Derek Fisher is heating up and in just over a week, the Los Angeles Lakers have turned a cold three-game winning losing skid into a warm three-game winning streak.
No. 2 scored nine points, all in the second half, as the Lakers surged from behind to a 124-121 win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
D-Fish had another strong shooting night, hitting every shot he took from inside the arc, as well as all his free throws as Los Angeles has quickly put their skid in the rear view mirror with three consecutive victories.
But the scoreboard wasn’t the only place D-Fish’s contributions were felt. He also chipped in six rebounds and four assists, turning in one of his most complete games this season.
Derek’s six boards were his most since mid-January and his five assists marked a high for the past two weeks. Combine that with his 15-4-4 Friday against Phoenix, and No. 2 looks to be finding his playoff form just in time.
Fish notched his only an assist to Andrew Bynum in the first half. But in the second half, with the Lakers starting the third quarter down six, No. 2 got going.
He hit a long two early in the third to cut the lead to five, then found Ron Artest for his second dime of the night. Two minutes later, Derek’s jumper cut the Warrior lead to one. After assisting on a Pau Gasol bucket, Fish drove the lane for a layup in the paint, then got fouled on a three-point attempt and drained every shot from line. On the Lakers’ next possession, he hit Kobe Bryant for a layup.
By the time the third was over, Fish had scored nine points and notched three assists, while Los Angeles outscored Golden State by 13. In the fourth, the Warriors fought back, closing within three, but a last ditch fall-away three by Monta Ellis bounced around the rim before falling to the floor as the Lakers breathed a collective sigh of relief and left Oakland with a win.
TIME TO BUCKLE DOWN
Though their win streak reached three on Monday night with the road victory, Fish still doesn’t feel the team is playing playoff type basketball right now.
He told the Daily Breeze, he sees a good deal of room for improvement:
"I feel like we’re at the lower part of the curve of where we can be. There’s a lot of upside and the upside is matched by ability and capability, and we can reach the upside."
Fish said the Lakers have a month to work out the kinks, get things to where they need to be and hit their playoff stride. The goal, of course, is to secure home court advantage through the playoffs:
"In the next 30 days, we have that opportunity, but we have to make the most of it. We still have to go out on the court and do it," Derek said. "We’re in a good position in terms of protecting home court in the West."
Fish noted that it is crucial for LA to keep up the mental aspect of the game, always remaining determined and focused on their collective goal.
"The best way to come back is to get laser-focused on what we need to do to be successful. The one constant is you, your team. Regardless of what everybody else is doing, if you’re consistent – even when it gets rough, when you win a game in the playoffs or you lose a game – you always come back to that constant."
NEXT UP
The Lakers leave the Warriors, but remain in the Golden State, traveling from Oakland to Sacramento to take on the Kings, led by rookie of the year candidate Tyreke Evans, who will oppose Fish at the point.
In Sacramento, Fish finds a Kings team he and the Lakers have beaten twice this year. In those games, No. 2 has averaged 8.5 points and two assists.
Tip-off for the second half of this All-Cali back-to-back is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST and the game can be seen on KCAL.
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Lakers notebook: Fisher grades team on low part of the curve (Daily Breeze, March 15, 2010)
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