Derek Fisher has played his entire career like his back was against the wall, so No. 2 knows what it feels like to be on the brink.
Now, even though the Lakers now trail the best-of-seven NBA Finals 3-2, D-Fish says there’s no reason to panic. All the Lakers can do now is go out and execute.
"The past is the past," Derek said. "There’s not anything we can do about the first five games."
Fish and the Lakers are now facing elimination because of another off night in Boston. No. 2 started the game off hot, scoring all nine of his points in the game’s first seven minutes. The Lakers, though, were not able to capitalize and found themselves up by only one after Fish’s early outburst.
After taking a halftime lead, the Celtics were able to maintain a comfortable advantage throughout the second half and, despite a valiant Lakers run in the closing minutes that made Game 5 yet another Finals Classic, Boston held on for a 92-86 victory. Though his team came close to completing an epic comeback, it was not enough for Derek.
"We did a poor job in the second half," said Fish, who noted that he and every other Laker is disappointed they weren’t able to support Kobe Bryant, who at one point scored 23 straight points. "There’s some frustration, collectively, as a team. We weren’t able to do the things that we talked about doing, things that can give us some good opportunities offensively, so Kobe’s not the only guy attacking."
Just as difficult to endure was the Lakers’ defense, which couldn’t get the stops it needed when Boston had the ball.
"Sometimes it just happens. They have a really good team, and a lot of really good guys, and sometimes it happens. You are trying to cover one guy and another guy gets left open. Or the rotation is wrong. But there’s also some stuff that doesn’t have to do with X’s and O’s that we didn’t do well tonight."
PICK UP AND MOVE ON
While Fish said losses are always tough to take, the best thing is to begin looking forward immediately to Tuesday’s game.
"I don’t think it’s too difficult to forget. Whenever you lose it is typical for guys to go back in their minds and replay situations. We probably won’t sleep very well tonight, but when you wake up the next morning, it’s on to the next situation."
Now, it’s do-or-die and nothing but a win will suffice. Derek expects the Lakers to change their focus immeadiately and go all-in on Game 6, where he believes homecourt will serve the Lakers well.
"We have to concentrate on Tuesday and figure out any kind of way to win that game," he said. "They are up 3-2. They have the advantage. But we have home court for a reason and now we have to protect it. We are not going to hang our heads and feel sorry for ourselves. We have an opportunity to win an NBA championship. First we have to win on Tuesday."
DEREK’S NO. 1 FAN
Win or lose, No. 2’s knows he’s got an ardent supporter, even though it’s one who sometimes can’t bear to watch his games.
Derek’s mother told the Associated Press story, that while she loves seeing her son do well, sometimes watching the ebb and flow of a championship fight is just too much.
"I’ll turn the sound down. If I get too nervous, I’ll turn it to another station. NBATV has that stats station where you can just look at the stats, and I’ll watch the stats change to know what’s going on in the game," Annette Fisher said. "It just wears me out. It wears me out. It’s fun."
She told Noah Trister that watching her son thrive in the fourth quarter of Game Three, well, that was a moment all in itself.
"I was like a cat on a hot tin roof. I was just walking. … when they’d take a timeout, I’d come and sit down," she said. "It’s 14 years, and it’s still exciting."
To read the entire piece on Mrs. Fisher, click here.
NEXT UP
The Lakers and Fish face elimination for the first time this postseason.
The last time they were one loss away from being knocked out of the playoffs, the Lakers responded with an 89-70 win.
They’ll try to repeat that do-or-die success on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. PST when Game 6 tips off from Staples Center. All the action can be seen on ABC.
RELATED ARTICLES
Lakers’ Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum discuss Lakers’ 92-86 Game 5 loss to Boston (LA Times, June 13, 2010)
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2010/06/lakers-andrew-bynum-ron-artest-lamar-odom-pau-gasol-and-derek-fisher-discuss-lakers-9286-game-5-loss.html
Fisher’s mother stays busy during playoff frenzy (AP, June 13, 2010)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ix6mvs7jSAkeRNY1rPblO2W5ulWgD9GAGAAG0