The Lakers needed some help to snap their four-game losing streak and they got an assist from Derek Fisher.
In fact, they got three.
No. 2’s trio of dimes helped Los Angeles break their skid in easy fashion, beating down the Sacramento Kings by 33 points. 113-80.
Derek split his work between the first and third quarters. In the first, he scored on a bucket and a foul shot and also doled out an assist to Lamar Odom.
In the third, Fish helped the Lakers open an insurmountable lead, finding Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant for baskets and hitting a layup of his own. During that time span, the Lakers extended a 17-point lead to 30 and the rout was on. No. 2 also chipped in four rebounds on the evening.
LEAGUE PASS
Derek’s assistance has long been a key to the Lakers’ success, but more recently, it’s been opposing players that have been coming to him looking for some help.
Fish is known throughout the league as a fierce competitor, but as president of the player’s union, often times No. 2 has had to put aside his competitive drive to help out some of his toughest opponents.
"It’s been something new to have to open myself to guys on opposing teams," Fish told the New York Times. "I’m looking to kind of beat you up and beat your team, so I’m not necessarily interested in making sure you have my phone number and e-mail address when I see you at the game."
Fish said it’s a situation that’s completely new to him and he has to coach himself to adjust to the inquiries of opposing players:
"Even to this day I have to consciously remind myself that we’re all on the same team and make sure these guys understand we’re playing against each other tonight, but I am your president and I’m here still to serve you."
But Fish said that being personable is part of the job and that he needs to be as much a friend as a leader as players begin to wonder what’s going on:
"You have to establish relationships with guys from different teams. You can’t just walk up to a guy you don’t know very well and lay on this heavy C.B.A. stuff."
It’s a lot of work, says No. 2, but it’s something that he wants to be a part of, to help better the NBA on the whole.
"I really have to make sure that I’m staying true to who I am and that I know my responsibilities to current N.B.A. players, to future N.B.A. players, to our past and retired N.B.A. players. I have to make sure I’m making decisions that are considering all of these things and not just serving the interests of Kobe Bryant and the best players in the game. There’s this constant accountability that will not go away. I think that helps to keep me engaged and motivated and excited about this process."
A MORE THAN PASSING GRADE
With twenty games gone in the season, it’s a fair time to offer an assessment of the Lakers’ season to date, and ESPN LA’s Brian Kamenetzky, did just that, analyzing Fish’s efforts through LA’s first 20.
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[Fisher’s] value to the Lakers is a different animal entirely. This year, his overall field goal percentage is… an improvement from last season. More importantly, he’s hitting over 47 percent on his three’s, indicating what most of us already know: He should stick to spot up shooting, and avoid the dribble drive.The reality is Fisher doesn’t have to be statistically dominant to be effective. Defensively… Fisher has often done great work positionally, filling lanes and forcing turnovers in space."
NEXT UP
Derek and the Lakers welcome rookie point guard John Wall and the Washington Wizards to LA tonight for an interconference showdown.In two games last year against the Wiz, Fish averaged five points and four assists and Los Angeles swept the season series. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:30 PST and can be seen on Fox West.
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