Lakers coach Jackson not surprised over Arenas suspension

Lakers coach Phil Jackson wasn't surprised that NBA commissioner David Stern suspended Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards for storing guns in his locker. The indefinite length of the suspension also didn't shock Jackson.

He said Wednesday the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players makes it clear that guns will not be tolerated in the workplace. He said the Lakers have stressed to their players that the rules must be followed to the letter.

"I don't know about other teams, but we've had someone come in the last couple of years and talk specifically to the players about guns, ownership of guns, their place in society," Jackson said "It's never enough. It's never enough.

"You get new people (who join the team through free agency and trades). You get new situations. You get players with issues that may make them feel unguarded. I think there's a real challenge for our league to address this. Society, too."

Jackson said he supports the right to bear arms, but he has made it clear he's not a fan of handguns. He said Sunday, "My message is that it attracts violence, there's no doubt about it, and the violence that happens around guns is death."

Lakers medical report

Pau Gasol went through his therapy session without experiencing pain in his strained left hamstring, Jackson said. There is still no timetable for Gasol's return to the practice court. He was injured while warming up before Sunday's game against Dallas.

Lamar Odom said he was still feeling weak because of a case of gastroenteritis. He had 17 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists in Tuesday's victory over Houston, and Jackson joked that he encouraged him to maintain his pregame diet.

"I don't think he feels a whole lot better," Jackson said of Odom, who fell ill Sunday afternoon. "He's not feeling that great yet. I told him to stay on the same diet as (Tuesday) night. He had a Big Mac before the game."

Ron Artest reported no setbacks after playing for the first time Tuesday since suffering a concussion in a fall at home Dec. 25. Artest was shaky, according to Jackson, who added, "His physical performance was fine. His mental performance was not."

Asked to elaborate, Jackson said, "He didn't handle the situations right a few times. He dribbled into territory he shouldn't have gone into, with numerous turnovers as a result. I thought his timing was off a little bit."

Griffin update

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said an Internet report that rookie forward Blake Griffin would make his NBA debut Jan. 20 was untrue.

Griffin, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, has been sidelined since suffering a stress fracture of his left patella during training camp.

"I have no idea where that January 20 date came from," Dunleavy said. "I don't think it's an accurate date at all. But he's progressing. He's on the court. - We don't need to set dates. The first day he's ready to play, that's when we want him."