Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  81 responses

Derek Fisher’s Latest Playoff Heroics

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Despite the Lakers’ relatively comfortable lead through the game’s first three quarters last night, everyone knew the Celtics had one final, furious push within them. And they did, at one point trimming the L.A. advantage down to just a single point.

What was unexpected — what is seemingly always unexpected, despite its mind-blowing frequency — was Derek Fisher saving his team in a critical Playoff game.

Again.

Fish made clutch shot after clutch shot in the fourth quarter (11 of his 16 points came in the period) to help the Lakers escape Game 3 with the series lead.

Fisher got a bit choked up in the postgame interview with ABC; when he had finally composed himself and faced the media contingent in Boston, Derek was able to better explain how managed to do what he did:

“Derek Fisher was the difference in the game,” Doc Rivers said. “He’s just a gutty, gritty player and he gutted the game out for them. I thought Kobe was struggling a little bit, and Fisher—he basically took the game over … I don’t know what he had in the fourth quarter … but most of them were down the stretch.”

“When he’s got an opportunity to hit a key shot, it seems like he’s always there and ready,” said Phil Jackson.

“That was just Derek being Derek,” said Kobe Bryant. “He makes big plays all the time. He never ceases to amaze me.”

“To come through tonight again for this team… after so many great moments, it’s always quite surreal and quite humbling to experience it again and do it again,” Fisher said. “But it’s like being a kid, man, you just never get tired of that candy … I think as you grow in this game and you put in the work that’s required to still be around 14 years later, you start to recognize that being in this moment, on this stage, it’s not a given. It’s not something that happens every season. Five or 10 years from now, when I’m long gone, I would have hated to feel like I didn’t just do everything I could have to help my team. Things have worked out well, and we have two more wins to get to really put a nice cap on it.”

There’s no telling how the rest of this series will play out. It could go either way. Both teams seem to have different heroes (and goats) each night.

One thing is certain, though. The Celtics will need to go back to L.A. in order to win this thing. Sorry, Paul Pierce.

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  • http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:OzhW3M1GBSKkgM:http://fashionsensei.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/jackie-moon.jpg Jackie Moon

    @KulchaKris Are the Lakers the better team? Magic 8 Ball says, “Signs point to yes”

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    KulchaKris, I’ll throw out an answer without much hatred…..the Lakers have more talent, currently more desire to win and the ability to closeout slightly better. They ARE the favorites in the series, yes? They should be the better team. The Celtics were supposed to be the more physical, but they haven’t shown that yet. The Celts season comes down to one game…we’ll see what type of team THEY are tomorrow.

  • Ronald

    The fact that Fish gets lit up by bigger/faster guards is undeniable. You have to take the good with the bad. And with Fish, the good is pretty darn good. It’s kinda the same situation with Horry during the Spurs final few years. But, despite shooting bad Kobe DID play well.

  • Kap

    I’m scared to say this but this series may not be as close as people thought. The lakers only played well one game and they lead the series 2-1 with game 2 winnable if it wasn’t for turnovers. But Bynum is hurt again, so the series could easily swing back in Celtics favor if they win tomorrow.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Rondo wasn’t playing horrible defense. The Lakers ran a 1 and 2 pick roll trying to get the Lakers to switch Rondo on to Kobe so Kobe could post up. The Celtics didn’t want to switch, so Ray allen was doing a half hearted show on the pick, and trying to stay attached to Kobe. Rondo was stuck trying to fight over the top of the pick because you can’t go under with Fisher and just give him open jumpers, and they couldn’t switch it.
    Celtics didn’t provide good help on the Fisher after the pick and he often got deep into the defense before someone would show. Yes, rondo could have played the pick better, but really it was a smart move by Phil.
    The real problem for both teams was their attempts to pressure in the backcourt to prevent early offense, which often turned into semi-fast breaks.

  • Ronald

    @Allenp: RR’s defense was okay throughout the game. But the 95ft layup that Fish had made me puke. Rondo pretended to guard him, hit a screen and started jogging back. For god’s sake it’s the freaking finals! Show some grit! Rondo was supposedly contending for the finals MVP if Bostons wins the series. He can’t take plays off in the 4th quarter like that.

  • namik

    Eboy, he did not out play Westbrook or Deron offensively or defensively. He outplayed Nash offensively in 1 or 2 games, but in the last 3 games, could not guard Nash effectively. Kobe is taking turns guarding Rondo (who can’t shoot). How is it shooting myself in the foot if I’m asking for a younger, more athletic guard who can replace an aging, if clutch and experienced pro? The fact is that for most of the season, any one, not just Laker fans, pointed out that the PG was our weakest spot. Which is a fact because someone that old should not be starting on a championship team. Sure he picked it up the last 2 rounds but then why burn him out for the entire regular season, when instead he could be rested and fresh so he can keep contributing for a couple of seasons more? Again, he had a great game, and he will definitely be back on the Lakers, but we need a younger replacement. If thats hate, so be it.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    I don’t think it’s hate, namik, but in the triangle, I’m not sure a higher-powered point is going to be the answer. The reason: for all of Phil’s championship teams, there has NEVER been a top flight point guard in place. Why? It’s not needed. The backcourt in the triangle is all about the 2 guard spot and that players ability to get shots and create offense. It would almost limit a guy with D-Rose/CP3 type skills from producing at their highest level.

  • UnRel

    Fisher is the greatest.. he’d always have a spot on my team.. he’d never be an all-star.. won’t be HOF.. he should be given a shot at a gold medal..

