Derek Fisher got into early foul trouble last night, and as a result, the point guard played just 18 minutes, but No. 2 was still able to help the Los Angeles Lakers best the Utah Jazz, 101-77.
Los Angeles won its tenth straight game for the first time since February 2008 by dominating the fourth quarter, holding Utah to just six points, while scoring 28 in the period.
"It was a lot of fun," Derek said, in a video by the Los Angeles Times Lakers Blog. "That’s the type of defense we’re capable of playing. It’s not the type of defense you can play for an entire NBA game. NBA teams rarely only score six points in a quarter. I just think we did a good job of continuing to play the game that was in front of us."
The fourth quarter surge, which put the game out of reach, plus the fouls, helped give D-Fish an easy night, as the vet rested for the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Although Fish didn’t make a mark in the scoring column, he still chipped in an assist and steal in the victory.
FORMIDABLE FOES
Though at 17-3 they hold the league’s best record, many have criticized the Lakers success of late and said that the team has yet to play a quality opponent.
While they haven’t played a conference leader from the East, the Lakers have still beaten the top teams in both the Northwest and Southwest Division, the Nuggets and Mavericks and the team that most closely trails them in Pacific, Phoenix.
After the win last night, No. 2 spoke to reporters about those critics:
"We’re still getting better. We’re still growing," Derek said. "We understand that the season is very long and even though we’ve run off some games here in a row, we’re not going to settle for just being good today. Things are going to get tougher from here."
"We play against every team that steps on the floor. We don’t have any control over the schedule. You just play the game that’s in front of you, so I guess we can’t really say if we’ve been tested or not."
For more from Fish, courtesy of the LA Times Lakers Blog click here and here.
VOTE FOR FISH
When compiling a list of the best NBA plays of the decade, Fish should flood the list and ESPN.com is giving fans a chance to make Derek No. 1.
ESPN is running a poll to decide the best play of the past decade in the NBA. Low and behold, D-Fish’s magical 0.4 second turnaround shot is on the list.
No 2 is going up against Big Shot Rob Horry’s three pointer against the Kings in 2002 and LeBron’s recent three-pointer against the Magic is also on the list.
But all Lakers fans know, 0.4 should stand alone. To make it happen Vote for Fish.
And you can always relive Fish’s fantastic shot here.
NEXT UP
The Lakers will be playing for their eleventh straight victory when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
RELATED ARTICLES
It may not be X-hat worthy, but 10 straight wins is pretty good (LA Times Lakers Blog, Dec. 10, 2009)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2009/12/lakers-101-utah-77-lakers-win-10-consecutive-games.html