Sunday’s opening game of the NBA playoffs for the Los Angeles Lakers brought Derek Fisher an opportunity to do two things he loves: play playoff basketball and hit three pointers.
 Derek getting to the rim for two (Getty Images). |
D-Fish did both with aplomb, helping Los Angeles best the Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-89, in Game 1 of the Western Conference’s opening round. No. 2 went 3-6 from the three point line, helping him finish fourth on the Lakers in scoring, with 11 points.
Fish got going early, scoring eight points over a three-minute span late in the first. To begin, he took off for a driving layup that gave Los Angeles a six-point lead.
After Kevin Durant and Pau Gasol traded buckets, D-Fish launched a long three, sinking it and increasing the Laker lead to nine. Then, after Kevin Durant hit a three to bring Oklahoma City back within six, Fish put in another trey, keeping the upstart Thunder at bay.
In the fourth quarter, No. 2 hit his last three of the game, extending Los Angeles’ lead back double digits with just under two minutes to play and squelching any hope of a Thunder comeback.
WHEN FISH SPEAKS, TEAMMATES LISTEN
Though his 11 points were a big help in LA’s eight-point win, Derek’s biggest contribution to the Lakers at the beginning of the series had nothing to do with points scored or triples hit.
Before the series started, Fish gave a motivational speech on LA’s off day. Usually, No. 2 likes for certain things to stay within the team, but Andrew Bynum spilled the beans to ESPN.com.
"We had a great meeting yesterday," said AB. "We got another speech from Mr. Fisher and it really got everybody’s mind headed in the right direction."
Bynum decribed the talk, in which Fish told his teammates:
"Put all your personal stuff down. If you go out here and play basketball for the next guy alongside you, we won’t make as many mistakes. We’ll be able to rotate better on defense and the big, big thing is just having each other’s back. Personal stuff, you pick that back up in the summer time."
After hearing about Bynum’s blurt, Derek said he’d have to a little talk with the young center.
"We’re going to have to cover the team handbook rules again. Certain things stay in the locker room."
But No. 2 did eventually open up about why he spoke to his teammates.
"I’ve learned a lot from Phil over the years in terms of really trying to give guys space to be who they are and recognizing things on their own, but at the same time, say things that need to be said at the time they need to be said.
Guys seem to have their ears go up, their eyes lock in and they hear it better when it’s not something they hear all the time. I try and just make sure that guys understand that this is a special chance for us."
NEXT UP
Their opportunity to seize this special chance us upon the Lakers as they can push the Oklahoma City Thunder into a 2-0 hole with a victory on Tuesday night. Tip-off of game two is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST and the game can be seen on TNT.
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