On Saturday, Bob Cooney wrote a scathing critique of the way in which the Sixers were communicating with the media and public about Andrew Bynum’s injury.
Today, the team released a statement on the matter. [Well played, Bob.] It reads, in part:
In mid-September 2012, Bynum suffered a bone bruise of his right knee. He was examined at that time by Dr. David W. Altchek of New York's Hospital for Special Surgery, Bynum's longtime personal doctor who is acting as the lead orthopedist in caring for Andrew's knee. It was initially communicated to the Sixers that Bynum should refrain from basketball activity for a period of four weeks to allow the knee to heal. His knee was re-evaluated on October 22 by Dr. Altchek, who extended by an additional four weeks to November 19 the time for Andrew to refrain from basketball activity.
Andrew received a fresh MRI and was seen again by Dr. Altchek this past week on Monday, November 5.
At that evaluation, Dr. Altcheck extended Andrew's return date for a second time by an additional three weeks. However, in what the Sixers believe is an optimistic sign, Dr. Altchek also indicated that Andrew could immediately resume low impact exercise. Low impact exercise for a period of two weeks is to be followed by three weeks of conditioning on an anti-gravity treadmill. The doctors and the team will be closely watching how Bynum's knee responds during this five week regimen. Upon successful completion, Bynum is expected to be able to resume normal basketball activity.
If the current prognosis holds unchanged, Bynum would be cleared to resume normal basketball activity by approximately December 10. In addition, the team estimates that Bynum in turn will need an additional 1-4 weeks thereafter for conditioning, training and practice before being able to resume game play with significant minutes.
Four weeks, four weeks, two weeks, three weeks, five weeks. HOW ABOUT SPEAKING IN MONTHS?!
Few things here: 1) The Sixers previously hadn’t made public that November 19 date… perhaps because telling fans before the season started that the star, hold a press conference for me at the Constitution Center center likely wouldn’t return to game action until around early December would have hurt ticket sales. Instead, on October 24, two days after Bynum visited the doctor, the Sixers said he wouldn't return until he was pain free. 2) Bynum has reportedly already been doing low-impact activity. So that’s nothing new. And 3), after another visit to the doctor, seven days ago, the Sixers were told Bynum is still a month away from basketball activity and that it could take up to another four weeks after that until he sees significant game action. I'm good at math, and it's telling me that Bynum might not play until after New Year.
Credit the Sixers for finally coming forward with information here. Maybe they looked out their window and saw the backlash that can occur when your front office is a bunch of secretive fucks who treat fans like dirt. But waiting a month to tell us, as people gobbled up tickets… well, that’s not cool, the Sixers.
Anyway, still not worried about Bynum’s knees?
14 Responses
these months of the season matter none, and they traded for him to have a better shot at signing him for the future.
there really is no reason to rush him, and if he doesnt come back… they gave up nothing any sixers fan wanted anyway.
Andrew Bynum..clap..clap..clap clap clap
oh wait, we aren;t doing that anymore??
Laziest player in nba history. Typical Philly trading for the black Jeff Ruland
I hate the sixers
Got a Lemon?
Call 1-800-MY-LEMON
When does the Sixers season start?
The move was made for the future of the Sixers, Kyle. This move was not made to have an impact on the first 20 games of the 2012 season. Actual basketball teams, teams that are competitive, know that the season doesn’t start until Christmas.
Iggy wasn’t resigning after this year anyway. Even if Bynum doesn’t play a single game it’s still not a franchise crippling trade as Kyle tries to portray.
To all your Flyers fans. Your all fucking dorks. “eeeehhhhh we have a basketball team?…hehehehehe”. Just because your players are greedy bitches doesnt’ mean you have to take it out on the Sixers. I would love nothing more that to see them cancel the season again. This way you don’t have to go through another 1st or 2nd round exit because of not having a legit goalie.
Sixers & the nba are a joke
Perfect! He will be ready,and rested for the Playoffs.
@moose. I agree, the flyers literally have blown every single year… do exactly what the eagles have done for basically 14 years and noone cares.
kevin garnett is a prime example of someone who literallys gets saved for after the all star break… celtic fans are not complaining. Maybe if anyone watched basketball before this city got excited about someone they most likely never heard of until they googled him after he was traded here… they would have a clue
I would agree that things don’t get serious in the NBA until Christmas because of how long the season is, which makes the Lakers’ panicked move to fire head coach Mike Brown after just five games all the more puzzling. For whatever it’s worth, I’d rather have a healthy Bynum in January or February or whenever than a mere shell today. And if this marriage with Bynum ends up not working, the Sixers can sever ties after the season Ends and not lose anything.
Yo, JT, if the NBA is a joke, what does that make the NHL which routinely locks out their players every few years?
Yeah, they’re being dicks, and this is a risk, but it’s a risk we have to take. Franchise center’s don’t just fall into your lap like this all that often, you have to bet his knee will hold if you want a shot at a contender.
Ugh! Of course. The Lakers from high up on the mountain top tossed down some fodder to the mules of the NBA to feast on. Demographic transition on an NBA scale. Come on NHL, get a deal done already!
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