Ceballos Sidelined at Least 6 Weeks

The Lakers learned Thursday that they will probably be without Cedric Ceballos for six to eight weeks because of the partially torn tendon in his right knee, forcing them to juggle a lineup that has been grinding gears anyway at full strength.

The team averaging 94.5 points a game loses one of its most potent weapons, even if Ceballos had been off to a slow start at 10.8 points and only 41% from the field. The injury also may force them to move Eddie Jones, the only other consistent scorer so far besides Shaquille O’Neal, from shooting guard to fill the void at small forward.

Jones has been getting time in the frontcourt with Coach Del Harris making liberal use of a three-guard alignment. But now he may be there even when the matchups seem more like a mismatch, defending bigger, stronger opponents on a regular basis. That, in turn, may put Byron Scott in the starting lineup and demand more production from struggling Kobe Bryant, who will play both spots.

“I’m going to take up some of the slack, Byron’s going to take up some of the slack, everybody’s going to have to take up some of the slack,” said Jones, averaging 20 points the last five games and 17.1 overall while shooting 52.6%. “We are fortunate to have a few more guards who are versatile than most teams.

“I don’t think it puts any additional strain on me. I always go out and bust my butt at both ends of the court. We all just have to go on.”

That includes the reinforcements. With no plans to make a sudden trade, not wanting to tear again at a team for what should be a relatively brief problem, or sign a CBA player or free agent for the minimum, attention turns to the two small forwards already on the injured list.

Jerome Kersey, signed in the summer to be Ceballos’ backup, will probably give his broken left foot its first road test today, seeing how far the recovery has come during a simulated workout after the afternoon shootaround. He is also scheduled to take part in a full practice Saturday for the first time since Oct. 21, and if Sunday comes without pain or mobility problems, he could be activated for that night’s game against Phoenix.

This is the Kersey timetable being moved up by need. He hasn’t even done any jumping yet, so, if he does return, the 34-year-old will have to work his way into game shape during games, what with the Lakers playing five times in eight days starting Sunday.

If Kersey is not ready, Trevor Wilson will probably be activated instead. He is out because of tendinitis in his left knee but appears close to being able to play.

Corie Blount could also get some time at small forward, and maybe even some consideration for the starting job.

This is Ceballos’ second major injury in a little more than two seasons since coming to the Lakers. A torn thumb ligament cost him 22 games in 1994-95. Wednesday’s injury happened with 4:01 left in the loss at San Antonio, when he twisted slightly in midair to avoid defender Vernon Maxwell while going for a layup and landed awkwardly.

He fell to the court and immediately clutched the knee. After several minutes on the ground, he was taken off on a stretcher to be examined by a Spur team physician and had X-rays taken that showed the partial tear of the patella tendon. Thursday, an MRI and follow-up exam with Laker physician Steve Lombardo in Los Angeles confirmed the injury and its severity, setting the timetable of six to eight weeks.