I never knew how easily a picture can tell the story of a player's entire career.

So I won the bet I made before the season (as I always knew I would) that Andrew Bynum would be injured by the time the Finals rolled around. In a shocking development, though, Bynum will try to play through pain.

A day after reporting no progress in his injured right knee, Lakers center Andrew Bynum said Wednesday the fluid he had drained two days earlier had returned soon after the procedure.

“It didn’t really help,” Bynum said of the action, which is designed to alleviate the pain of a torn meniscus. “As soon as I drained it, about 12 hours later, all the fluid came back. … It wasn’t really a good procedure.”

Coach Phil Jackson didn’t sound particularly surprised by the outcome.

“Whether that worked or not, it was a procedure that was, you know, tried, attempted,” Jackson said. “Whether it was successful in keeping his knee not swollen over this period of time, you know, that may not happen.” [...]

“I’m not sure how he’s going to be able to do,” teammate Pau Gasol said. “I think he’s going to give everything he’s got again just like he’s been doing. … But it is what it is. We’re all a little banged up, but we’ve got to play through everything pretty much at this point and just leave it all out there.”

Said Bynum: “It’s going to be a tough challenge for me, but it’s one that I’m ready to accept. I’m gonna go out there and try to be as effective as I can. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m looking forward to going out and really be a part of winning this chip. I want to be effective. I want to help my team. I don’t want to miss any time.”

Kendrick Perkins, who must have been as stunned as I was that Bynum is toughing it out through pain, said, “A lot of credit to Andrew for playing on a torn meniscus or whatever it may be. He’s gonna come in and do what he’s gotta and it’s my job to go out there and try to shut him down.”

Doc Rivers said the Celtics are focused on themselves and not Bynum’s injury.

“Non-factor for us; factor for them probably,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “We’re not going to worry about whether he’s healthy or not. Players tend to be healthy once the Finals start no matter what their injury status is, and you know that. We’re viewing him as 100 percent and a factor in the series.”

I would write more but I’ve got to collect my money from the bet I made. Unfortunately, the odds on my bet weren’t at all good: It seems I wasn’t the only one who understood Bynum would undoubtedly be injured come playoff time.