The second round of the NBA playoffs has proven to be a daunting challenge to say the least for the Los Angeles Lakers as they seem to be outmatched by a talented Oklahoma City Thunder squad. On top of trying to figure out how to beat the younger and faster Thunder in a seven-game series, the Lakers have also had to deal with some issues with certain players on the team.
Reportedly, the NBA has fined Andrew Bynum and Devin Ebanks for different reasons on Wednesday. Ebanks was fined $25,000 for his actions during the Game 1 loss to the Thunder. This fine was no surprise with Ebanks being ejected on Monday after receiving two technical fouls in a scuffle with Thunder players in garbage time during the fourth quarter.
Bynum’s fine on the other hand came was unexpected. The NBA chose to fine the All-Star center $15,000 for missing an interview session with reporters after practice on Tuesday.
This fine is another lapse in judgment by the up-and-coming center. Every time Bynum appears to have put his immature ways behind him, the 24-year-old ends up doing something that takes him right back to square one.
As if his comment during the first-round series with the Denver Nuggets in which he claimed that “close-out games are kinda easy” wasn’t enough to prove that Bynum hadn’t learned his lesson with all the problems caused during the NBA regular season, skipping a simple interview session proves he still has much to learn on the road to superstardom.
Coming into Game 2, Bynum will have an opportunity to impose his will in the paint if Kendrick Perkins can’t play with the re-aggravated hip injury. With that being said, Bynum will play a major role in the Lakers’ attempt to bounce back from the devastating Game 1 loss.
