Odom Will Be More Assertive

The response to Lamar Odom’s failure to get enough shots in the Lakers’ loss to Chicago on Wednesday was addressed before Friday’s game against Golden State.

Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich acknowledged that Odom, who had a season-low six shots Wednesday, needed more touches, promptly, whenever and wherever he wanted to get them.

“We definitely have to get him the ball,” Tomjanovich said. “It happened to Kobe [Bryant] last year sometimes. We don’t want that to happen. We’ve got to get him the ball more.”

Odom had 13 points on five-of-13 shooting Friday against Golden State.

Odom was a focal point of the Miami Heat offense last season, averaging 17.1 points and getting the ball in the post practically on demand. He has had to adjust to his third team in three seasons, and to sharing an offensive load with Bryant.

“With or without the ball, I have to be more aggressive,” said Odom, averaging 13.9 points coming into Friday’s game. “That’s something I have to do more on this team. I get my number called enough here, way more than enough. I put it on myself to make plays. I haven’t been able to do that.”

Odom, averaging 10.9 rebounds before getting eight Friday, said one way to increase his aggressiveness was to take the ball upcourt after a defensive rebound.

“I can do it really off of every rebound, it’s just if I choose to,” he said. “Maybe I should push it up more to make more plays.”

Tomjanovich said he and Odom talk before every game about where Odom wants the ball, in the high post, on the low block or the “Charles Barkley spot,” as Tomjanovich called it, 18 feet away along the baseline.

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The Lakers presented Derek Fisher with a framed jersey and a video tribute before Friday’s game. Fisher signed a six-year deal with Golden State in July after spending his first eight seasons with the Lakers.

“Life has been great for me.... I’m so blessed,” Fisher said in a brief address. “Thank you all for being a part of it.”

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It has turned into a gridlock game of sorts, with Tomjanovich and center Vlade Divac trying to beat each other to Staples Center from their Pacific Palisades homes. Both have had trouble arriving the required 90 minutes before game time.

Tomjanovich was the loser Friday, arriving 20 minutes late for his scheduled pregame meeting with media members.

“Make sure you guys put I was here before Rudy,” Divac said.