Jackson says it takes more than two

Phil Jackson’s post-practice message echoed through the Lakers’ quiet practice facility.

After gathering the players together Saturday afternoon, he told them sternly that there shouldn’t be such a reliance on Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom. Don’t force the ball in to them. Find the open man. We need to win games here.

“They’re premeditating their passes and so it’s difficult sometimes to get the ball in,” Jackson said later. “Sometimes it’s creating a situation in the offense where it stalls out.

“As a consequence, you’re playing into [opponents’] hands sometimes. There’s easier shots available to players in different spaces on the floor that are considered role players.”

Makes sense to Odom.

“It’s a team sport, know what I’m saying?” he said, offering an NFL analogy. “The Colts are really playing well when Peyton Manning or Marvin Harrison are not the best players in that game.”

But Odom said he did not sense an overreliance on him or Bryant.

“Not at all,” he said. “That’s just Coach being Coach.”

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The Lakers habitually paid the luxury tax in the past, but they are not expected to pay it for a second consecutive season.

The luxury tax, introduced before the 2001-02 season to penalize free-spending owners, is officially calculated after the season, but the Lakers’ payroll is currently about $3 million under the tax threshold of $65.4 million. Teams that exceed the threshold pay a dollar-for-dollar penalty.

The Lakers have a payroll of $75.8 million, but Brian Grant’s $13.6-million salary does not count toward luxury-tax assessment because he was waived in August 2005 via the one-time amnesty provision, which enabled teams to cut one player and not pay taxes on his salary.

The Lakers were worth $529 million last year, second only to the New York Knicks among NBA franchises, according to Forbes magazine.

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The Lakers are second-worst in the league in turnovers, averaging 18.9 a game with a turnover differential of minus-3.3.

“We’re concerned,” Jackson said.

Bryant is averaging a league-high 4.9 turnovers a game after averaging 3.1 last season. He had six turnovers Friday against Toronto.

Odom is averaging 3.4 turnovers compared with 2.7 last season.

TODAY

vs. Chicago, 5, FSN West, ESPN

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 6-3, Bulls 3-6.

Record vs. Bulls (2005-06) -- 1-1.

Update -- The Bulls, predicted by many to be contenders in the Eastern Conference, had a rough trip through Texas, losing to San Antonio, Houston and Dallas before arriving here.