Derek’s Baker’s Dozen Aid a Win

//Derek’s Baker’s Dozen Aid a Win

Derek’s Baker’s Dozen Aid a Win

By | 2016-10-22T05:57:48-08:00 April 13th, 2011|News|Comments Off on Derek’s Baker’s Dozen Aid a Win

It’s a constant for the Lakers this season that when Derek Fisher drops double-digit points, Los Angeles wins.

In fact, they were 16-1 anytime No. 2 scored 10 or more heading into last night, including their most recent win, April 1st vs. the Utah Jazz when Fish dropped 15 points.

With a chance to stop LA’s five-game losing streak on Tuesday night, Derek delivered again.

Fish scored 13 points dished out four assists and grabbed two rebounds, helping the Lakers defeat the San Antonio Spurs 102-93 and get back in the win column. In doing so, he made the Lakers 17-1 whenever he crosses the 10-point threshold.

Fish helped kick start the game with three assists in the first quarter, which he supplemented with four points.

No. 2 dropped in a long jumper in the second quarter, then sank a three early in the third. At the end of the frame, Derek hit two free throws to give Los Angeles an eight-point lead. A strong fourth quarter by Lamar Odom helped seal the game and a late jumper by Fish put the finishing touches on a Lakers win.

"We did the best job that we could, I’d say, in just trying to play the game as it unfolded," Derek said. "At times, we got impatient a little bit and a little bit frustrated, but we just figured out how to keep playing and win the game."

The victory pushed the Lakers back into a tie for second place in the Western Conference with the Dallas Mavericks. A win tonight in Sacramento would clinch that second spot.

"It’s important because it’s possible," Derek said of grabbing the two-seed. "When you have an opportunity to accomplish something you should definitely try to get it. We have an opportunity to lock up that two spot.

"But at the same time, we’re smart enough to know that if we win the game tomorrow and get the two spot, that doesn’t guarantee us anything in the postseason. We still have to go out and beat the best teams in the Western Conference and try to put ourselves in a position to win that championship."

MORE ADVERSITY
Tuesday night’s win was one for the Lakers to build some momentum on going into the playoffs.

In the process though, the Lakers lost center Andrew Bynum to a knee injury. The injury appeared serious, but a Wednesday morning MRI revealed no structural damage, just a bone bruise. Bynum will miss tonight’s game in Sacramento, but should be ready for LA’s playoff opener this weekend.

Still, the scare gave the Lakers a wake-up call as to what things would be like without Bynum:

"It’s hard to think about not having him for any amount of time. Even for one game," Derek said. "I don’t think there’s any secret about what he brings to us in terms of his interior presence, particularly on the defensive end. His ability to not just block shots but alter shots.

"He allows us to be the dominant team we’re capable of being. It was tough to see. He’s so important to what we do, so to even think for a second that he might be out, the impact that would have on him after all of his work, it’s tough to deal with in the moment."

But Derek remains steadfast that dealing with these type of things — the injuries, adversity and doubts — and coming through is what makes a championship so hard to achieve and also worth that much more.

"To expect there to be anything that comes easy or for things to kind of fall in our favor, that’s just not the way it is," Fish said. "History doesn’t say that. History says we won’t make it to the Finals again for the fourth consecutive time. So, you’re you’ve going to have the adversities and the struggles. We just have to make sure we remain focused and positive in this locker room.

"The interesting part about this whole process is, regardless of what has happened through 82

[games], once you’re done and your record is set, that’s it. You start a new season. Everybody is at zero losses and it’s the first team to 16 wins. We’ve been the best in the business at it the last two years. We’re going to lay everything out there and try and see if we can do it again."

NEXT UP
Tonight, Fish will finish his sixth straight season of playing all 82 games when the Lakers face off against the Sacramento Kings.

It could very well be the last NBA game played in Sacramento, as the team appears primed to move to Anaheim before next season. Derek knows as well as anyone about the strength of the Sacramento fan base, having been through the fierce Lakers/Kings rivalry in the early 2000’s:

"Obviously, for the city of Sacramento it means a lot if it’s the last game, the last time they get a chance to see their team play, to support the Kings at their arena," he told FS West. "It’s been a good market for so long, in terms of supporting the team, that it would be a shame if they had to leave. Hopefully, the team and the city will figure out a way for them to stay there. It’s been a long ride and the fans have supported them greatly, and hopefully, the game won’t be their last opportunity."

The regular season finale tips off at 7:30 PT on KCAL-TV.

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