The last time Derek Fisher ran into the Boston Celtics, he hit 60 percent of his shots and helped lead the Lakers to a razor-thin, 90-89 win.
Just 18 days later, they’ll face off again tonight in Tinseltown.
While it’s been just over two weeks since the teams have seen each other, things have changed greatly since that meeting. The Lakers have gone 6-2 since the January 31 meeting and though the Celtics have won four of six since then, they’re struggling with injuries and questions about their age.
All Fish has done since then his hit shots and hold on to the ball. His 44 percent shooting for the month of February makes this his most accurate month of the season. He’s had shooting nights of 50, 60 and 67 percent, and while his assists are down just a hair, he’s holding on to the ball, averaging just one turnover a game.
Tonight, D-Fish should have no problem keeping up that level of play against Boston. Last season in two games he averaged six assists and zero turnovers. He also chipped in 9.5 points per game in the series.
REPEAT OFFENDERS
Playing against the Boston Celtics, whom the Lakers squared off against in the NBA Finals two years ago, brings to mind the unique opportunity Los Angeles has to repeat as NBA Champions.
With how this season is playing out, Fish sees similarities to last year’s title team.
"If I recall, right before the break last season, we were playing better than we are now, but in terms of our positioning in the standings, we were either in a similar spot or maybe even better this year," Fish said to Fox West. "So because of the experience of last year and because of the know how, I think we are greatly positioned to win another championship this year."
With not a lot of turnover on the Lakers’ roster, everyone on the team is acutely aware of what it takes to win. But knowing what it takes, and being motivated to do it are two different things, says No. 2.
"Once you’ve accomplished something great, you have to kind of start over in search of ‘Why am I going to put my body and my mind though nine months of pain and punishment to get back to somewhere I have been before.’ I think for each guy on the team sometimes that varies, and I think the second time around it’s harder to get those pieces of that puzzle back to the point of ‘This is why we are doing this.’ So I think that’s what we are battling right now."
Motivation, though, is never an issue with Fish.
"I’m ready for as many playoff pushes as there are."
NEXT UP
Thirty-two NBA titles take the court tonight when the Boston Celtics take on the Los Angeles Lakers. So of course this game will be on national TV. Tune in for tip-off at TNT at 10:30. Don’t miss it.
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