The Fisher King

Dear Derek Fisher,

I'm sorry. I never should have questioned your play in these playoffs.

After Thursday night's heroics that lifted your Los Angeles Lakers to the 99-91 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 4 of the NBA Finals and gave your team a seemingly insurrmountable 3-1 series lead, you have earned a Laker Benefit of the Doubt card. For life.

Like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James Worthy, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Robert Horry, and George Mikan (though he was a bit before my time) all have. You're officially a Laker immortal.

To review: I have constantly hammered coach Phil Jackson for leaving you in the game when your defense has been what I considered subpar against the likes of Derron Williams, Aaron Brooks, Chauncey Billups and Rafer Alston.

I have literally begged Jackson to play Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown more and you less when I have watched the games.

I have blogged on this site that you're no longer the Derek Fisher of 5 years ago, the one that beat San Antonio in a critical Western Conference Finals playoff game with a turnaround jumper with 0.4 seconds.

And I was wrong.

I realize defense has never been your specialty. Heck, Allen Iverson had his way with you in the 2001 NBA Finals. Coach Zen had to play Tyronne Lue to keep with A.I.. for Heaven's sakes.

But you are the one guy on the Lakers who understands that "24" can't do it all by himself. Even Kobe himself doesn't quite realize it yet, though he is getting closer.

In fact, L.A. was about to watch its 2-0 series disappear as a YES HE'S TIRED Kobe Bryant was trying and failing to finish the game against the Magic on Thursday night. If anyone doubts Bryant's fatigue, go back and look at his brick on a wide-open 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

But you, Derek -- I mean, Mr. Fisher -- understand that the Lakers have several other talented players on the court that don't require Kobe to bail them out in every clutch situation. Kobe's 0-for-3 in this series alone.

I always thought the one element that has been missing from the current Laker regime that the other L.A. dynasties had was a role player that is a cold-blooded shooter -- a West, a Worthy, a Big Shot Rob.

I believed Sasha Vujacic would ascend to that role, but this year he's lost his shot -- not to mention his intestinal fortitude.

But, you da man, Der-- Mr. Fisher. In my emotion of the moment -- well, I'm exaggerating there, the NBA playoffs are about 2.5 billion "moments" -- I forgot how key you are to the cause. Is it any wonder that once you returned to L.A., the Lakers began competing for championships again?

I must, however, give a big assist to the Master of Pudginess, Stan Van Gundy. I know Jameer Nelson had three good passes in the fourth quarter that helped the Magic seize control of a game they should have won in regulation. But why Rafer Alston sat the final 18 minutes, 28 seconds of the game is beyond my comprehension.

If he's in the game and spreads the court for the Magic offense, maybe Mr. Fisher gets fatigued (like Kobe) guarding him and doesn't get the lift on either of those 3's.

But that doesn't matter now. Sorry I even brought it up.

Hopefully, Mr. Fisher, you'll accept all these apologies.