Pau Gasol (strained right hamstring) will not play in tonight's Lakers season opener with the Clippers, having been placed on the inactive list because of his strained right hamstring.
"We hope Friday's possible," said coach Phil Jackson, referring to the Lakers' next game, against Dallas. He added that he didn't think Gasol would need a practice before returning to action.
"He's the kind of player that can fit right in," Jackson said. "The last practice ... he did very well. He was right on beat. He played well. He didn't show any real signs of any inadequacy at all. But he's still fearful about it, so he needs to rest it."
Curses? In the wake of the news that rookie Blake Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, is out for an estimated six weeks with a stress fracture of the kneecap -- adding to a long-running list of Clippers injury woes -- Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy told reporters he doesn't believe in curses.
In this, at least, Dunleavy and Jackson are in agreement.
"I don't believe in that," Jackson said. "I believe you make your own luck, obviously. Things have to be done the correct way, yes, and organizations do win championships -- the Jerry Krause quote comes back -- but I don't think it follows particularly, teams, because of their bad luck."
(Krause was the Bulls GM whose infamous quote that organizations win championships, rather than players, rankled Michael Jordan during the Bulls' dynasty).
Jackson expressed sympathy for Griffin.
"It's disappointing," he said. "We all wish him well and a speedy recovery on that. They've got a veteran roster; they've got backup help. They're not in the situation they were last year where they were depleted. But still, when you've got the first pick ... you want that player to have an opportunity."