The scoreboard showed big numbers for the Oklahoma City Thunder after a Game 1 drubbing of the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. But for Derek Fisher and his teammates, the only number that mattered was "one" as in, one win of the four neccesary to advance.
Derek and the Thunder got the job done in Game 1 with a 119-90 win (Getty Images).
After the Lakers jumped out to an early lead, OKC took the game from them late in the first quarter and led the rest of the way, stretching their lead to as much as 35 before closing out a 119-90 victory. But after the game, there was no uproarious celebration in the Thunder locker room, no talk of a message sent. Derek said Oklahoma City simply did what was expected of them.
"We basically just did what we were supposed to do in a sense, and that’s win our home game. The score doesn’t really matter," he said. "It’s 1-0. It’s all irrelevant if we don’t come out
[Wednesday] and figure out a way to win [Game 2]."D-Fish played 26 minutes in Monday night’s Game 1 victory and tallied five points to go along with a pair of assists and a couple of steals. His biggest play came late in the fourth — with the game already in hand — as he buried a trademark rainbow three in front of the Lakers bench and gave his former teammates a look afterward. He noted after the game that there was no ill intent behind his action, just joy in the moment.
"Just one of those in-the-moment types of things," he told The Oklahoman. "Just putting kind of a period to the ending of [Monday] night’s game and just feeling good about the way we played as a team and some of the things I was able to do. No deeper meaning beyond that. I don’t even recall smiling as much. I do remember looking over to the guys at TNT and kind of into the crowd, but I definitely wasn’t trying to send a message or show them up. That’s not my style."
Aside from his late game trey, much of Derek’s night was spent doing the little things that his coach has often raved about, those plays that simply aren’t quantified in the stat sheet. Though he handled the ball for much of his time on the floor, he also didn’t turn it over.
In the first half he exhibited fantastic fundamental defense, which forced Kobe Bryant to pass out of trouble and led to a rushed field goal attempt. Derek then grabbed the ensuing defensive board, which eventually led to a Kevin Durant dunk.
There hasn’t been much talk between Fish and Kobe Bryant since the series started (Getty Images).
Fish noted that he didn’t say much to Bryant, one of his best friends in the league, during the game."I asked him if he was good, he asked me if I was good, and that was it," he told the Oklahoman. "Since [the series started] we’ve just kind of gone to our respective corners. I think it’s necessary because of our personal history and what we’ve accomplished together. In order for us to do what we need to do for our teams, we need to go into our space… That’s the way we’ll be as long as this series goes on."
Later in the first half D-Fish established himself with a well-executed pick and roll that gave Nick Collison the open lane for a monster dunk and foul. On the defensive end, he blocked a Steve Blake shot that helped the Thunder maintain an eight-point edge. By halftime they’d stretched that lead to 15. In the second half, Derek bodied up Bryant again, causing him to turn the ball over and allowing Harden to gain possession. He took charges and set picks, all in the purpose of helping the Thunder win the game.
While Derek was doing the little things, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each gave their typical all-star performances combining for 52 points; nearly half of the Thunder’s scoring output. With OKC’s stars handling the scoring load, Derek’s late game heroics and offensive contributions were needed only minimally.
D-Fish fought through screens, set picks and did the little things to help OKC win (Getty Images).
Instead Derek set the tone with his second-to-none work ethic. His willingness to lead a team by doing every ounce of grunt work, read the flow of intense playoff games in a matter of seconds and still drain clutch threes has impressed even his coach, who appreciates the poise Derek has brought to a young, quick, and slightly inexperienced second string."He’s been in the league 16 years and he looks at himself as he’s just starting in the league and he wants to keep getting better," coach Scott Brooks said. "I don’t think he realizes he’s not going to get much better. He is what he is. But he still comes out every day to improve and it’s refreshing."
As for the other part of his acumen, the innate leadership, which has inspired rousing speeches that many a Laker has credited for setting their minds straight in years past, Fish said he hasn’t needed to do much of that in Oklahoma City and he certainly didn’t on Monday night.
"This is a pretty intelligent, smart team," he said. "Even though age-wise we’re young, they know how to manage themselves on a day-to-day basis. I didn’t have to say much about [Game 1]."
NEXT UP
The Thunder and Lakers resume their series on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CDT and the game can be seen on TNT.RELATED STORIES
- Derek Fisher wasn’t sending any messages to the Lakers’ bench (The Oklahoman, May 15, 2012)
- Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher keep friendship in check during series (Los Angeles Times, May 15, 2012)
- Recap: Game 1, Round 2 (OKCThunder.com, May 14, 2012)
- Changing of guard doesn’t change L.A.’s old playoff problem (NBA.com, May 15, 2012)
