LAKERS NOTEBOOK: GEORGE SHOOTING FOR EARLY RETURN.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - The floor opened up for Devean George in the final minutes of Lakers practice Monday afternoon, a three-on-one fastbreak with the ball in George's hands.

More than five months removed from ankle surgery, George was getting his first extended full-court run of the season. He drifted to the right side in transition, then drained a 23-foot jumper, his feet just nudging the 3-point arc.

``You don't forget how to shoot,'' George said afterward. ``My legs are not there, and my lift's not there, but that's what I'm working on. The way to get back is to get in the scrimmages and get up and down.''

George went on to connect on a 3-pointer from the corner and swished two free throws in Monday's scrimmage. Afterward, he said he would like to return from the injured list the second week of January.

The ideal target date would be Jan. 10, when the Lakers travel to play the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis, George's hometown. A more realistic return might be the Jan. 15 game in Oakland against Golden State.

``I'm shooting for that,'' George said of the Jan. 10 game, ``but that's probably pushing it a little bit. But I'd like to (be back) somewhere around the end of that week.''

With 10 new players on this year's team, George is the second-longest tenured Laker, after Kobe Bryant. He started 48 games last season at small forward - plus another 19 in the playoffs - but has had a long road back from injury.

George underwent surgery on his left ankle July 15 with the Lakers believing he would be sidelined until mid-November. But the muscles in his left leg atrophied while recovering, and he did not resume practicing until last week.

George, 27, impressed Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich during his run Monday. George said he still has to work on getting his conditioning back and his timing down, as well as mastering the Lakers' offense.

``He made his presence known today in practice,'' Tomjanovich said. ``It was good. He shot the ball very well.''

What part George will play once he returns is uncertain, with Caron Butler starting, Jumaine Jones shooting nearly 39 percent from 3-point range off the bench, and the Lakers stocked with five small forwards on their roster.

``I think I can do some things to help the team as well as I did in the past,'' George said. ``I'm pretty good at finding my niche and what's needed and try to provide a spark when I come in.''

--On guard: After losing in overtime Christmas Day to the Miami Heat, the Lakers might seem primed for a letdown against the last-place Toronto Raptors (10-19) tonight at Staples Center. Not so, Tomjanovich said.

``We just got to win. I don't know about letdowns; we just got to win,'' Tomjanovich said. ``A win is very important. I don't think there's going to be anybody who's not going to be busting their butt and focused and ready to go.''

--Finally: There were 225 fewer media members present for Monday's Lakers practice than Saturday's reunion game between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The final count Monday: four writers, two television cameramen and two radio reporters.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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- Ross Siler