Never one to stray from the script, Derek Fisher, the Lakers captain, leader and heart, said for LA to win Game 7 of the NBA Finals tonight, they will need to play a total team game.
"That’s what it’ll take in order to win the game, lots of guys contributing to the cause.
[Tuesday] was a really big example of how good we can be when we have everybody doing a little bit of everything."Getting to a Game 7, No. 2 said, was not a surprise, even when the Lakers got pushed to the brink due to a Game 5 loss.
"I just think that after losing Game 5, you know, we have been in a position since then that was not very complicated," D-Fish said. "It was pretty simple. You have to win the next game or your season is over, and not over in a way you’d like it to be."
He said that ethos helped the Lakers turn in the massive effort that lead to their Game 6 trouncing of the Celtics. Of course, Derek cautioned everyone from taking too much from the Lakers’ resounding romp.
"Each time a series starts, you don’t necessarily know how it’s going to play out and what’s going to happen and how the momentum is going to swing back and forth."
Just as he did after Game 5, Fish has encouraged his teammates to forget the past.
Looking back at Game 6 will do them no good and their focus should lie on the prize ahead. What they have at their hands now is nothing but a tremendous opportunity. A second straight title is within their grasp.
"Here we are, and to have this opportunity on our home floor to win a championship," Derek said. "I don’t know if you can ask for anything else, regardless of the Game 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. Whatever it would take to win, and we have an opportunity."
However, Fish did say he’s proud that his team earned the right to end their season on their own turf.
"We won a lot of games to have this game, and the way things worked out with us, we had a better record in the regular season. This is why the 82 games in the regular season matter."
But all that matters now is singular chance to make history.
"Now it’s just about going out and playing the game."
PRESSURE PERFORMER
No. 2’s reputation precedes him and one LA columnist says he expects the Celtics’ playoff run to end at the tips of Derek’s fingers."Scientific analysis has narrowed the possible endings to three," writes Mark Whicker of the Orange County Register. "(1) Derek Fisher hits a 3-pointer from the corner. (2) Derek Fisher hits a 3-pointer from the left wing. (3) Derek Fisher gets the in-bounds pass and hits a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds to go (he can use that again; the 5-year statute of limitations is done). Makes perfect sense."
Whicker says that it’s times like these when everyone needs to be aware of Fish’s past performances.
"Doc Rivers will exhaust himself telling the Celtics to stay within handcuff range of Fisher. As game-slippage takes effect, someone will forget. Fisher will slowly draw that lefthanded gun and shoot the Lakers into their second championship in three seasons."
To Whicker, it just seems’ fated to be.
Here, all the Lakers and Celtics have taken their turns helping both teams.
"The ball is going to find the right guy," Allen said.
Whicker agrees wholeheartedly.
"Tonight, when it’s time, the ball will come home to Derek Fisher."
NEXT UP
The best team of the 2009-2010 NBA season will be crowned tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at the Staples Center.With a victory, Derek Fisher, will claim his fifth championship ring, the most of any active NBA player.
The biggest game in the sporting landscape tips off at 6:00 p.m. PST on ABC.
RELATED ARTICLES
Ron Artest/Andrew Bynum/Derek Fisher/Lamar Odom June 16 quotes (OC Register, June 16, 2010)
http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2010/06/16/ron-artestandrew-bynumderek-fisherlamar-odom-june-16-quotes/38591/
With Game 7 on the line, look for Fisher (OC Register, June 17, 2010)
http://www.ocregister.com/sports/angeles-253824-fisher-game.html