Game 4 Hangover: The Fisher King

Lakers 99, Magic 91

There's been no bigger critic of Derek Fisher this postseason than me. I have called for his benching, declared him over the hill, and threatened to become a Cavs fan next year if he is the Lakers starting point guard opening night. I don't think I like the taste of crow, but I'm gonna eat a whole big pile of it today. Derek Fisher may have won the 2009 NBA championship last night.

For 47 minutes Derek Fisher was 0-5 from three point land. Good thing in the NBA redemption is only twenty three feet away. With ten seconds left and the LA trailing 87-84, the Lakers inbounded the ball and the defense swarmed to Kobe Bryant as they brought the ball up the court on a fast break. When the ball reversed to Fisher, alone on the right side of the court 1 on 1, Jameer Nelson slacked off him and Fish pulled up with perfect form and nailed his first 3 of the night.

When he hit the three that tied the game at 87 Orlando must have been thinking, "Not our year." The Magic scored four points the rest of the game. Fisher hit another huge three in overtime with the game tied at 93-93 with 30 seconds left. Lakers 3, Magic 1. What a huge swing. If not for Fisher, the series is tied 2-2: Orlando has the momentum, Game 5 at home, and the Lakers are doubting themselves, their effort, and their future. Instead L.A. can end the series on Sunday against a Magic team that folded faster than a cheap tent in the third quarter last night.

If LA can end the series Orlando will spend the offseason thinking about what could have been. What if the team would have shown up for Game 1? What if Courtney Lee makes the layup in Game 2? What if Dwight Howard makes a free throw in Game 4 with 11 seconds left to ice the game? A trip to the NBA finals is a precious thing in the league. A good year becoming a great year has more to do with luck and timing than players and talent. Everything came together for Orlando this year. After Game 1 they've outplayed LA for most of this series. Unfortunately it looks like LA is going home with the trophy in the offseason and all Orlando is going to have is What Ifs.

Who Showed Up:

Derek Fisher. 12 pts (2-7 3FG) One stat will show you King Fisher's effect on Game 4. His plus/minus for the 42 minutes he was on the court: +15.

Trevor Ariza. 16 pts (6-14, 3-4 3FG) 9 reb 2 stl. With LA trailing by 12 at halfime Trevor Ariza had zero points on 0-5 shooting. Then he came alive in quarter number three. Ariza went four out of four from the field for thirteen points along with invaluable defensive pressure, rebounds, and just plain hustle.

Dwight Howard on defense. 21 reb 9 blk. A monster in the paint, Howard gobbled up 11 rebounds in the first quarter and affected nearly every shot at the basket while blocking an NBA finals-record 9 shots from the field.

Who didn't show up:

Dwight Howard on offense. 16 pts (5-12 FG 6-14 FT) 7 TO A nightmare at the line, Dwight choked when he could have put Orlando in the driver's seat on the way to victory lane. With the Magic up 3 with 11 seconds left, all Mr. Superman had to do was make 1 of his 2 free throws to ice the game. You want to be an elite player you win that game for your team, Clark Kent.

Rafer Alston. 11 pts (5-13 FG) Confined to the bench for most of the second half (3 shot attempts after halftime) in Stan Van Gundy increasingly erratic bench rotation, Skip to My Lou might not be such a happy camper today.

Kobe Bryant. 32 pts (11-31 FG) 8 asts 7 rebs 49 min. Another decent offensive night where Kobe gets his numbers and fills the stat sheet but fades toward the end. Lowlights of the Night: 1 for 5 in the second quarter while LA was digging into a 12-point halftime deficit; 2 for 8 in the fourth quarter continuing to destroy his "closer" persona; his increasingly dangerous "tunnel vision" in crunch time which cost them a chance to win Game 2 in regulation and almost cost them in Game 4's overtime. Is there any reason for him to take 5 of LA's 7 shot attempts in OT when he can get his teammates a much better look at the hoop? The Lakers might win the series and Kobe might finally get his ring without Shaq, but don't let anyone tell you they won this series because of Kobe Bryant. He has better teammates that pick him up when he fails and the perfect mesh of veterans and youth that defer to him and his ego.