  • http://Badnewzb8ller Badnewzballer

    Cosign namik. We never wanted fish traded. I am in favor getting rid of Sasha’s lame game, farmar’s inconsistent game, and Browns over-hyped game. I wouldn’t mind having someone like Kirk hinrick on our team. Ohh and for those who think we(lakers) have a deep bench, y’all trippin! It’s just the lakers starting 5+odom, the end!

  • KulchaKris

    @Eboy- The Celts are supposed to be the more physical team. However, they haven’t been able to show that physicality, partly because of the refs (they are all over the place with their calls), and partly because of their front-line depth (or lack thereof). Rasheed runs hot and cold (much like the rest of the Celts, quite frankly), and Big Baby works hard but is too small to match up well with the Lakers front line.

    @Ronald- Are there any “lock-down” defenders at the pg position in the entire NBA? My guess is, on most nights, teams have a tough time contending with the bigger/faster guards that Fisher struggles with.

  • javy

    Game 1: Lakers were up by 20 at one point.
    Game 2: Lakers were up and then bad decisions at the end cost them. Kobe being out most of the game.
    Game 3: Lakers win it. Even when Artest having 2 points and Gason not being that great.
    I am amazed this is not a sweep!
    Is Perk playing at all????
    Haven’t seen an elbow lately, would it be because of the 7th technical.
    Like JVG said, Scalobrini will go back and get that cash left at Staples to pay for the rent.

  • Robb

    @letsmotor not at all man, basketball is a game, I don’t hate. Well I hate the Celtics a little bit I cannot lie!

  • Smh

    Laker fans.. think about this… look how close the game was with Paul and Ray playing like sh!t.. you shouldn’t be bragging lmao

  • KulchaKris

    @Smh- every game is going to feature one or more stars not playing as well as they can or should. Or some key player(s) being impacted by foul trouble. So, that argument doesn’t mean much. In the end, teams just have to find a way to win.

    @Javy- This series is highlighting just how limited a player Perkins is. He brings defense, toughness, and rebounding, but when he is on the floor, the Celts are playing 4 vs 5 on offense. Plus, as you noted, the prospect of a 7th technical limits just how physical he can be.

  • javy

    @Smh:Pierce sure knows what bragging means. Anyways, Artest and Ariza are different defenders.
    One is defense on the run, reaching, cutting the lanes, the other is stand up, tough and straight one-on-one defense. I think Pierce is being affected more by Artest than he was with Ariza.
    Pierce relies a lot on faikes and flops and Artest doesn’t jump high so that’s a plus for us because he will not jump to block.
    I’ve never seen somebody talk so much smack and get shut down like that. Kind of Embarrasing!!

  • http://slamonline.com JL

    @Smh – are you saying that the lakers won because Pierce and Allen plays like crap? well damn right that’s a big part of the reason! Not sure what your point is. they didn’t play well and lost. that’s not a good thing.

  • Kap

    Besides Westbrook, Fisher has done an ok job playing defense throughtout the playoffs. I say bring in fisher clone mo williams or kirk hinrich to come off the bench if they wanted to improve the pg spot.

  • truthteller

    All I know is that the Lakers better retire Fisher’s number when he calls it quits! that man has come through for that franchise so many times, it’s the least they could do!

  • chingy

    @KulchaKris: Ever since Lindsey Hunter, I don’t recall any PG that is a lock down PG (maybe Billups but he struggles with fast PG’s).

  • http://slamonline.com J Dizzle

    LOL, eboy likes the heat… LOL.

  • UnRel

    @truthteller.. although that would be awesome if they retired his number… i don’t think so.. that wall is sacred.. if they retire his.. then horry, coop and b.scott should be up there also.. but it should be for the legends..

  • JoeMaMa

    as a spurs fan, I’m legally obligated to say that Fisher’s 0.4 shot shouldn’t have counted. that is all. Oh….fine. dude’s clutch.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com DP

    Eboy, you are my boy but I want to see you say something postive about the lakers without throwing a sly jab at the same time. When the celtics win, I give them credit without hating. I also HATE the celtics with a passion but I don’t let my hatred get in the way of seeing whats what.

  • http://www.kwapt.blogspot.com KobeWearsAPurpleThong

    Who’d have thunk the first 3 games would have Allen shooting the lights out one night and missing everything another, DFisher being the hero and Paul Pierce being a….*gulp*…zero. Sorry P, but c’mon dog-this is The Finals. Still say it’s going the distance though.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Lakers have played well to me. Boston is a great defensive team. Boston is the best team defensive Kobe will play in his career since Detroit Pistons, but this time Kobe got a Gasol and not an out shape Shaq, and old timers like Gary Payton and Karl Malone. To me game 4 is a must win game for the Lakers. Hopefully their Hollywood ways will not show up. If Lakers don’t win game 4 this is a seven game series.

  • http://www.springbored.net letsmotor

    @Robb: cool. and i won’t lie–i hate the lakers! but it’s never anything personal, it’s just about basketball, which is just about fun.

  • The Philosopher

    @lets motor: YOU HATE THE LAKERS?!?! DAMN!!. That’s cool, though. As you said, it’s about fun.

  • KB24

    For those comparing Ariza’s defense & Artests’ defense on Pierce: Ariza didn’t play in the 2008 Finals you dummies, he had a broken leg, him & Bynum didn’t play.

  • http://www.shawnkemp.com JACO

    This series has been very unpredictable its usually been a diffrent person stepping up in each game btw big lakers fan since birth GM1: Pau Gasol (dont care what you say) GM2: Ray and Rajon GM3: D-Fish GMS 4-7:???

  • Q

    I think pierce is right. they won’t go back to LA…LA will close it out in Boston lol

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