LAKERS NOTEBOOK: GRANT BACK TO PLAY SHAQ?

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Not that the game needed any additional storylines, but the Lakers' Christmas Day showdown with the Miami Heat could include the subplot of forward Brian Grant's return to action.

Grant, who went on the injured list Nov. 23 with knee tendinitis, has been rehabbing daily with athletic performance coordinator Chip Schaefer and physical therapist Alex McKechnie, and said Tuesday he would ``definitely like'' to be back by Dec. 25.

``It's tough sitting on the sideline watching the guys out there, the team molding and gelling, and you're not really a part of it,'' Grant said. ``But it's something that's helping me, and I think once I come off, I'm definitely going to see the benefits.''

Grant elected to go on the injured list in the first month of the season with the hope that strengthening his knees would allow him to play effectively into March and April. He said the work he has done in the past two weeks has helped alleviate pressure on the knees.

The Miami game will mark Shaquille O'Neal's return to Staples Center to face Kobe Bryant for the first time. But it also will be significant for Grant, who spent four seasons playing for the Heat before being traded in July.

Grant said he would start working on his conditioning this weekend and resume basketball drills soon after. He said fans would see the benefit of his time away and also noted the Lakers' need for big men to stop O'Neal.

``You don't need scorers,'' said Grant, who averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds before being placed on the injured list. ``You don't need defenders. You just need bodies.''

--Friend in need: Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich was elated Tuesday for more than just the clean bill of health he received the day before during a scheduled checkup in his continued recovery from bladder cancer.

Tomjanovich also was grateful that longtime Houston Rockets teammate Calvin Murphy - whom Tomjanovich roomed with for nine seasons - was found not guilty of molesting five of his daughters, ending an eight-month criminal case.

``It was a horrible situation but I never had once ounce of doubt,'' Tomjanovich said. ``(Murphy's) so good with kids. He knows what adults have done for him in his life. ... I know this has taken a big toll on him. But he is loved by so many people.''

--The future: Tomjanovich shifted Caron Butler to shooting guard during the second quarter of Friday's victory over Golden State, and Bryant said in a radio interview Monday that Butler had the skills to play point guard if needed.

Butler was asked Tuesday if he could see a backcourt of himself and Bryant someday evolving. Butler is 6-foot-7, Bryant is an inch shorter, and the two players could split ball-handling duties while at the same time being able to post-up smaller guards.

``I think it could be like that sometime in the future,'' Butler said. ``Right now, whatever they need me to do, whether it's to give (Bryant) a break or just put me at (shooting guard) for mismatch purposes or whatever, I'm willing to do.''

--Notes: The Lakers likely will activate rookie guard Sasha Vujacic from the injured list tonight. ... Lamar Odom participated in half of practice Tuesday and is expected to play tonight despite a swollen left knee.

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LAKERS vs. PHOENIX

- Ross Siler