NBA CHAMPIONSHIP : Lakers vs. Celtics : Notebook : A Notable Absentee Will Be Back in His Seat for the Tip-off

He missed most of the regular season and the early rounds of the playoffs because he was making a movie in Albany, N.Y., but Jack Nicholson will be in his familiar courtside seat tonight, his business manager said Monday.

Nicholson is starring with Meryl Streep in “Ironweed,” a movie based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by William Kennedy.

He returned to Los Angeles last Saturday, plans to attend the games at the Forum, and will fly back for the games in Boston Garden as well, Colbert said.

And what about the movie? That schedule was worked around the NBA playoffs. Nicholson will fly to Albany next Saturday for the last day of shooting.

Next week, his “Witches of Eastwick,” which was shot in a Boston suburb, will be released.

Laker promotions director Lon Rosen was told that someone from the mayor’s office was on the line, waiting to speak to him. Rosen picked up the phone.

“What’s up,” he said.

“Lon, this is Mayor Bradley,” the caller said.

Bradley, unlike dozens of other callers, wasn’t looking for tickets. He wanted Magic Johnson to do a promotional spot, urging residents to go to the polls and vote today.

Speaking of tickets, this was the recorded message left by Laker publicist Josh Rosenfeld on his home phone: “If you’re calling about tickets, don’t bother to leave a message. For the next two weeks, I’m the most powerful person in Los Angeles.”

At one ticket agency, Front-Row Center Tickets in Westwood, owner Fred Ross said that his lowest-priced tickets were going for $75 and that his top price was $650.

“There are two or three times more people who want to buy tickets than there are tickets,” Ross said. “A lot of brokers are having trouble filling orders. Demand for tickets is crazy.

“If the Lakers could play Boston in Dodger Stadium, they’d sell out.”

Magic Johnson said he spoke briefly with Isiah Thomas, the Detroit Piston guard and a close friend, by telephone Sunday. But Johnson would not indicate what was said regarding Thomas’ comments about Larry Bird, whom Thomas said would be “just another good player” if he were black.

“I can’t go into what I said,” Johnson said. “Everybody here can talk to him and ask him why. I won’t answer for Isiah. I’m going to answer for Magic.”

Laker Coach Pat Riley, on the comment by Piston rookie Dennis Rodman, who said Bird is overrated because he is white: “You think I’m going to agree with that rookie? He’s got a wind tunnel between his ears. That was a very immature statement.” But Thomas agreed with him, someone said. “That was unforgivable,” Riley said.

Bird on the subject: “Everybody’s got an opinion. Ten years from now, I probably won’t see either of them guys.”

Former Clipper Coach Don Chaney is in the running to become an assistant coach to Mike Fratello in Atlanta, replacing Willis Reed, who is joining Bill Russell in Sacramento. Chaney said he has also spoken with Milwaukee and Portland. . . . The Clippers plan to hire Bernie LaReau, former trainer for the San Antonio Spurs. LeReau will replace Mike Shimensky, who is going to Portland. . . . Utah Jazz president David Checketts has been interviewed by the New York Knicks for their vacant general manager’s job.

When the Lakers beat the Celtics in Boston Garden in December, Larry Bird took just 13 shots, only 1 in the fourth quarter. He made 11 of them for 26 points. In the Celtics’ loss here in February, Bird also shot just once in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t think we can win if I take just two shots in the fourth quarter,” Bird said. “Thirteen shots the whole game? If I take that many shots here, I’d better hit them all.”

Bill Walton remains the Celtics’ X factor. He played one minute in Game 7 against the Pistons, which equaled his playing time in Game 7 of the Eastern semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Bill Walton’s got a foot problem,” Bird said. “But any time he gets off the bench and takes his (warmup) pants off, especially in the Garden, it really gives me a rush. Even if he plays just a second, I think we play a little better.”

Mychal Thompson quote of the week (Day 2, anyway): “I think everybody here was secretly pulling for Boston, for obvious reasons.”

(Pause.)

“Boston has the best clam chowder in the world.”

The last time neither the Celtics nor the Lakers played in the finals was 1979, when the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Washington Bullets, 4 games to 1. . . . Boston’s Larry Bird has played 761 minutes in the playoffs, 318 more than the most active Laker, James Worthy, 443. The Celtics have played 17 games, the Lakers 12. . . . Since Bird and Magic Johnson came into the league together in 1979-80, the Celtics and Lakers have split their 16 regular-season meetings, and two championship finals.