Inside look at Easter doubleheader at Staples Center

                    

	Paris Hilton and boyfriend Stavros Niarchos III enjoyed some dessert despite being dissed by the Staples Center crowd. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
	MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Arash. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

SI.com's Arash Markazi was in Los Angeles on Sunday and pulled an NBA doubleheader at the Staples Center, catching the Lakers-Suns game in the afternoon and the Clippers-Sonics in the evening.

Lakers-Suns

• It's 10:30 a.m., two hours before tip-off, but on any normal NBA game day we'd be about nine hours away from the opening tip, so many of the players were in an odd state of mind as they made an all-too-early drive to the arena instead of catching up on some much-needed sleep this Sunday morning. "I got here around 10 a.m.," said Lakers point guard Smush Parker. "It was strange. We don't usually practice this early. I was in bed by 9:30 last night just so I'd get up on time."

• One of the perks, at least for the media, of having a game so early is being treated to the Sunday brunch spread in the Staples Center media room, complete with a couple of omelet and ham-carving stations to go with French toast, home fries, chicken, fish and muffins. In fact, the only thing missing was the mimosas. "We'll work on that for next time," promised one member of the catering staff.

• Phil Jackson's wit was already in playoff form before the game. When he saw me wearing a "Disco Instructor" shirt outside the Lakers' locker room, he looked me up and down and smiled. "Is that a challenge?" he said. "Did you lose a bet to wear that shirt?"

• Speaking of fashion statements, Parker was making one when he pulled out a pair of Jordan Sevens that had been airbrushed in purple and gold and had his name and number painted on the back. It would be the first time Parker would wear the new "Smush Parkers" in a game after getting the kicks custom painted by J Martin on Melrose Ave. "These are specialty-made Smush Parkers that J made for me," said Parker. "They're Michael Jordans, but I put my own spin on it with J's help. He does art on shoes, hats and shirts." Phoenix was also making a fashion statement of its own, rocking the throwback uniforms they wore from 1973-1992 for Sunday's game. "I like it," said Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, who was 9 and living in São Paulo, Brazil, the last time the Suns wore the uniforms regularly. "It's something different."

• Kobe Bryant outscored the Suns 7-0 in the first 1:30 of the game, and the chants of "MVP" were already pouring in before Phoenix had a chance to get on the scoreboard. Say what you want about Kobe, but it's hard to argue that he shouldn't be in anyone's top three. Besides going for 81 against Toronto, scoring 62 in three quarters against Dallas and becoming only the fourth player in league history to average at least 35 points in one season, he has also made his team better. The Lakers, who will probably finish 45-37 and be the seventh seed in the West with the 11th-best record in the NBA, were 34-48 last year and easily one of the worst teams in the league.

• Point guard turned analyst Mark Jackson said on ABC that by the end of his career Bryant will go down as the greatest player in NBA history. In fact, he said it a couple of times just so he was clear, leading Dan Patrick to say that Mark Jax has a man-crush on Kobe. I wonder if USC professor Todd Boyd has ever met Jackson. In the latest SI, Boyd, who has never met Bryant, ripped into the Lakers star, saying, "I honestly can't name any African-Americans not professing to be Lakers fans who like Kobe." The Detroit Pistons die-hard also said, "Saying Kobe has street cred is like saying Dick Cheney has street cred." I wish I could take my former professor out of the classroom and into a few NBA locker rooms or even to the street courts on Venice Beach and introduce him to a few people who might give him a different perspective on the issue. It won't stop him from bashing Bryant, something he's done in and out of class for years, but it would allow him to talk to some African-Americans who aren't Lakers fans who actually like Kobe, or at least respect his game.

• Something needs to be done about the NBA rule that forces the defending team to stop a potential fast-break opportunity and inbound the ball when the team on offense has a shot-clock violation. Why should a team be punished for playing good defense by allowing the opposition to regroup and get back on defense when you have an easy opportunity on the other end?

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Sunday, may be a special assistant coach for the Lakers, but he always sits high above the team's bench near the tunnel of section 119 at Staples Center among the fans. Kareem, who's mellowed and has become more cordial to the media and fans over the years, was all smiles when he was on the Jumbotron and given a "happy birthday" ovation in the second half.

• While celebrities such as Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon were cheered when they were shown on the Jumbotron late in the game, Paris Hilton was loudly booed despite wearing Lakers colors. After she stopped smiling and waving for the camera, she turned to her boyfriend Stavros Niarchos III and sarcastically said, "Wow, thanks."