Yeah, they lost in OT. But if you would have told an 11 year-old leafblower way back in the day "Someday you'll be able to be a part of the media and go into the Celtics locker room after a game and interview the players," that 11 year-old kid would have been jump up and down happy. Heck, 32 year-old leafblower was downright giddy when the appointed time came around on Saturday night.

It's funny, I have no qualms asking any of the Wizards players questions in the locker room, but I was nervous as hell in trying to do the same thing to the C's after the game. I think I gave Rajon Rondo the worst interview he's ever been subjected to in his short pro career. I've been watching this team (although not necessarily these players) for years and I was a little overwhelmed by the experience.

I was so happy with what I found in the locker room though. The guys on the team seemed tight and although everyone was down because of the loss, there was a sense of optimism in the air. They took the Wizards best shot and almost took them down. They knew they could have won that game and they were confident they'd get one sooner or later.

With all the injuries, lots of fans want the team to tank games (or at least lose as many as possible) so they'll be in a position to get Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. But after talking to the team, seeing them in the locker room and hearing each and every player say how much they want to win, it's impossible for me to root for that to happen.

The Wizards PR staff was nice enough to let me sit in the lower press area for this one game, hence the photos, some of which I think are pretty amazing if I do say so myself. The top photo here of Rajon and Gilbert is quite possibly my favorite photo that I've ever taken. It's definitely getting printed and framed.

Shooting NBA action is much harder than doing a concert or even a MLS game. You have to be ready at all times. But I think I did OK and wonder what I could do if I wasn't eight rows back behind the basket support. Still, Saturday night was an incredible experience that I won't forget for quite some time. I was there, after the game, a peer of people like Steve Bulpett and even Peter May. Good times.

My official game recap will be up on DCist shortly. You can see all of my photos over in the game photo gallery.