Derek scored 11 points, dished out three dimes and even swatted a Darko Milicic layup as the Lakers downed the Memphis Grizzlies, 99-89, at Staples Center on Tuesday night.
The win for LA (49-12) snapped a season-high two-game losing streak.
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| D and the Lakers got back on track Tuesday night (Getty Images). |
WARDROBE CHANGE
If you thought Derek and co. looked a little strange out on the floor Tuesday night, you’re right.
The Lakers, as part of Noche Latina, donned “Los Lakers” jerseys Tuesday night as part of the NBA’s Hispanic Heritage Month.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME COURT
At the LA Times, columnist Bill Plaschke follows Tuesday night’s victory with a piece about the Lakers’ drive for home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
In the column, Plaschke notes that even though the Lakers seem to have Western Conference home court in their pockets, it is by no means a forgone conclusion and it’s even less so for the NBA Finals, where the hard charging Cavaliers and Boston Celtics are trailing the Lakers for the NBA’s best record by a razor slim margin.
Plaschke says that each Lakers play has to continue to play at a high-level for the team to reach their home-court goal. He quotes Derek on the importance of achieving that goal:
“The Lakers, of course, need to look beyond the bench, beyond this Tuesday in March, all the way to a Thursday in June.
June 18, to be exact.
Game 7 of the NBA Finals, to be precise.
If they are playing a home game that night, write it down, they will win the NBA championship.
If they are not, put down the pen and hold your breath.
“A lot of us have been around the league long enough to know what home-court advantage means,” said Derek Fisher.”
NEXT UP
The Lakers get a rare two-day break before hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night at the Staples Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST and all the action can be seen live in LA on FSN. As always, radio broadcast is available on KLAC 570 AM.
RELATED STORIES
Memphis vs. Los Angeles Recap (ESPN.com, March, 3, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=290303013&campaign=rsssrch&source=derek+fisher
Home court advantage (LA Times, March 4, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-plaschke-lakers4-2009mar04,0,766952.column?page=2&track=rss
Lakers end losing streak at two (LA Times, March 4, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-grizzlies4-2009mar04,0,88626.story?track=rss
Grizzlies at Lakers Play by Play (NBA.com, March 3, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090303/MEMLAL/playbyplay.html