Andrew Bynum's season debut performance points to another title

The Los Angeles Lakers are a complete unit now all thanks to Andrew Bynum fresh off his 4-game suspension.

In today's victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets Coach Brown did not waste any time using his big man as the first play was drawn for No. 17. Right from the tip-off Andrew's presence was felt as he scored the teams first 6 points.

It was known early that Bynum was going to leave an impression in his season debut and boy did he leave quite the impression.

Let me give you an example of how great Bynum played in his first appearance of the 2011-12 NBA season. Below are season first appearance numbers for Bynum:

November 2, 2005 -NBA debut (5 minutes)

•  0 PTS (0-2 FG); 2 REB; 2 BLKS

October 31, 2006 (24 minutes)

• 18 PTS (7-11 FG); 9 REB; 5 AST

October 30, 2007 (19 minutes)

• 4 PTS (2-6 FG); 4 REB; 2 AST; 1 BLK; 3 STL

October 28, 2008 (28 minutes)

• 8 PTS (4-10 FG); 3 REB; 1 AST; 3 BLK

October 27, 2009 (38 minutes)

•  26 PTS (9-15 FG); 13 REB; 2 AST; 1 BLK; 1 STL

December 14, 2010 - Late appearance due to knee injury (17 minutes)

• 7 PTS (1-5 FG); 4 REB; 1 AST; 2 BLK;

December 31, 2011 - Late appearance due to 4-game suspension (32 minutes)

• 29 PTS (13-18 FG); 13 REB; 1 AST; 2 BLK; 1 STL

Favoring facts not to ignore:

The last time Bynum played this well in his season debut was in the 2009-10 season when the Lakers took home their last Larry O'Brien.
 
Andrew Bynum's career high best NBA season so happen to be that year as well averaging 15 PTS/8 REB.

If we were to determine how well the Lakers would play in a season based on Bynum's season debut performance then we are in for one hell of a ride for another NBA championship title this season because today was Bynum's best season debut performance of his seven-year NBA career as evidenced above.

Photo credit: AP