The timetable Lakers center Kwame Brown was given when he went for a second opinion last week on his sprained left ankle called for him to miss another four to six weeks and return sometime in March.

But Kwame Brown said he was optimistic that he would be able to beat that projection. He has been wearing a walking boot day and night -- even while he sleeps -- and said the immobilization was helping his ankle.

Although he is supposed to wear the boot for three weeks, Kwame Brown said, "It feels better than the three weeks, so I'm going to talk to the doctor right after the All-Star break and see if I can try to speed it up a little bit.''

Kwame Brown, who has missed 22 games since suffering the injury, was able to do some light shooting at Monday's practice. He plans to work out next week in a hard cast and gauge things from there.

The injury at least hasn't cost Kwame Brown his sense of humor, as he joked about needing to shoot and feel the ball as much as possible while he isn't playing.

"I already can't catch,'' Kwame Brown said, "so if I wait this long and (don't) touch the ball, you'll really see something special.''

Since Kwame Brown was injured Dec. 31, the Lakers have made due with teenage center Andrew Bynum starting. Coach Phil Jackson underscored the importance of Kwame Brown's return when he was asked before Tuesday's game about Bynum wearing down.

"Without a doubt,'' Jackson said. "He's a 19-year-old kid. Jordan Farmar, who's gone through some longer UCLA college seasons, has also hit the wall. They're starting to come back a little bit. I see a little more life in them now as they come through this.''

The rundown

There are issues of great importance in the NBA these days, like choosing sides in the All-Star weekend footrace for charity between Charles Barkley and 67-year-old referee Dick Bavetta.

"I talked to Dick Bavetta actually a couple games ago. He assured me that he's in the best shape of his life,'' Kobe Bryant said. "If I had to bet, I'd probably go with Dick."

Two-for-none

Jackson revealed the Lakers suffered from a lack of communication in the final minute of Friday's loss at Toronto. The coach wanted the Lakers to play the two-for-one possession game, but the Lakers didn't take a shot for nearly 20 seconds.

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