. We had a great year. The game has opened up. It is faster-moving as a result, scores went up, although that wasn’t our design.

“And, having worked hard to eliminate the isolation and the whole notion . . . [that] you could just take a piece out of [an offensive player] on his way to the basket, and if he was lucky enough to shoot it because he was hit five times on his way to the basket and no foul was called.

“That’s from another time. We’re not going back on my watch.”

Stern also said he was taking personal responsibility for the decision not to take any action on Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who told Kenyon Martin’s mother her son was a thug, or against Martin, the Denver forward who cursed Cuban after their next game and invited him to fight.

“It was serious and I take full responsibility for the non-league action,” Stern said. “I have spoken to [Players Assn. Director] Billy Hunter and I have spoken to Mark Cuban. . . .

“I called Billy and said what went on there was nothing I was proud of, but I thought there was an attempted apology in a blog, which is the way Mark communicates.”

Ticket time

Though the Lakers aren’t guaranteed to be there, individual tickets for the Western finals go on sale today at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations, at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at (800) 4NBATIX.

Each person is allowed four tickets per game. Tickets will not be available at the Staples Center box office.

Times staff writer Broderick Turner contributed to this report.

[email protected]