Lakers coach Phil Jackson's progress two weeks after undergoing hip replacement surgery has him on schedule to coach in the opener Oct. 31 against the Suns.

According to Jeanie Buss, Jackson's longtime girlfriend and the Lakers' executive vice president of business operations, "Everybody's just amazed at how well he's doing."

Although he still can't drive, Jackson was a regular at practice last week and has been watching the Lakers' exhibition games at home with Buss.

"He's really excited to get back to work," Buss said in a phone interview Tuesday, "but the doctors want to be careful that he doesn't overdo it."