Insider Special

[Guest]

These are rarely posted on this board, but I thought that I'd start doing them - they're special sections posted on insider every few days:

NBA position battles: Does Derek Fisher belong in the Laker triangle?

By Terry Brown

Wednesday, September 11 Updated 10:20 AM EST

Derek Fisher may hit the game-winning three deep into the playoffs for the Los Angeles Lakers, take one or two charges and high-five all of his teammates, coaches and waterboys in and out of each and every television timeout. But at the end of the day, he's still going to be shooting 39 percent from the field, his foot will still be hurting and he's still going to be 6-foot-1.

And Kobe Bryant will still be 6-foot-7.

Rick Fox will be 6-foot-7.

Devean George will be 6-foot-8.

And Kareem Rush will be 6-foot-6.

You circle the one that doesn't belong.

Yes, Fisher hit a career-high four three-pointers in a single playoff game to defeat the Portland Trailblazers during that thrilling Western Conference showdown in 2000. Yes, he set a playoff record for most three-pointers made in a four-game series with 15 in the Western Conference semifinals vs. San Antonio. And, yes, he went chin to chin with Allen Iverson as the Lakers rolled to another title.

But he's still the worst point guard in the entire NBA on the fast break, one of least imaginative players on the floor and has yet to make a rap record.

The NBA keeps a list of the Top 50 passers in the game in terms of assists per game. The Top 20 were all point guards last season. Forty-two of them were guards. Two of them were Lakers.

But Fisher wasn't in that 20 or that 42 or even that 2. The starting point guard for the three-time defending champions wasn't in the Top 50 in assists per game.

Moochie Norris, the second-string point guard for the Houston Rockets, averaged 4.9 apg in 27.4 minutes. Vagabond point guard Jacque Vaughn averaged 4.3 apg in 22.6 minutes. The former third-string point guard for the Lakers, Tyronn Lue, averaged 3.5 apg in 20.5 minutes for the Washington Wizards last season.

But in 28.2 minutes per game, Fisher could muster only 2.6 assists per contest.

Triangle, triangle, triangle, you say.

Ball movement, lots of cuts, everything rotating off of center Shaquille O'Neal who's had more assists than any other center in the league in the last three years. This allowed Kobe to average 5.5 apg last season, the most of any player not a point guard. It allowed small forward Fox to average 3.5. And we'll even give you Shaq's three per contest. But how in the world does back uppower forward Robert Horry average more assists than starting point guard Fisher?

How does backup point guard Brian Shaw, creaky knees and all after 13 seasons in the league with seven different teams, average almost twice as many assists on a per minute basis?

Jon Barry, a former 12th man for the Lakers, averaged 3.3 apg in only 24.2 minutes of play and still managed to shoot 49 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range as a reserve for the Detroit Pistons. And he's 6-foot-5.

Which bring us back to Kobe, who is 6-foot-7, Fox at 6-foot-7, George at 6-foot-8 and Rush at 6-foot-6.

The Lakers don't need a true point guard. They could put a squad on the floor consisting of the baddest bully on the block in the middle surrounded by no one shorter than 6½, all of them able to dribble, defend and shoot the three. I can see Phil Jackson drooling from here. Women and children first.

The average height of that starting team would be 6-foot-9. Hint. There are starting squads in the Eastern Conference that don't have anyone that tall. Ben Wallace won the Defensive Player of the Year Award and rebounding crown at that very height. Imagine the possibilities. Picture the motion offense set to music. Swingmen, baby. Kobe could initiate the triangle from any of three positions while George and Rush slash left, cut right and develop into adequate long range threats. Fox could switch hairtsyles at the half.

Remember, Fisher may have shot 41 percent from three-point land this season, but he began his NBA career at 30. Nick Van Exel shot himself in the foot, Ron Harper gave way to time, tide and two creaky knees while Shaq and Kobe not only became the two most dominant players in the game but statistically the best playmakers at their respective positions.

Combined with the collective bargaining agreement, a career sub became a starter with three championship rings to boot. But don't be fooled. Fisher is as much a result of the Laker success as he is a cause of it.

He is the starting point guard of the most powerful basketball team on the planet because that very same team can compensate for a point guard who averages only 2.6 assists per game.

But easy come. Easy go.

Don't get me wrong. Fisher has a place on the team. He is a dedicated team player who'd just as soon gnaw through his own leg before letting his man ever make an uncontested lay-up. He is good in the locker room, good behind the camera and even better in front of slippery fast guards who might frustrate the bigger folk in purple and gold.

He is chemistry, intangibles and all the other warm and fuzzy things you need on any championship squad. He dives for loose balls whether the Lakers are up by one or 23, first game of the year or last, coming off the bench or starting.

So let's call a role player a role player.

Ring size already included.

[Guest]

Derek Fisher is overrated.Not only can he

not play PG but he can play defense either.

Every other PG in the playoffs blew by him

with ease.