LOS ANGELES — Lakers coach Mike Brown, who sought Baron Davis earlier this month, said he believes the Knicks will reap dividends when he gets healthy.
The way the Knicks looked in their ugly 99-82 loss to the Lakers last night at Staples Center and their 92-78 defeat to the Warriors Wednesday night heightened the team’s sense of urgency to get Davis on the floor as soon as possible.
Nevertheless, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said it could be five weeks before Davis makes his Knicks debut.
“Everything I hear is positive, but there’s no timetable yet,’’ D’Antoni said. “He’s doing everything possible to get ready as soon as he can. But it’s going to be a while. I keep asking him every hour or so. He’s still got about five weeks to go. .’’
The Lakers’ loss could be the Knicks’ gain. Brown said he knew Davis was in a New York state of mind despite being from L.A. and thought they were long shots after he cleared amnesty waivers earlier this month.
Sentiment is growing around the league the Knicks won’t have a shot at winning the East unless Davis plays a big role.
Davis, despite his rehab program from a herniated disk, is traveling with the club.
“Once he gets through the injury, Baron is a double-double guy when talking about points and assists,’’ Brown said at the Lakers’ morning shootaround. “He’s smart. He’s been in the playoffs. I don’t know if there’s anything negative of having Baron Davis on the team.’’
Davis could be back to practice in three weeks.
* Brown said Kobe Bryant still is playing hurt after his offseason knee surgery.
“He’s one of the toughest guys I know,” Brown said. “To play with that injury, knowing what he does to prepare himself to play, let alone playing, is unique.”
* MSG Network said the Knicks-Golden State game Wednesday (3.15 rating) was the team’s highest-rated 10 p.m. or later game in 11 years.
* Brendan Brown, son former Knicks coach Hubie Brown, made his Knicks radio analyst debut on Wednesday. He will do most of the road games while John Andaraise does the home games.
Brown was a former assistant coach for Memphis.
Spero Dedes, who left the Lakers to take over the Knicks’ radio play-by-play from Mike Crispino, made his return to Laker-land last night.