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I know this subject has been broached previously, but I found myself marveling during tonight's game at the incredible turn of fortune we've been blessed with at the point.

What a refreshing breath of fresh air it's been to go from an unprofessional douche bag like William Parker -- possibly the most unlikeable player I've been forced to endure in my 20-some years as a Laker fan -- to the consumate champion that is Derek Fisher.

Granted, it's easy to praise a player after he shot like Fish did tonight. But still. Parker, given the keys to one of the elite sports franchises in the entire world, had the gall to tank in a contract year and is on the verge of getting bounced out of the league. What a surprise.

Derek, meanwhile, is simply doing what he always has for 10 plus years -- giving an honest, hard-working effort every single night.

He can't do much else but shoot. His playmaking skills are virtually non-existent. His defense is average at best. He misses as many layups as anybody in the NBA.

But I know I speak for many of you when I say I am damn, damn glad to have him back on the team.

Amen.

Dear Fish,

I love you

Phil

I was going to make a Derek Fisher appreciation thread myself but you take the honors Sed.

Fisher's been awesome for this team. He embodies everything that our team has shown this season in terms of dedication, honesty, hardwork and facing any situation with fearlessness. No better teammate than Fisher and we're just grateful to have guys like LO & Fisher in our locker room to support our young guys.

He's as reliable as a church on the court, minimum turnovers, rarely forces a shot and makes an open shot consistently well. Above all, he along with Robert Horry has always been a Kobe Bryant man and knows how to play alongside Kobe. He's brought in trust, composure and an immeasurable amount of leadership to this team.

Thanks for the good work Fish! Laker fan community loves you.

+1 with all of the above - except I'm not Phil

He fills the so much of what this team was lacking before intangibly.

Attitude is everything.

That should be engraved in capital letters on Fish's gravestone.

DFish has solidified the PG position for us.

I cannot say enough about the importance of his acquisition for the Lakers. It was fortuitous that he was able to get out of his contract with the Jazz. Bless him and his daughter who has a very rare form of eye cancer that can eventually lead to blindness. He moved here to have better access to special medical care for retinoblastoma.

If I see DFish in the street, I'd offer to buy him a beer.

I'm glad I had the chance to bump into him at the Alamodome a few years back. I told him, "You and Horry are the only guys who don't make me embarrassed at times to be a Laker fan." He just laughed and shook his head.

Between Shaq's laziness and Kobe's arrogance, he knew exactly what I meant.

Sedale Threatt wrote:Attitude is everything.

That should be engraved in capital letters on Fish's gravestone.

Yeah, when he came back I didnt suffer any illusions that he would be a different player or a changed player. ( however, his game has matured alot since his first go round.) but his attitude and leadership is what this team needed and it doesnt hurt that he can hit a shot. great pick up.


Ps. come on Zen, you can admit it.

Fisher's caught his fish ! ZZZzzzzzz...

I remember when we signed him over the summer and people on here were ragging on Mitch for signing him. But, he has done more then what any of us can imagine.

Thank you Mr. Fish.

He can't do much else but shoot. His playmaking skills are virtually non-existent. His defense is average at best. He misses as many layups as anybody in the NBA.

Well, that littlel "provide leadership" thing he does is kind of important to some of us.

I'm talking strictly game. Intangible-wise, D is off the charts.

Derek Fisher has been huge. Granted, Smush Parker didn't set the bar so high, having suffered nothing less than a cataclysmic meltdown and becoming a team cancer.

Derek Fisher's leadership benefits were anticipated and for good reason. His effort and confidence mirror Kobe's. Kobe's finally gotten a co-captain that can help shoulder the leadership burdens for this young team. I think he's been a remarkable stabilizing force.

But none of that is surprising to me. What's surprising to me, is at nearly 34 years old, Derek Fisher is playing the best ball of his career. He is shooting a career high 48%, which is 8% above his career average. That is shocking. I had no idea he was capable of doing that - he's never been that accurate, even as a spot-up shooter getting tons of open looks due to playing with Shaq and Kobe.

Shooting 48% as an almost exclusive jump-shooter is elite. He's become an elite shooter, among the league's best, and that, to me, is the biggest surprise. You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but he can improve on his old ones.

Sedale Threatt wrote:What a refreshing breath of fresh air it's been to go from an unprofessional douche bag like William Parker

You should stop beating around the bush and tell us how your really feel about Smush.

Derek is a God Send to Lakers fans. He is a class act on and off the court. I will be happy if he retires a Laker.

Glad you brought those numbers up. Very interesting.

I guess I never realized, or was too willing to gloss over thanks to his effort level, what a poor shooter he's been throughout his career. Last four seasons: 35, 39, 41 and 38 percent from the floor. He's had as many seasons under 40 percent as he's had over.

No other way to slice it -- horrible.

I would have bet the house he was a career 40 percent shooter from 3-point range. I do remember him having his moments, such as 0.4 and setting a series record for 3s against the Spurs in '01. But never would I have guessed his %s were so bad. Guess having the best inside-outside combo in NBA history covers up for a lot.

As you said, just makes D's contributions this season all the more impressive.

Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar. Great and great.

Thank you fish for choosing to come back to LA.

Thank you mitch for choosing Fisher over the other FA pg's this past summer.

fish your our hero

Another example of Fish's importance could be looked at in terms of Utah's struggles combined with our success so far.

Perhaps it's just coincedence but Utah has begun to look like a team that's young and talented but lacks the same leadership. I think Fish REALLY helped Deron last year.