Fish Makes a Switch

//Fish Makes a Switch

Fish Makes a Switch

By | 2016-10-22T05:57:48-08:00 April 22nd, 2011|News|Comments Off on Fish Makes a Switch

Sometimes, even for the defending champions, adjustments need to be made.

Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant know that better than anybody.

So entering Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals down 0-1 in the series, the LA captains put their heads together and came up with a plan to stop Hornets point guard Chris Paul.


Fish drives past Chris Paul during the Lakers’ Game 2 win on Wednesday (Getty Images).

Bryant, the bigger guard switched to guarding the smaller Paul while Fish took on shooting guards Willie Green, Marco Bellinelli and Jarrett Jack. The result was a less efficient Paul and an 87-78 Lakers victory. ESPN LA’s Dave McMenamin spoke to Bryant about the switch after the game:

"Fish and I talked about it and Fish is better at chasing off of screens and I’m better on-ball," Bryant said after the game as Fisher drew Marco Bellinelli instead. "We compliment each other that way, so I’ll take Chris and he’ll chase off screens.

"We have leeway to do that.

[Phil] was a little bit reluctant, but we’ve been together for years. he trusts my decision making."

While Paul ended up with 13 points fewer than his Game 1 outburst of 13, Bellinelli also struggled, scoring just four points on 2-of-9. He, Jack and Green combined for just 15 points on 6-of-21.

"We talk through lots of stuff," D-Fish said of his brainstorming session with Kobe. "We’re just trying to do what we feel like is best for the team defensively. Chris Paul is like a really good quarterback, a great quarterback, in football so you can’t give him the same look all the time. We’re just trying to mix some things up and keep him guessing as much as he’s trying to keep us guessing.

"We’re just trying to utilize all the resources that we have," Fisher said. "We have guys that can guard multiple players, multiple positions, so why not take advantage of it?"

PERFECT FROM THE LINE
While playing solid defense, Fish did what he could on the other end Wednesday night, playing the gritty playoff basketball that he’s known for.

He drew fouls, getting to the line four times and hit all four of his free throw attempts in the series tying victory. The solid shooting from the stripe was something Fish put an emphasis on after he missed three free throws in a loss to the Jazz two weeks ago.

Derek’s strong showing from the line underscored a good night for the veteran guard. He began the night by hitting his only attempt from three, sinking the Lakers second shot of the game.

He followed that up with assists to Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum as the Lakers kept pace with the Hornets in the early going. Minutes later, he again found Artest, giving No. 2 three assists in the first frame. Fish added four points in the game’s middle frames, making a layup in the second and two free throws in the third.

In the fourth, No. 2 notched his fourth assist of the game when he again found Artest for a three with 40 seconds to play. That pushed Los Angeles’ lead to eight points and sealed the win.

But in case the matter was in doubt, Derek sank two free throws with 26 seconds to play, providing the Lakers with the final cushion in their Game 2 victory.

Fish also contributed three rebounds in the win, but said there’s a lot more the Lakers can do on the offensive end as the series goes forward:

"It’s about our team establishing a certain mindset and tone when we’re out there on the floor," he said. "Kobe and Pau are going to be our main two guys that offensively are leading the way for us and the ball is going to be in their hands to make plays so we need those guys be assertive and aggressive out there and making strong decisions either attacking the basket making a play for themselves or kicking it out to the rest of us."

The key, he said, is wanting more than they had in Game 2 as they head into Game 3.

"We won the game. I don’t really prescribe to the ugly win pretty win thing. Check a game off the list. We’re 1 and 1," Derek said. "I mean we won so that’s better than losing. But we’ll continue to push the envelope and continue to try and make some improvements as we get ready to get out on the road."

NEXT UP
The series shifts to the Hornets’ home court for Game 3 tonight at New Orleans Arena.

Derek said the Lakers must continue to adjust and adapt or risk falling back behind.

"Winning a game on the road is tough just because. You have to be even better on the road then you are at home. We still feel like we have a long way to go. Defensively we feel like we got better, we did some things better.

"Offensively, we’re still not executing very well. On the road, you have to execute offensively to avoid turnovers, which with [the Hornets] would Chris Paul’s ability to get out in transition and make plays."

Tonight’s game tips off at 6:30 p.m. PT and can be seen on ESPN.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this: