Tomjanovich Still Assessing Rotation

Almost everybody who’s healthy is part of the Laker rotation, which runs 10 or 11 players deep, the baseball equivalent of a six-man pitching rotation.

“That’s a lot for anybody ... no, everybody,” Laker Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “That’s where I’m at right now. We’ve had these trades where we’ve brought in so many people.”

On one hand, it’s a luxury the Lakers can take while trying to figure out the inner workings of a team with nine new players, six of whom were acquired in the Shaquille O’Neal and Gary Payton trades. On the other hand, most teams go eight, maybe nine players deep, because roles are more clearly defined.

For now, it appears reserves Brian Cook, Brian Grant, Tierre Brown, Jumaine Jones, Luke Walton, and Kareem Rush will keep getting minutes. Rookie Sasha Vujacic probably will be the lone bench-sitter most nights.

Grant, an 11-year veteran, has played on deep Portland Trail Blazer teams that tightened their bench and used only eight or nine players, although he understands why the Lakers are going with 10 or 11.

“Even though preseason’s over, we’re still getting to know each other,” Grant said. “It usually takes a good one-fourth of the year. This is definitely a willing team, and it could happen a lot sooner.”

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Lamar Odom was watching TV in his hotel room Wednesday afternoon when he saw a few basketball analysts burst the short-lived bubble of Laker euphoria by downplaying the Lakers’ season-opening victory Tuesday against Denver.

“I didn’t hear any of them give credit for winning a game most people thought we would lose,” Odom said, shaking his head. “That’s what’s going to make this season interesting. It’s going to be fun to be the underdog.”

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Tomjanovich, who overcame bladder cancer after being diagnosed with it in March 2003, said he sympathized with Utah Coach Jerry Sloan, who lost his wife, Bobbye, to pancreatic cancer in June. “My wife and I did send some flowers,” Tomjanovich said quietly.... A season kickoff event for Cathy’s Kids, Odom’s charity foundation benefiting disadvantaged children, takes place tonight at the Roxy Theater at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 each.