As Derek packs up for the Lakers’ longest and most grueling road trip of the year, beginning tomorrow night in Chicago, he can take joy in the fact that, despite limited minutes, he had a big hand in LA’s latest win.
D-Fish scored 11 points, including two three-point daggers, that helped LA build a third quarter lead just big enough that it was insurmountable, en route to a 114-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Fish chipped in two assists and two boards in his 18 minutes of work as coach Phil Jackson began to implement his plan to get his starters a little more rest so they have fresh legs for the playoffs.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
No. 2 and the troops now head out on a seven-game road trip that will truly test their grit, but Derek believes there won’t be a drop-off in play.
“There hasn’t been any game this year that we’ve gone into and not felt like we were going to win,” D-Fish said in his post-game remarks to the media. “I don’t think that will change on this road trip. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing or when we’re playing. There are certain things that we’re capable of doing and supposed to do to win games.”
The road trip takes the Lakers to Chicago, Oklahoma City, Detroit, New Jersey, Atlanta, Charlotte and Milwaukee before they return home on April 3.
FOXHOLE MENTALITY
Derek believes this trip could be beneficial for the team heading into the playoffs and could bolster them for the run at a championship, as quoted in the Press-Enterprise:
“In this league it takes a lot of energy to get things done on the road,” Derek Fisher said. “But the way we’ve played at home, I don’t know if we’ve played with a certain level of comfort on our home floor. Maybe getting out on the road and getting into the foxhole with just your group sometimes strengthens things a little bit.”
No, 2 also mentioned in post game that being on the road with just teammates can lift some responsibilities from a player’s shoulders and help them concentrate,
“On the road you seem to galvanize and come together a little more at times because it’s only you. Some of the responsibilities you have are lessened. You don’t have family, you don’t have traffic, so things tend to lighten up a little bit and I think guys sometimes have an ability to focus better when you’re away from home. Hopefully we can get things done on this trip.”
DEALING WITH THE FRUSTRATION
Recently the Lakers have been criticized for their lack of a killer instinct as they’ve nearly been bitten in their last three games by fourth quarter rallies from the opposition. They’ve only lost one of the three games, but the close calls have made some question desire and motivation.
Derek believes it’s all a part of getting to that ultimate goal and all the players care about working toward a title, as quoted in the Press-Enterprise:
“This is real,” he said. “It’s not a soap opera. So when you’re part of a group, part of a team, you have to respect the fact that guys are going to have different, I don’t want to say agendas, but just different things you go through.
“I know we’ve had a great season thus far, but we want so much more. That’s where the frustration is coming from. There’s probably not any other team that’s frustrated with a 54-14 record, but we know what the end goal is.”
JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER
One of the hot topics around the locker room before last night’s game was Kobe Bryant’s appearance in court for jury duty and his subsequent dismissal from duty. No. 2 said he wouldn’t want Kobe on his jury, as quoted by the LA Times:
“No. No way. He’s not merciful. All he knows is kill, kill, kill. Whatever I was on trial for, I’d be guilty.” Fish was smiling, of course.”
Kobe reportedly told the judge he was a good listener. D-Fish had something to say about that as well:
“Yeah he’s a good listener,” Derek Fisher said. “He doesn’t necessarily do what you say to do, but he’s a good listener.”
D-NOTE
Derek’s bracket made it through the first day of the NCAA Tournament relatively unscathed with a 13-3 effort. His only three losses were BYU, VCU, and Minnesota and D-Fish had all three teams falling in the next round.
To compare your bracket to Derek’s click here.
RELATED STORIES
Jury still out on Lakers (LA Times, March 20, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-elliott-lakers20-2009mar20,0,1562552.column?page=1&track=rss
Lakers nearly blow another one (LA Times, March 20, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-lakers-warriors20-2009mar20,0,902602.story?page=1&track=rss
Lakers must stop slipping now (The Press-Enterprise, March 20, 2009)
http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/lakers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_web_ja_col_20.493df2b.html
Live from Staples — Lakers vs. Warriors (LA Times Lakers Blog, March 19, 2009)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/03/live-from-sta-3.html