Ceballos’ Return Seems Imminent

Cedric Ceballos, having responded well to treatment and an increase in his rehabilitation this week, is being targeted for a return to practice on Monday, after three more games.

Exactly when the Lakers’ starting small forward could be activated from there will depend on several factors, including input from the medical staff and whether Ceballos is in game shape.

Ceballos has been sidelined since suffering a partially torn ligament in his right knee Nov. 13 at San Antonio. The recovery process has been on the original timetable of six to eight weeks the Lakers announced at the time, and the last several days included agility drills, cutting and quick stops and starts to test the strength of the joint.

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Shaquille O’Neal has kept in touch with Dale Brown since leaving Louisiana State after his junior year in 1992--sometimes visiting during trips to Baton Rouge, sometimes using the phone and the whispered greeting “Daddy Dale”--but the Laker center said he was surprised by Brown’s retirement announcement Thursday.

“He always kept me out of trouble,” O’Neal said, adding he plans to call his former coach today. “He always kept me believing. He always kept me thinking about someone besides myself. Off the court, he’s a friend. On the court, he’s a disciplinarian.”

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This is the only time this season the Lakers will play back-to-back with the same team and the first since last February against the Clippers.