After falling on Sunday to the Orlando Magic, Derek Fisher and the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in unfamiliar, if not totally uncharted, territory.
The loss against the Magic was Los Angeles’ third straight, the first time that’s happened since the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol in 2008. But Fish believes the Lakers remain focused on the bigger picture and there is no need to panic.
"We have to keep believing in the ultimate goal," D-Fish told the Los Angeles Times after Monday’s practice. "That’s what helps you stay focused through adversity is realizing that you’re still on the path to where you want to go. When you’re popping that Champagne, these are the times that you remember. This is what brings the tears."
Ups and downs, hills and valleys, are all part of the rigors of an NBA season. But no one in Los Angeles wants a losing stretch and the champs are commited to perseverence.
"We have no choice but to keep going. That’s what our job is. Everybody knows what our goal is and our purpose is and what we’re doing. We have almost the same roster except that we added Ron [Artest], and he came here specifically to win a championship. So we keep moving forward, keep going."
NEXT UP
Derek and the Lake Show will try to stem the tide against a team the Lakers usually have success against tonight when the Toronto Raptors come to Tinseltown to play LA.
Although the Raptors stole the first game of the season series this year in Toronto, Fish is averaging 10.2 points in the past five games against the Raptors and the Lakers had won their four prior contests against the NBA’s only Canadian team.
The refs toss the rock up at 7:30 p.m. PST tonight. The game is being broadcast on Fox West and nationwide on NBATV.
RELATED ARTICLES
After three game losing streak, Lakers are trying to stop the tailspin (L.A. Times, March 8, 2010)
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/08/sports/la-sp-0309-lakers-web-20100309
Raptors-Lakers Preview (ESPN.com, March 9, 2010)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=300309013