Center feels better and swelling has gone down, but he still doesn’t know when he can get back on the court.

By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:50 PM PST, February 19, 2008

Andrew Bynum said he hoped to begin running in a swimming pool later this week, the latest step in his rehabilitation from a left knee injury that has sidelined him for more than five weeks.

The swelling is out of his knee and he has not had any setbacks in his recovery, although he will not return at the beginning of the timetable established by the Lakers of “at least eight weeks” from the time of the injury.

Bynum theoretically would have to be on the practice court next week if he were to return exactly at the eight-week mark of March 10. A return at an unspecified date later in March was more reasonable, a team official said.

Bynum has been working out on elliptical machines and sharpening his balance by stepping on and off exercise blocks.

“I’m feeling good, getting better, the swelling has gone down and I can walk around,” Bynum said Tuesday. “Hopefully this Thursday I can get in the pool.”

If that goes well, he would soon transition into running on a treadmill and building the muscles in his left leg. Bynum sustained a bone bruise in his knee and a partial dislocation of his kneecap in a mid-January game against Memphis.

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Mike Kahn - FOXSports.com

In this wacky NBA season when as many as 10 teams are legitimate contenders to take the title away from the defending champion Spurs, three major stars have changed teams in the past two weeks. That unprecedented movement has changed the landscape of the already fierce competition in the Western Conference.

When the Mavericks finally acquired point guard Jason Kidd from the Nets along with Malik Allen and Antoine Wright in exchange for Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, retired forward Keith Van Horn, two first-round picks and $3 million, it gave the Mavs the tough leadership they’ve been lacking while on the brink of a title the past three seasons.

But is it bigger than the Suns’ acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal from the Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks on Feb. 6?

And how do either one of them compare to the Lakers receiving Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, two first-round draft choices and the rights to Marc Gasol on Feb. 4?

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Bryant and Gasol each score 23 before sitting out the fourth quarter, as the Lakers roll to a 36-point halftime lead in cruising to their five victory in a row.

From Associated Press

10:03 PM PST, February 19, 2008

Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each scored 23 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 122-93, Tuesday night at Staples Center for their fifth consecutive victory.

It was Gasol’s first home game with the Lakers, Bryant’s first since deciding to forego surgery on his injured shooting hand, and Mike Bibby’s debut with Atlanta following Saturday’s trade from Sacramento.

Bryant, who dislocated his right pinkie during the Lakers’ 7-2 trip, was 8-for-16 from the field with five steals, five rebounds and three assists. He played free and easy and didn’t seem at all inhibited by the ailing finger, making a pair of dunks and going 1-for-4 from 3-point range.

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Suns’ new center, set to start Wednesday against Lakers, never misses a chance to needle his old team. This time he targets Kareem and Wilt.

By Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times

PHOENIX — Shaq is back.

Back in the West. Back on the court. Back as a starting center.

And back on the attack against the Lakers. Two particular Lakers.

Just like old times. But not quite.

Two weeks after being obtained by the Phoenix Suns from the Miami Heat for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks, Shaquille O’Neal said today he was sufficiently recovered from a hip injury and sufficiently schooled in his new team’s system and will make his debut Wednesday night.

O’Neal will return against the Lakers, the team he and Kobe Bryant led to three straight NBA titles. So, naturally, at practice today, O’Neal couldn’t resist taking a shot at the purple and gold.

Was he aiming at Bryant, his old nemesis and a favorite target in the past?

“He’s playing fabulous,” said O’Neal. “He is the best player in the league. He’s a tough guy to guard.”

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Game Info: 7:30 pm PST
TV: FSW 7:30 pm PST

By JEFF MEZYDLO, STATS Writer

The Atlanta Hawks hope the addition of Mike Bibby will help lead them to their first playoff appearance in nine seasons.

The veteran point guard could make his debut for the Hawks Tuesday night when they resume a stretch of road games with a matchup against a banged-up Kobe Bryant and the surging Los Angeles Lakers.

Atlanta (21-28) acquired Bibby from Sacramento on Saturday for Anthony Johnson, 2007 first-round pick Shelden Williams, Tyronn Lue, Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second-round selection.

Bibby, who is averaging 16.7 points during his 10-year career, averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 assists in 15 games for the Kings this season. Though he missed the first 36 games while recovering from thumb surgery, the Hawks believe Bibby can provide scoring help for All-Star Joe Johnson, who’s averaging a team-leading 20.6 points.

“There’s another option now,” Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said. “It’ll be like a one-two punch in the backcourt.

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