Championship caliber teams are often tested most, not in a loss, but in how they respond to that loss.
After a tough defeat in Chicago last Friday started the Los Angeles Lakers’ current road trip off on a sour note, Derek Fisher and his LA teammates have responded with overwhelming excellence, winning three straight.
It began when Fish dropped ten points in a Sunday night victory over the Nets and continued when Fish and the Lakers went to Washington. With the help of six points and three assists from No. 2, LA blew out the homestanding Wizards on Tuesday, 103-89.
Fish and the Lakers with President Obama (Getty Images).
The Lakers kept up their roll on Wednesday with their second double-digit win in as many nights, a 109-94 defeat of the Indiana Pacers. The win was academic throughout and because the Lakers opened up a 22-point first half lead, No. 2 was needed for just 19 minutes, chipping in three points and two assists.
It’s been a steady roll for Fish and the Lakers, who are 6-1 in the last seven games, and Derek’s efforts recently earned him Silver Screen and Roll’s Player of the Week award.
"The top highlight was delivered by none other than Derek Fisher, and as a result he was awarded the team player of the week by the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll. Fisher hit a running bank shot as time expired on Wednesday night against the Clippers, turning a one-point deficit into an 87-86 Lakers victory. His game winner vaulted him to the top of the list. As wandahbap noted, "What can I say? I’m a sucker for buzzer beating game winning shots."
Since the Elias Sports Bureau began tracking game-winning baskets in 2000-2001, Fisher has hit five game winners, although only two have come with the Lakers. In addition to the shot on Wednesday, Fisher also beat the Spurs in the playoffs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals in 2004 (the 0.4-second shot)."
Of course, Fish also recently hit another mark that Silver Screen and Roll wanted to recognize, when he became the active NBA leader in consecutive games played and consecutive games started.
"Fisher also now has the longest active games played streak in the NBA. He has played in a league-high 436 straight games, and has also started an NBA-best 314 games in a row."
PRESIDENTIAL PARDON
As part of their trip to Washington D.C. for their Tuesday game with the Wizards, the Lakers also made a stop to do what champions do: meet with the president.
For Derek, it was his fifth such trip and though the Lakers didn’t get to visit the White House this time, instead taking time out with the president to volunteer at a local Boys and Girls Club, President Barack Obama joked that his career success has made Derek a regular guest at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
"Kobe and Derek have been there so many times now, they could lead tours themselves," President Obama said. "The same is true for Coach Jackson."
Of course the Lakers coach has 11 championship visits under his belt, including six for Obama’s hometown Chicago Bulls. The president then chided Kobe and Fish that they were still behind his Bulls. But D-Fish had a succinct response for the commander in chief.
"Not for long."
NEXT UP
D-Fish and the Lakers complete their road swing this weekend, heading back east to Philadelphia on Friday and finishing in Toronto two days later.
In two wins against the 76ers last season, Fish averaged eight points and four assists. The first meeting between the two this season tips at 4 p.m. PST Friday and can be seen on KCAL-TV.
The Lakers then wrap their road trip in Toronto on Sunday. Tip-off at the Air Canada Centre is scheduled for 1 p.m, EST, so for the second straight weekend, it’s breakfast with the Lakers at 10 a.m. PST. That game will also be available on KCAL.
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