WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES FOR L.A. LAKERS

Who gets the most credit for turning around the Lakers? MVP Kobe, GM Kupchak, Phil as Zen Master or reaquiring a tough nosed point guard like Derek Fisher

Being a Los Angeles Lakers fan who grew up watching the Lakers vs Celtics and Magic vs Bird throughout the 80’s and toiled in mediocrity with Vlade Divac and Nick Van Exel in the 90’s and saw another dynasty in the early 2000’s with a three peat with the help of Shaq and Kobe and the zen master Phil Jackson, it’s should come as no surprise that the Lakers have retooled once again and find themselves in the NBA Finals. But is the Lakers success this year all about Kobe Bryant and his M.V.P. season or are there other contributing factors? Of course Kobe Bryant has proven he is the best basketball player in the world and this year he absolutely deserves the M.V.P. Award and of course, the Zen Master is responsible for bringing the entire team together for a grueling 82 game season. Mitch Kupchak deserves a lot of credit for trading Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol in midseason and drafting the likes of Andrew Bynum, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmer and Rony Turiaf recently, all of whom have contributed immensely in the raise of the Lakers deep bench, but what can’t be underestimated is the steadying effect bringing back a tough nosed championship point guard like Derek Fisher has had on the team.

Fisher, who was let out of his contract by The Utah Jazz so he could be in move back to Los Angeles while his daughter Tatum recieves the best possible treatment for a rare form of cancer in her eye, took less money (roughly $7 million less) to play for The Lakers. And with a preseason that included Kobe Bryant’s tirade and trade demands, it was Fisher who all along thought the team could compete for a title. We caught up with Derek at his party celebrating his return to Los Angeles just before the season was about to start, to get his thoughts on his roll in helping the younger Lakers learn what winning and commitment are all about.

“Well that’s what it’s been. I’m really trying to get used to this group. I’m coming back to The Lakers and back to L.A. which I’m familiar to but there’s a lot of new teammates, new faces, new personalities and that’s going to take some time but so far so good and all the guys, all the young guys are excited about being here and want to be good. So, I’m trying to do my best to let them in and we’re talking and we’re hanging and we’re really trying to develop the connective things that we need to.”

We also wanted to know what Fisher’s goals for the team were even with Kobe demanding a trade and calling out the front office in the preseason.

“I think the goal always has to be to win a championship. There’s no reason not to ever set your goals as high as they could be. So, first and foremost we want to win a title and the things we need to do to get their are obviously stay healthy, figure out who’s going to be here and who isn’t, which is not my decision obviously. But we want to lay out the best effort every night that we can. We feel like that’s what we owe to the fans so no matter who puts the jersey on and who plays for the team what you owe to your family and your fans and people that support you is your best effort and hopefully we can give that 82 nights this year.”

So what does Lamar Odom, Lakers Power Forward feel Derek Fisher brings to the locker room?

“It’s really big time. It’s like getting our old quarterback. You know what I’m saying? He’s great for the locker room, he’s won before and he understands winning and what it takes to win and I’m really happy to have him back and a part of this team. He’s a veteran, he’s a professional that understands the game and he helps every team he’s been on. Chemistry, he’s a leader and he’s been through a lot and he’s a great guy on and off the court. It’s a pleasure to have him.”

What a difference a year makes! In fact it was a year ago that Kobe Bryant was blasting everyone in the Laker front office from Kupchack all the way to the owner Dr. Jerry Buss and demanded a trade even though he was under contract. Things were so desparate in Laker Land that Dr. Buss came out just before the season started and said he would trade Kobe if the deal was good, knowing full well he’d never get equal value for Kobe and that didn’t stop Laker fans from actually Booing Kobe on opening night at home in The Staples Center! But slowly, with the help of Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson, the Lakers rallied around Kobe and began gaining his trust as teammates. Then Mitch made the deal for Gasol and the Lakers took control and finished first in perhaps the toughest Western conference season in the history of the NBA. And now with having eliminated Denver, Utah and San Antonio pretty handedly on their way to winning The 2008 Western Conference Finals, The Lakers are on the door step to their 15th NBA Championship with the storied Boston Celtic franchise standing in their way again. Some where the basketball gods are smiling right now!