"To most basketball players, the measure of their worth comes from how many points they score. Not being able to score or even worse, not being counted on to score, can be construed as a sign of weakness. And for a player on any level to declare that they don't care about scoring rings hollow.

So when Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum states that scoring is secondary to playing defense in his scheme, there is initial skepticism. But after further conversation, it is apparent that Bynum is being genuine.

"I get in where I fit in offensively,'' Bynum said. "I just wait for my opportunities.''

In the Lakers' offensive hierarchy, the 7-footer is way low, below Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, for sure, and secondary to Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom when he is in the game.

"The reality is Andrew can fill that gap of what we need inside,'' Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

Jackson has stressed that he wants Bynum to concentrate on playing defense and rebounding. Bynum said his goals are to become a first-team NBA all-defensive team pick and to lead the league in rebounding.

Bynum averaged 11.3 points in 54 regular-season games, nearly four points fewer than the career-high 15 points he averaged in 2009-10. It is Bynum's lowest scoring average since his second year in the NBA, when he averaged 7.8 points. It's not that Bynum cannot score, but that he usually is an afterthought in the Lakers' offense."