Divac’s Game Is Still in the Recovery Stage

Vlade Divac’s back is 100%, but his playing time has yet to recover.

Divac has averaged 5.8 minutes in his first five games since returning from a herniated disk, scoring a total of four points. He says his conditioning is only 80% of what it should be.

The slow start has been a source of frustration for Divac, who missed only six games the previous five seasons.

“Whatever it takes, it’s up to me to find something,” said Divac, who averaged 9.9 points and a career-best 5.3 assists last season with the Sacramento Kings. “I have to get back in rhythm. It’s the first time in my career it’s happening this way. I’m going to try to adapt.”

When Divac signed a two-year contract as a free agent, he was expected to be the starting center. Instead, Chris Mihm has averaged 11 points and 6.1 rebounds while making 52.5% of his shots, ninth best in the league going into Saturday’s games.

“Chris is playing great.... Better stay with Chris,” Divac said. “I can’t do any better than Chris.”

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The Lakers continue to move through a favorable part of their schedule, with nine of their next 11 games at Staples Center.

“We’re going to be home here for a while,” Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “You’ve got to take care of those things. It’s like serving in tennis. You’ve got to hold your serve.”

The Lakers took Saturday off, but they will have three consecutive days of practice, where they will work on team defense and their transition game.

“I’d love to work on our running game,” Tomjanovich said. “I feel like we’ve really slipped as far as execution and getting a higher percentage” of fastbreak conversions.

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Tomjanovich on forward Brian Cook, who has made 13 of 25 three-point attempts and averaged 14.4 points over the last five games: “I knew the guy was a good shooter, but I didn’t know he was going to be a three shooter. He shoots it so easy. He’s got one of the quickest releases in the league. It’s just effortless, that shot. I’ve always liked guys like that.”