http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~29583~2542074,00.html
In addition to the return of Slava Medvedenko on Wednesday, the Lakers are
due back two players from injury in the next month -- Vlade Divac sometime
next week and Devean George in another four weeks or so. But the roles they
will assume are for now uncertain.
Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich said he was reluctant to give major minutes to
Medvedenko, at least not initially. He added that the same will apply for
Divac and George.
"It's a good thing that guys are getting back," Tomjanovich said, "but it's
also just not an automatic thing where you've got guys who've been working
for a month and we're fighting to get chemistry and things like that and all
of a sudden you knock it out of whack."
Tomjanovich said he subscribes to the theory of not changing a player's role
if his team won the previous game, as the Lakers did Saturday. Medvedenko
suffered a bruised heel during the exhibition season and now is playing
behind Brian Cook in the rotation.
Medvedenko was activated off the injured list a week ago but did not dress
for the final three games of the Lakers' trip. He started 38 games last
season in Karl Malone's absence and re-signed with the team over the summer.
After being hard hit by injuries since the start of training camp, the
Lakers are beginning to get some good news -- Kobe Bryant's sore left foot a
notable exception.
Divac could return Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks or Nov. 26 against
the Sacramento Kings, his former team. Divac resumed practicing this week
after suffering a herniated disc during September workouts.
A Lakers spokesman, however, termed Divac's return next week an "optimistic"
scenario. The team has been reluctant to put a timetable on the center's
recovery or set a target date for Divac to return.
Also, forward Jumaine Jones appeared to have shaken the limp caused by a
right calf strain. Jones said he felt better Wednesday and is eligible to
come off the injured list for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bulls.
Second-quarter solution: After the Lakers gave back an 18-point lead in
losing to the Orlando Magic last week, Tomjanovich said he needed to get
better play out of his bench during the second quarter.
He appeared to find the solution by playing Lamar Odom with the second unit
for all 12 minutes of the quarter as the Lakers extended their lead over the
Houston Rockets. Odom ended up playing 46 minutes in the game.
Tomjanovich called it a "survival" move, although one Odom did not have a
problem with.
"I think if I don't get in foul trouble," Odom said, "you're going to see me
out there 44, 46, even 48 minutes."
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