Fishing In Houston

Fisher's Game 3 performance in the 2010
NBA Finals will forever live in Laker
lore.

In with the new, out with the old.

Not long after trading for Ramon Sessions, the Los Angeles Lakers and general manager Mitch Kupchak sent longtime point guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets in exchange for center Jordan Hill. Houston also receives the first-round pick Los Angeles acquired when they sent reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, to the Dallas Mavericks last December.

Sessions, 25, whose only started four games this season with the drafting and emergence of Kyrie Irving, was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers for forwards Luke Walton and Jason Kopono along with the team's 2012 first-round pick.

And while Sessions gives the Lakers the athleticism and quickness they have been searching for since nearly completed a deal to obtain Chris Paul moving forward, Fisher's veteran experience and leadership will be missed, especially come playoff time.

It's no secret Los Angeles' point guard combination of Fisher and Steve Blake were among the worst in the league production-wise.

Aside from Blake never adapting to the triangle offense last year and averaging 5.5 point per game this season, Fisher has struggled to play outside of basically the only offense he has known. The 37-year-old is averaging just 5.9 PPG, his lowest total since the 1998-99 season when he posted the same number.

Fisher has averaged 8.7 PPG throughout his 16-year playing career, 13 in which have come in the purple and gold.

He had played in all 43 of the Lakers games this season, logging 25.6 minutes per contest. But it has been Fisher's defense, or lack their of, that really was a cause for a concern.

Fisher's inability to guard elite point guards like Paul, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, etc. continued to stick out like a sore thumb. And while Sessions is anything, but an elite defender, his speed and playmaking ability add something Los Angeles needed desperately, especially if they are to compete with the Okalahoma City's and Miami's of the world.

But even with the team looking forward, Fisher's character, dedication and contributions will not soon be forgotten.

After missing most of the regular season with a foot injury, Fisher's postseason pedigree started in the 2001 playoffs, when he nailed numerous clutch, three-point baskets. He thrilled us all with his 0.4 shot against the San Antonino Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Seimfinals.

How about in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals, when Fisher hit two, crucial three-point baskets, one tying the game with 4.6 left in regulation, sending the game into overtime. The other came in that extra period, again in the closing minute, but this time giving Los Angeles the lead and for good.

In Game 3 of the Finals the following year against the hated Boston Celtics, in the TD Garden with the series tied at a game piece, Fisher rose above the rest.

After teammate Kobe Bryant started the fourth quarter, in an extremely close game, 0-for-4, Fisher took the keys to the Spalding Bryant had been driving for so many years along side him and drove it home. Fisher dominated the paint, finishing with 16 points.

Postgame, Fisher was emotional to say the least saying, "I love this game. Uh, I love this team. I love this guy (referring to Bryant). I love what I do and uh, nothing means more to me than helping my team win."

And he would do just that in Game 7.

With his team trailing by as many as 13 in the third quarter and Bryant, again not on his game, Fisher found the stomach once again to hit a game-tying three with 6:13 left in the season to bring Los Angeles all the way back and help them win their second consecutive NBA title, 16th overall and his fifth.

It was Bryant's rare, but unbreakable trust he had with Fisher that allowed him to shine on the game's biggest stage. A trust that Bryant might never exude to another player.

Fisher's career averages in the postseason exceed the totals he put up in the regular season, including rebounds (2.4), points (8.9), minutes (28.0), three-point (.402) and field goal percentage (.427).

Most recently, in his final game as a Laker, Fisher knocked down a go-ahead, 20-foot jumper in overtime against the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday, sealing Los Angeles' ninth road win of the season.

It's not as if the Lakers haven't been without Fisher before. He signed with the Golden State Warriors prior to the start of 2004-05 season and playing in Utah for a year before coming back to Staples for one last championship run.

Bryant's trust in Fisher was unlike
any other.

It is believed the Rockets will buyout Fisher's contract, making him a free agent. However, if you think a return to the Lakers this season is waiting in the wings just like when center Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to the Cavaliers after being traded during the 2009-10 season, think again.

According to the new CBA, if a player is traded and then bought out they can re-sign with a their former employer in July.

Speaking of the CBA, Fisher was elected as the Player's Association President in 2006 and played a pivotal role in ending the 166-day NBA lockout.

Throughout his career, Fisher was a consummate professional and epitome of class. I speak for everyone when I say, thanks for everything you've done, Fish.