WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE

Here’s some notes and fun behind-the-scenes fun from Game 2 that you might not have seen on TV:

-Max Lucado’s “For the Moment” daily bible in Ime Udoku’s locker.

-Derek Fisher shooting 20 for 25 in practice before the game, hoping to break his 3-point jinx.

-Tim Duncan watching film from Game 1 in the quite Spurs locker room and scheming about layups with Tim Thomas.


-Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing the National Anthem with a trumpet while free stylin’ at certain parts in the song. Flea and Anthony Kiedis wrote two songs about the Lakers on their 1989 album Mother's Milk, called "Salute To Kareem" and the "Magic Johnson" which features these lyrics:

Lakers are the team that I watch on the telly
Cause they got more moves
Than a bowl full of jelly

Flea also used to blog about the Lakers. Even though the announcer says, “Please remove your hats,” he's still sporting a yellow Lakers hat during the song. Fans don’t seem to mind at all. They’re loving his rocker-trumpet version of the epic tune. Afterwards he jumps up about 5 feet in the air and then runs over to the Lakers players and high five’s them all.

-There’s a sign in the crowd that says “Kobe Diem.” While it’s no secret that Kobe is a big fan of Latin, having spent much of his childhood in Italy, perhaps this is because his favorite saying is, “Carpe Diem, Carpe Diem, Carpe Diem.” I know this, because we talked about it after a game.

-The regulars are here, of course: David and Posh, Tobe Maguire, Denzel Washington, Jack Nicholson.

-Ronny Turiaf yelling at the top of his lungs, dancing and singing "Sashaaaaa Vucacic, Sasha Vujacic!" after Sasha scores.


-After the game a hundred or so fans stick around to watch Kobe do a TNT post-game show with Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and a couple TNT guys. There are a ton of fans snapping pics, screaming “Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!” and “MVP, MVP, MVP!”

-For the first time in a while Trevor Ariza is surrounded by five reporters. Earlier before the game a reporter had asked Phil Jackson if Trevor would play or not. They’ve been asking all season and then sure enough, he played!

THE SASHA FACTOR

I can’t say it enough how Sasha is one of my favorites. We have the best pre-game convos ever. He always says hi to me and chats. He's also happens to be an incredible player. Here's another fun Sasha pre-game convo:

ME: What do you do before the game to get mentally prepared?

SASHA: Pick out socks. (He says as he folds some in his lap)

ME: Which ones are good to wear?

SASHA: It doesn’t matter, they’ve just got to match.

ME: You just need to get all the same socks so they always match.

SASHA: Yeah, but it’s the washing. They become grey after awhile. Seriously, I’m not kidding.

ME: Is Pau your best friend?

SASHA: I don’t know. Ask him. You never know what he’s going to say. He’s Calderon.

ME: Are you excited to go to San Antonio?

SASHA: Yeah, are you? Are you coming?

ME: No, they don’t send me.

SASHA: You’re going to party in OC, right?

ME: Uh, huh.

BECKS MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER

Oh yes, Becks was at the game again.

He is the best friend in the world. My friends don't even read all my articles and David not only gets decked out in Lakers gear but he comes to every single game!

So I thought I would give him love on my blog.

REPORTING FROM... LAKERS VS. JAZZ GAME FIVE

There's one thing wrong with Staples Center that Utah Jazz player Kyrylo Fesenko has noticed.

"You don't have mascot!" Actually Fesenko, L.A. has many mascots - and they're called celebrities.

Returning home to Tinsel Town for Game 5 after two road losses in Salt Lake, couldn't have been brighter for the Lakers who were warmly welcomed by plenty of familiar famous faces at Staples Center.

Wednesday's game included Tobey Maguire, Denzel Washington, David Beckham, David Arquette, Harvey Weinstein, Jack Nicholson, Heather Locklear, Jack Wagner, Lou Adler, Jon Favreau, Brian Grazer, Chris Tucker, Andy Garcia and Dyan Cannon.

And the star-struck Jazz took notice.

"When I saw Denzel Washington that was pretty cool because I'm a big fan," Ronnie Price says. "I watch all of his movies and seeing him at the basketball game was kind of crazy."

While the Jazz may have been focused on the game, it can be hard for even the un-fazed not to stare. "I know just without even trying you can spot celebrities," Price says. "I just notice that people look difference in person. Sometimes movies make people look different. They all are shorter in person."

Not that you can blame the Jazz.

You don't exactly see too many celebrities in Utah - unless of course, you count the High School Musical teen stars Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale that made a cameo appearance at Game 4 in Salt Lake.

The celebrity-effect is an unexplainable one. Even the Lakers admit that L.A. isn't the most hostile stadium in the league. "People are sitting down most of the game until something happens and you get cheered by them," Jordan Farmar says. "You go on the road and it's loud from beginning to end."

The Jazz agree. "You see more signs and more obnoxious things in other places," Matt Harping says.

But L.A. still remains one of the most difficult cities to play at.

Click here to read the rest of my article on ESPN.com!

REPORTING FROM ... THE FRONT ROW AT STAPLES CENTER

David Beckham + Lakers = Awesomeness

While I was at the Lakers last regular season home game last night - a 124-101 blowout over the Sacramento Kings - David Beckham was there! He's been at 3 of the last 4 games. I love it! So I had to ask Kobe what the deal is with his new bestie ...

Check out my article on ESPN.com!