Victories, Not Nostalgia, Top Tomjanovich Agenda

Rudy Tomjanovich’s return to Houston two months ago was notable, “one of the highlights of my life,” the Laker coach said.

The rematch Friday with the Houston Rockets at Staples Center? Not so much of a landmark event.

“I haven’t even had my phone on,” Tomjanovich said when asked if he had heard from anyone in Houston before Friday’s game. “I really want to win the game just because we need a win. If I bring that extra Rocket stuff in, it’ll knock my focus off.”

Tomjanovich, who spent more than 30 years as a player and coach with the Rockets, has said repeatedly how much he enjoys L.A., even taking a moment Friday to provide a backhanded compliment of sorts.

“The water’s not as brown here as it is in Galveston,” he said, smiling.

The Lakers have had their struggles, failing to move beyond a win-lose-win-lose pattern and opting not to play defense on many nights. But, true to Tomjanovich’s nature, a glass-half-full outlook was used to describe the season to date.

“I’d love to get this thing turned around,” he said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I’m one of those guys that’ll keep plugging away.”

The Lakers beat the Rockets in Houston, 84-79, and again on Friday, 111-104.

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Forward Brian Cook has averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19 minutes per game, perhaps good enough to earn an invitation to Denver next month for the All-Star rookie challenge, which pits rookies against second-year players such as Cook.

Cook, who averaged 4.4 points last season, has worked on his outside shot and is second on the team in three-point accuracy (38.4%).

“Nobody knew much about him last year,” Tomjanovich said. “He came in and has helped us a lot.”

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The contracts of Tierre Brown and Tony Bobbitt have been guaranteed. The deadline is Monday for teams to sign non-guaranteed players.

Brown is averaging four points and 2.2 assists in 13.7 minutes as the backup point guard. Bobbitt has been on the injured list since being signed last month after Kareem Rush was traded.