L.A. Lakers Must Replace Derek Fisher to Contend for a Championship
Published by Daniel Lewis (Featured Columnist) on January 4, 2012 at Bleacher Report. Click to download article.
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When David Stern nixed the blockbuster trade in December that would have brought Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers, Derek Fisher regained his longtime role as the team’s starting point guard.
Age has simply caught up to the 37-year-old, and if the Lakers are serious about regaining their spot atop the NBA this June, the front office must upgrade the 1-guard position.
This season, the tough veteran is producing results similar to those of years past. He is providing solid spacing and sturdy defense against larger guards, yet shooting a low percentage and struggling to defend speedy guards.
Therein lays the problem. The Lakers have been looking for the heir-apparent to Fisher for several years now and are no closer now than they were three seasons ago.
Brought in as a free agent in 2010, Steve Blake has performed well so far this year, but still remains nothing more than a solid backup point guard. After all, he has failed to seize control of Fisher’s minutes for a second straight season.
The Lakers must find a suitable replacement for Fisher as the starting point guard to obtain a legitimate chance of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season.
Fisher is a beloved figure in Lakerland, and for good reason. A key member of five championship teams, he gave fans three of the greatest playoff moments in Laker history: his clutch 0.4 shot against the Spurs in 2003, his dagger threes against the Magic to take a 3-1 lead in the 2009 Finals and his coast-to-coast “and one” drive against the Celtics in Game 3 of the Finals the following year. Amid the turmoil that periodically arises within the organization, he is a constant source of leadership, optimism and stability.
However, it seems as though he gets a free pass solely because of everything he has done for the organization in the past.
He often overrates his ability to create offense by attacking the basket or attempting pull-up jumpers that significantly hurt the Lakers on that side of the ball. Every Lakers fan knows all too well that Fisher loves to take 20-foot jumpers with a defender on his right hip early in the shot clock.
Defensively, he continues to provide the hard-nosed defense expected of him. He does well in guarding bigger players whom he can body up. He also is one of the best point guards in the league when it comes to fighting through screens.
However, with the latest generation of point guards smaller and faster than ever before, Fisher has found it increasingly difficult to stay in front of them. His declining speed places excessive strain on Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol to keep point guards out of the paint on defense.
In previous years, Fisher’s limitations could be overcome by the superstar power of Kobe Bryant and Gasol, but both of these players are now facing the same age issues as Fisher, albeit to a lesser extent.
These glaring weaknesses notwithstanding, Fisher does have a place in L.A., just not as a starter.
Even in his 16th season, Fisher can still be useful as a defender, flopper, leader and occasional shooter.
Armed with a trade exception from the Lamar Odom trade, G.M. Mitch Kupchak would be wise to explore options that would bump Fisher to the bench.
If there is a silver lining in the failed Chris Paul trade, it is that Lakers fans can rest assured that Kupchak has identified the point guard position as a spot needing an upgrade.
Age has simply caught up to the 37-year-old, and if the Lakers are serious about regaining their spot atop the NBA this June, the front office must upgrade the 1-guard position.
This season, the tough veteran is producing results similar to those of years past. He is providing solid spacing and sturdy defense against larger guards, yet shooting a low percentage and struggling to defend speedy guards.
Therein lays the problem. The Lakers have been looking for the heir-apparent to Fisher for several years now and are no closer now than they were three seasons ago.
Brought in as a free agent in 2010, Steve Blake has performed well so far this year, but still remains nothing more than a solid backup point guard. After all, he has failed to seize control of Fisher’s minutes for a second straight season.
The Lakers must find a suitable replacement for Fisher as the starting point guard to obtain a legitimate chance of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season.
Fisher is a beloved figure in Lakerland, and for good reason. A key member of five championship teams, he gave fans three of the greatest playoff moments in Laker history: his clutch 0.4 shot against the Spurs in 2003, his dagger threes against the Magic to take a 3-1 lead in the 2009 Finals and his coast-to-coast “and one” drive against the Celtics in Game 3 of the Finals the following year. Amid the turmoil that periodically arises within the organization, he is a constant source of leadership, optimism and stability.
However, it seems as though he gets a free pass solely because of everything he has done for the organization in the past.
He often overrates his ability to create offense by attacking the basket or attempting pull-up jumpers that significantly hurt the Lakers on that side of the ball. Every Lakers fan knows all too well that Fisher loves to take 20-foot jumpers with a defender on his right hip early in the shot clock.
Defensively, he continues to provide the hard-nosed defense expected of him. He does well in guarding bigger players whom he can body up. He also is one of the best point guards in the league when it comes to fighting through screens.
However, with the latest generation of point guards smaller and faster than ever before, Fisher has found it increasingly difficult to stay in front of them. His declining speed places excessive strain on Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol to keep point guards out of the paint on defense.
In previous years, Fisher’s limitations could be overcome by the superstar power of Kobe Bryant and Gasol, but both of these players are now facing the same age issues as Fisher, albeit to a lesser extent.
These glaring weaknesses notwithstanding, Fisher does have a place in L.A., just not as a starter.
Even in his 16th season, Fisher can still be useful as a defender, flopper, leader and occasional shooter.
Armed with a trade exception from the Lamar Odom trade, G.M. Mitch Kupchak would be wise to explore options that would bump Fisher to the bench.
If there is a silver lining in the failed Chris Paul trade, it is that Lakers fans can rest assured that Kupchak has identified the point guard position as a spot needing an upgrade.