After a 103-94 home loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Derek Fisher showed why he is a leader of Los Angeles Lakers.
His team tied with Boston at 1-1, Fish used his postgame pulpit to preach staying the course. No. 2 said that while he’s disappointed in losing at home, losses happen, especially when you are playing for a title.
"The reason why we remember the great Lakers-Celtics games in the 80s is because there wasn’t anybody getting swept."
Derek had just six points, but pulled down seven rebounds and doled out four assists. Still, the Celtics overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to send the series to back Boston for Games 3, 4, and 5, all square.
D-Fish said no one inside the Laker locker room expected the Celtics to go down without a fight, and now it’s Los Angeles’ turn to bring the fight back.
"Don’t think we’re going to take this well. You don’t ever want to lose at home when you are as good as we are," Fish said. "But this is a part of the process. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to be able to get back up when you get punched."
Having been in the playoffs so many times, Fish understands the up and down nature of a series. It’s a best-of-seven for a reason.
Simply put, the Lakers have to do what Boston has done to them.
"Last year we lost a game at home against Houston, we lost against Denver and the back and forth, topsy turvy of sports is what it is," Derek said. "The best are able to respond. They responded tonight. Now we have an opportunity Tuesday night to respond to this game."
No. 2 said losing on Sunday was a matter of the Lakers not being on top of their game. Boston, on the other hand, was on top of theirs.
"They forced the issue more. I think were some times were a poor decision or a poor shot selection led to a transition opportunity, but I think even some times when we were fairly good at getting back defensively, I think they just forced the issue, particularly early in the game."
The Celtics made the right adjustments from Game 1, and Derek said from here on out, the Lakers need to get rid of their expectations of what is going to happen.
"We got the best of them in Game 1, they got the best of us tonight, and Tuesday night will be a lot of fun. But in a seven-game series, you’re not being very smart if you think you know how things are going to happen. Two of the best teams in the game, capable of winning at any place, on any court, you just have to go out there and play the game."
VETERAN VOICE
Sage postgame comments that offer leadership through adversity are among the myriad of reasons the Lakers look toward Fish after a loss.
But his contributions are not limited to postgame remarks.
As his teammates relayed to Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke, No. 2 brings much more to the Lakers’ locker room table.
"Most of what Fish does, you’ll never see," Lamar Odom told Plaschke. "He keeps everything level, everyone on the same page. He is one person, one speech, one word."
Plaschke put it even more eloquently, imploring the Lakers to keep No. 2 after this season.
"Every time his old butt skids, the mandate speaks. Every time his rainbow jumper drops, the message soars. Every time he stares down basketball’s scariest player in the corner of the locker room and tells him to zip it, dude, his bosses better listen. When Derek Fisher becomes a free agent next month, the Lakers have one directive for which there can be no caterwauling or confusion. Don’t mess it up. Don’t let him walk."
Derek’s backup, Jordan Farmar, had the succinct reason to keep Fish in LA.
"Our captain. Our leader."
To read Plaschke’s entire column, click here.
Of course, because the Lakers are only three wins from his fifth title, Derek doesn’t say much about the future, his glance firmly focused on the present task at hand. But it’s clear where he’d like to be next season.
"I’ll just stay the course and I’ll deal with July when it gets here," D-Fish told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I would love to (be a Laker for the rest of his career). I’ve spent 11 of my 14 years here. Obviously, we’ve had a great deal of success."
CREDITING KOBE
All 11 of the years Derek has been in Los Angeles, he’s played with Kobe Bryant. And despite an off-night for everyone in Game 2, Fish was quick to point out that No. 24 has been playing on another level.
"He’s doing a lot of great things that are very efficient," No 2. told ESPN.com. "When people ask me the differences between Kobe Bryant from yesteryear, and Kobe Bryant now, that’s what I point to a lot. His ability to get the same or even better numbers at a more efficient level. That comes the film study, the experience, how smart he is as a player, his understanding of where things are on the floor.
Of course, you can’t do that without high-caliber talent and instinct, which Derek says Bryant has in spades.
"He has an unbelievable ability to visualize things that are going to happen. He continues to impress me with his footwork, his ability to get separation and get shots off. Some of those shots he hit in Game 6 in Phoenix were just unbelievable. It’s remarkable to talk about it getting better, especially as long as I’ve seen him. He deserves a lot of the credit. He’s worked at it."
One thing Kobe couldn’t visualize however, was drawing five fouls in Game 5, limiting him to his second lowest minute total of the postseason. It’s only the second time in these playoffs that Kobe has picked up five fouls in a game.
But Fish feels that playing the game is always a feeling out process with the referees, and it’s on the players to adjust accordingly.
"The referees aren’t in control of necessarily how I play in terms of your focus, your attention, the things you’re trying to do out there," Fish said. "But if they decide to call a tighter game and make sure things don’t get out of hand, it’s something you have to adjust to and still try to figure out how to be effective out there on the floor, either. You have to trust if you get into a bad situation or you pick up a couple fouls extra that you have guys next to you that can pick up the slack and get the job done."
Fish knows Kobe will be there for the Lakers in the end and as a longtime teammate of Bryant’s, Fish has certainly developed the ability to kid around with No. 24.
"I’m sure there’s some times he wishes I were taller, faster and quicker . . . and there’s sometimes I wish he would pass a little bit more."
NEXT UP
D-Fish, Kobe and the Laker Show will try to get their rapport back when Game 3 goes down in Boston on Tuesday night at the TD Garden. Tip off is at 6:00 p.m. PST on ABC.
RELATED ARTICLES
Lakers’ 103-94 Game 2 loss to the Boston Celtics points to inconsistent execution (LA Times, June 7, 2010)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/06/lakers-game-wrap.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2FYzIr+(Lakers+Blog)&utm_content=Google+Reader
Bynum continues treatment on knee (ESPN.com, June 5, 2010)
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5256099
Lakers Fisher: Retirement not part of the plan (LA Daily News, June 4, 2010)
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_15232175?source=rss
Lakers guard Derek Fisher on 103-94 Game 2 loss to Boston Celtics (LA Times, June 7, 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocCRjHOhkzU
Derek Fisher June 5 quotes (The OC Register, June 5, 2010)
http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2010/06/05/derek-fisherron-artestlamar-odomandrew-bynum-june-5-quotes/37453/
Lakers need to do the right thing with Fisher, and that’s to keep him (LA Times, June 6, 2010)
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/05/sports/la-sp-0606-plaschke-lakers-20100606
…and boy did you respond!