Fish's Return Is Paying Big Dividends

Man, it’s great to have Fish back!

His selflessness, character and leadership made Derek Fisher perhaps the most beloved member of the great Lakers’ teams of the Shaq-Kobe era, and his return to the organization brought with the promise of a veteran leader, both on the floor and in the locker room, for an inexperienced team mired in controversy and looking for stability. Through the team’s first six games, Fisher’s contribution to the team is apparent, as he’s not only averaged more than 12 points, 3 assists and a steal in his 27 minutes per game, but also helped the Lakers dramatically transform themselves from “impending train wreck” to “potential sleeper” in a mere two weeks. Needless to say, every member of team deserves his share of credit for the improved attitude of the Lakers, but anyone familiar with the Lakers’ previous title-winning teams will concur that it’s very likely that Fisher played a significant part in the turnaround.