Rastapopoulos
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What was the big difference between the Lakers of 2007-8 (who won 56 games and went to the Finals) and the Lakers of the previous season (who won 42 games and were bounced in the first round - after leading 3-1)?
Not Pau Gasol, because their record in the half-season before they got him was just as good as after.
Not Andrew Bynum (although, a little) because they had him for at least half of 2006-7 and never looked good.
Not Phil or Kobe - they had both both years.
No, it was Derek Fisher. When they lost him for a couple of years to GState and Utah, they lost their Mojo. Derek Fisher is Yoda. He is an old soul who brings calm and confidence to a locker room. He gets on with everybody and smooths over squabbles. He does hit the odd clutch shot, too, and he knows the triangle inside and out.
Who could be our Derek Fisher? Andre Miller is almost the anti-Fisher. He's more talented as a player, but he is practically a recluse and shows no interest in or aptitude for locker room leadership. We need that guy, because all our important players are "sensitive" and not great leaders. And sometimes you need an older guy to tell the young players "you guys don't know what you've got here".
My nomination: Grant Hill. He's smart. He's very Fisher-esque, in that he's incredibly nice and I think would get on with anyone. And he commands respect because of his college career (which would count for a lot with Roy and probably Oden) and once-All-NBA talent. And he can still contribute a lot, not least PG skills at the wing. I'd willingly give up Martell for him (who would LOVE the Phoenix system) or even Andre Miller if Nash went down and they thought they needed him.
Sadly, though, I doubt if they'd give him up, and if they would, I'm not sure he'd come here. He might just retire, partly because he's so much a fan of Phoenix's trainers for resurrecting his career (and I'm pretty sure he's not hearing great things about our medical staff...)
Any other suggestions?
Not Pau Gasol, because their record in the half-season before they got him was just as good as after.
Not Andrew Bynum (although, a little) because they had him for at least half of 2006-7 and never looked good.
Not Phil or Kobe - they had both both years.
No, it was Derek Fisher. When they lost him for a couple of years to GState and Utah, they lost their Mojo. Derek Fisher is Yoda. He is an old soul who brings calm and confidence to a locker room. He gets on with everybody and smooths over squabbles. He does hit the odd clutch shot, too, and he knows the triangle inside and out.
Who could be our Derek Fisher? Andre Miller is almost the anti-Fisher. He's more talented as a player, but he is practically a recluse and shows no interest in or aptitude for locker room leadership. We need that guy, because all our important players are "sensitive" and not great leaders. And sometimes you need an older guy to tell the young players "you guys don't know what you've got here".
My nomination: Grant Hill. He's smart. He's very Fisher-esque, in that he's incredibly nice and I think would get on with anyone. And he commands respect because of his college career (which would count for a lot with Roy and probably Oden) and once-All-NBA talent. And he can still contribute a lot, not least PG skills at the wing. I'd willingly give up Martell for him (who would LOVE the Phoenix system) or even Andre Miller if Nash went down and they thought they needed him.
Sadly, though, I doubt if they'd give him up, and if they would, I'm not sure he'd come here. He might just retire, partly because he's so much a fan of Phoenix's trainers for resurrecting his career (and I'm pretty sure he's not hearing great things about our medical staff...)
Any other suggestions?
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