[外電]Jazz: Utah benefits from Fisher's hustle, defense
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_4615286
Jazz: Utah benefits from Fisher's hustle, defense
Derek Fisher
By Lya Wodraska
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:11/07/2006 09:25:00 AM MST
During his two-year stint at Golden State, guard Derek Fisher savored the
few games where the Warriors actually did their name proud and went to war,
so to speak. Those games, played in a playoff-like atmosphere where players
left bruised, sometimes bloody and always exhausted, were the ones where
Fisher said he enjoyed the most.
"I've always taken pride in myself in doing those types of things," Fisher
said of the physical play. "It's been a couple years since I've had to do
that."
Well, it all came back Monday in Utah's 103-101 win over Detroit. Fisher
took a shot to his nose from Flip Murray in the second quarter that left him
a little bloodied and squinting from the pain. In the fourth, Fisher dove into
the stands after a loose ball directly across from the Utah bench. He came up
shaking his right arm, but if he suffered more than just a stinger on the
hardwood he didn't show it, as moments later, he got tangled up with Detroit's
Richard Hamilton in a battle for another loose ball.
Hamilton was called for a foul, just one of several instances he lost in the
one-on-one battle with Fisher. Fisher finished with 12 points, seven assists
and arguably a team-high number of effort points as the Jazz rallied around the
veteran.
"That is why we love him," said Andrei Kirilenko, who is also known to drive
defenses, and even his coaching staff, a little crazy with his hectic play.
"His game is so hustle and so needed for the team, especially in the crunch."
Fisher's best did come in that crucial time, as he took the body blows then
delivered some of his own. He denied Hamilton any field goals in the final
quarter, limiting him to 14 points for the night, 11 below his average.
"He's such a talented player, you have to make him work as much as possible
,"Fisher said.
With six minutes to go, Fisher entered after a short rest and promptly made
a three-pointer to give the Jazz a 93-91 lead, then threaded a pass to Deron
Williams for a jumper. Seconds later, he coaxed Hamilton into an offensive foul
, his fifth personal, effectively nullifying his presence on defense.
"He's not afraid to get after it," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "He's had to
know how to use his hands and be able to punch the ball out and be a little
aggravating, because our guys aren't that aggravating. He can dig the ball out.
We've always been kind of soft after we lost John Stockton."
Afterward, Fisher was still sweating in his uniform as trainer Gary Briggs
wrapped Fisher's right hamstring, the one he pulled slightly at Phoenix.
First it was his pelvis in the preseason, then his hamstring, and now a few
more sore spots have been added to Fisher's personal injury report. But more
importantly, the Jazz are 4-0, which is more comforting to Fisher than any
brace a trainer could provide.
"I'm beat up a little bit, but in this league, if you're going to get it
done, you have to be willing to take that kind of punishment," Fisher said.
lwodraska@sltrib.com
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