Watching the play, I definitely don't think it was flagrant, but not surprised to see it called a flagrant in today's NBA. (Me and today's refs have a much different opinion on how the game should be called though).
First time through, in real time, to me it looked liked Bynum just was late trying to take a charge and came in at kind of an awkward angle. On the replays it looked a little worse with Bynum's arms raised (but all fouls look worse and more malicious than they really are in slow mo). I felt on the replays it looked more like Bynum was just trying to stop the play, but did it poorly, again nothing malicious to me.
For those claiming there was no play on the ball, that is completely irrelevant. Making a play for the ball has nothing to do with a flagrant (although that situation is mostly associated with flagrants). There is no play for the ball when a player attempts to take a charge - and those are not flagrants. On most blocking fouls - which is what I would call this - there is no play for the ball.
Straight from the rulebook - flagrants are for unnecessary contact (flagrant 1) or unnecessary and excessive (flagrant 2). I know most of you think this was unnecessary and excessive, and you all are entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion stopping a player driving to the lane, especially the way Bynum did it, is neither unnecessary or excessive. Plays like that happen every game. Players get beat up driving to the hoop, that's why punks like Vince Carter don't do it anymore. No doubt the outcome is very unfortunate though, but I don't think for a second Bynum tried to hurt him, he just tried to stop him from driving and did it very poorly.
http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_12.html?nav=ArticleListSection IV--Flagrant Foul
a. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul--penalty (1) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
PENALTY: (1) Two free throws shall be attempted and the ball awarded to the offended team on either side of the court at the free throw line extended. (2) If the offended player is injured and unable to attempt his free throws, the opposing coach will select any player from the bench to attempt the free throws. (3) This substitute may not be replaced until the ball is legally touched by a player on the court. (EXCEPTION: Rule 3--Section V--e.) (4) The injured player may not return to the game. (5) A player will be ejected if he commits two flagrant fouls in the same game.
b. If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpret-ed to be unnecessary and excessive, a flagrant foul--penalty (2) will be assessed. A personal foul is charged to the offender and a team foul is charged to the team.
PENALTY: (1) Two free throws shall be attempted and the ball awarded to the offended team on either side of the court at the free throw line extended. (2) If the offended player is injured and unable to attempt his free throws, his coach will select a substitute and any player from the team is eligible to attempt the free throws. (3) This substitute may not be replaced until the ball is legally touched by a player on the court. EXCEPTION: Rule 3--Section V--e. (4) The injured player may return to the game at any time after the free throws are attempted. (5) This is an unsports-manlike act and the offender is ejected.
c. A flagrant foul may be assessed whether the ball is dead or alive.
