Andrew Bynum on his Pacers debut: 'I felt great'
Just for starters, and this was one, Andrew Bynum and Indiana appeared to be a good match. The Pacers are 1-0 with him in uniform, a convenient 94-83 whipping of the Boston Celtics that broke a four-game losing streak.
"I felt great. Couldn't do anything wrong today," the 7-foot, 285-pound strongman said after working the Celtics for eight points, 10 rebounds and an assist in 15 minutes Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. "All the rebounds came my way and I just grabbed them.
"Looking forward to the next game."
Bynum has been a Pacer since signing a one-year, $1 million free agent contract Feb. 1, but Tuesday was his first game appearance. He spent the intervening 5 1/2 weeks strengthening and rehabilitating his creaky knees under the training and medial staff's close supervision.
He had impressed in recent practices but his teammates were eager for a real look. So was the sellout crowd of 18,165. It welcomed him warmly.
Bynum didn't disappoint. He pushed around the Celtics not-so-big big men, Brandon Bass and Jared Sullinger. Mostly, he rebounded. And rebounded. And rebounded.
"He did well, not forcing anything, playing a dominant, smash-mouth type of play," Pacers guard George Hill said.
"There's not much on the court he didn't do for us tonight," Pacers wing Paul George said. "He really did a great job of controlling the paint, on the boards, and offensively, he was huge."
Bynum entered the game with 4:22 to play in the first quarter. He muscled for position in the low post, took a pass from Hill and jammed. He snatched the rebound at the other end. He made a nice pass to David West for a dunk.
Bynum's inaugural stint as a Pacer spanned 7 minutes and 28 seconds. He went to the bench with four points, eight rebounds and an assist. More important, the Pacers were plus-7 with him on the floor. They maneuvered from a 12-12 tie into a 29-22 lead.
Bynum, 26 is a seven-year veteran who earned a reputation for being immature at times, even indifferent. After sitting out the entire 2012-13 season because of his aggrieved knees, he signed as a free agent with Cleveland during the offseason.
He played only 26 games before the Cavaliers suspended him, then traded him to the Chicago Bulls, who released him Jan. 7.
When the Pacers signed him it prompted concerns not shared by management that he might adversely impact team chemistry.
So far, so good.
"He's really bought into the whole locker room," George said. "He's been a great teammate."
The man has talent. Bynum is wider, stronger and more aggressive than the man he backs up, Roy Hibbert. Bynum came into the NBA as the No. 10 pick in the 2005 draft with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played on their 2009 championship team. He started on their 2010 title team. He was an All-Star in 2012.
"He changes the game and has a presence at both ends," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "He's here for a reason."
Bynum is still learning the Pacers offensive and defensive systems but he said he feels comfortable here and he looked it Tuesday.
"It's a good group of guys," Bynum said. "Nobody has an ego, not to say that anybody did in Cleveland. It's just different location, different time in my life and I'm looking forward to just going out and playing.
"Obviously this atmosphere is a lot better from the standpoint that we're winning and when people expect greatness this becomes a great area and a great team. I like the coaching staff, and, yeah."
Pacers coach Frank Vogel intended to hold Bynum's debut until Friday at Philadelphia but when backup center Ian Mahinmi suffered a bruised rib during a Sunday loss at Dallas, Vogel's timetable was moved up.
Now the Pacers might need him to play a back-to-back. They visit Philadelphia on Friday and play at Detroit on Saturday.
"I'm going to try. If Ian is still hurt, they're going to need me," Bynum said, both knees wrapped in bulky ice bags. "It all depends on how my knees respond (today)."
Email Star reporter Phil Richards at phil.richards@indystar.com and follow him on Twitter at @philrichards6