Layoff provides time for healing

Kobe Bryant isn’t the only one who could use a little rest this week.

There’s Vladimir Radmanovic with a sprained ligament in his right hand, Kwame Brown with a nagging shoulder injury and Andrew Bynum, the Lakers’ ever-evolving teenage center, who needed to collect his breath after a whirlwind couple of weeks.

The Lakers are halfway through a four-day break between games, providing time for reflection, rest and rehabilitation after ripping through eight games faster than any other team this season. Their next game is Friday against Toronto.

Bynum, their center of the future, had 11 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes Sunday against Memphis, increasing his season averages to 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 21.9 minutes.

“Right now, Andrew has trouble playing the minutes he’s played the last two games -- 29 minutes is a lot for him,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “Six, seven minutes at a time is a real energy draw for him. He’s just young and he’s just growing into his body.”

Then, a one-liner from Jackson.

“His high school only played six-minute quarters.”

Bryant had a light practice Tuesday and continued individual workouts to strengthen the area around his right knee. After taking Monday off, Radmanovic and Brown practiced despite their lingering injuries, with Jackson providing his current-day insight into each player.

Radmanovic is averaging 6.3 points in 16.8 minutes, well below his career averages of 10.1 points and 26.3 minutes.

“Two things working against him -- he’s injured his hand and the fact he hasn’t found a comfort zone on the floor,” Jackson said. “I’ve been trying to force-feed him in games, and it’s hurting us and it’s hurting him.”

Brown played his first game Sunday and has said he would be bothered by his shoulder throughout the season.

“Kwame always has pains,” Jackson said, smiling. “He’s always coming out with some kind of pain, so maybe that will be good. It will keep him focused on one thing.”

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Center Chris Mihm underwent surgery on his right ankle in Baltimore and is expected to recover in six to eight months, team officials said.

Mihm, who sat out 24 of the team’s final 25 games last season and did not play this season, had surgery to repair a tendon and a ligament in the ankle. His heel bone was realigned in the procedure. Mihm will have the foot immobilized for four or five weeks and then will begin rehabilitation while wearing a medical boot.

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A lawsuit was filed against Bryant in a Tennessee court by a spectator who alleged Bryant struck him during a Memphis home game in November 2005. Bill Geeslin is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

According to the lawsuit, Bryant “left the basketball court and entered the spectators’ section where Bill Geeslin was sitting ... and violently struck Mr. Geeslin with [his] elbow.” A Lakers spokesman was unaware of the lawsuit and referred calls to Bryant’s agent, who could not be reached for comment. Geeslin’s attorney declined to comment.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com