Lakers' Derek Fisher takes it slow and steady
NBA
The veteran knows it's a long season, so he remains on an even keel despite the team's fast start.
His knees were wrapped in ice and his feet were in a bucket of ice. Towels were draped around his shoulders and waist.
Derek Fisher sat in a chair after the Lakers' big win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night, taking preventive measures for his body, resting after a hard night's work.
Fisher scored a season-high 20 points against the Hornets, and in many ways, he was soaking in his and the team's performance.
He had two steals, one that helped seal the game.
Fisher was seven for 11 from the field, his best shooting percentage of the young season. He was four for six from three-point range, also his best outing of the season.
"My shot finally went in," Fisher said. "I've gotten some good looks at other times in some other games. I got some good looks, [but] the ball just hasn't gone in so far early."
It was the 49th 20-plus point game of Fisher's 13-season NBA career.
He's 34 now and has a lot of miles on his body.
Fisher is averaging 27 minutes a game this season, sharing time with Jordan Farmar (21 per game).
"I feel good physically, I feel good about the way I'm playing overall," Fisher said. "It's just the shooting. I haven't lost any confidence. . . . I've been solid. I've been competing well in practice, so I'm just carrying that over into the game and tonight was kind of the second or third time where I felt like I feel comfortable. I feel like I'm in rhythm and I can just keep it going."
Fisher is averaging 11 points per game, third best on the team.
He's making just 37.1% of his shots and 44.4% of his three-pointers.
But Fisher is not worried about his stats.
Wednesday night's game proved his worth, including his steal late in the game when he swiped the basketball away from David West.
"Derek had a big game," Coach Phil Jackson said. "He made some clutch threes early and made the play late in the game."
Fisher downplayed his excitement about playing against New Orleans All-Star guard Chris Paul, who many consider the best point guard in the NBA.
"There are certain matchups that I guess you get more excited about. But in the West now, that's every night," Fisher said. "Steve Nash, Baron Davis, Deron Williams, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul. Brandon Roy. Every night you have a guy who is that caliber of a player."
Fisher insisted he's not worried about scoring so much on this team.
He cited how deep and talented the Lakers are.
He talked about how one night it could be Pau Gasol, Farmar, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum as primary supporting player for Kobe Bryant.
"I understand that we all want to do well," Fisher said. "We all want to contribute. But in order to be successful, we're going to have to give of ourselves a lot this year."
Turner is a Times staff writer.
broderick.turner@latimes.com
