The NBA world has become accustomed to Derek Fisher making savvy, veteran plays. From his ridiculous buzzer-beating three-pointer against San Antonio a few years back in the playoffs to his clutch threes in last year’s NBA Finals, D-Fish makes plays.
Last night, on the road, in overtime, Fisher made another typically clutch play. As former Los Angeles Laker Trevor Ariza drove the lane, his Houston Rockets down by one, 5.4 seconds left in overtime, No. 2 reached in and swiped the ball right out of his hands.
Ron Artest picked up the loose ball and dished it right back to D-Fish, who wisely dribbled out the few remaining ticks on the clock.
Thanks to Derek, the Lakers claimed their second road win of the season, 103-102 at Houston. LA remains unbeaten away from the Staples Center.
No. 2’s performance was just what the Lakers have come to expect from him, contributing no matter what the circumstances.
On a night where he was held scoreless in 34 minutes, going 0-5 from the field and missing his lone three-point attempt, Fisher plugged along. The Rockets held him without an assist for the first time this year, and he didn’t grab a single board.
But head coach Phil Jackson had him on the floor at the right moment, and No. 2 made it count, as noted by the LA Times Lakers Blog:
“Derek Fisher’s stat line was pretty lousy, but dude’s got one hell of an ability to be in the right place at the right time when that time and place count the most.”
STOPPING THE PICK AND ROLL
Despite what the box score says, No. 2 played a solid game, especially on defense. The Los Angeles Times noted his play was critical in stopping the Rockets pick and roll.
“Some terrific defensive teamwork by Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum on high screen and roll coverage down the fourth quarter stretch, which sparked dry Houston possessions.
The Lakers then capitalized, which allowed them get back into the game and force the bonus period. While the defense was anything but perfect on the night, it definitely got better as the game progressed.”
A RARE EVENT
Last night was the first time in 286 games that D-Fish was held without a point in a regular season game. The last time No. 2 didn’t hit a single bucket or free throw was February 4, 2006, when Derek was with Golden State. The Warriors beat Minnesota that night, and D-Fish still dropped seven assists.
To find the last time Derek was held without a point or an assist, you’d have to look back nine years. D-Fish was kept out of those two columns on March 26, 2000 when the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings.
But the last time Fisher went 0-fer in all three categories was his sophomore season, in January of 1998, over 11 years ago.
Still, despite the rare scoring drought, D-Fish managed to leave his fingerprints all over the victory.
NEXT UP
The Lakers return to the Staples Center this Friday, where D-Fish will battle the young: O.J. Mayo, and the old: Allen Iverson, when the Memphis Grizzlies come to town. That game can be seen on KCAL TV at 7:30 PST
RELATED ARTICLES
Mo-O(T): Lakers beat Rockets 103-103 in overtime (LA Times Lakers Blog, November 4, 2009)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/11/lakers-beat-rockets-103102-in-overtime.html
Lakers Survive Ariza Bowl I (Silver Screen and Roll, Nov 4, 2009)
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2009/11/4/1115602/lakers-survive-ariza-bowl-i
Lakers 103, Houston 102 (OT): Postgame chat (Los Angeles Times, Nov. 4, 2009)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/11/lakers-103-houston-102-postgame-chat.html
Lakers Artest, Houston’s Ariza steal the show in L.A.’s OT win (Los Angeles Daily News, Nov. 4, 2009)
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_13717495?source=rss