Hey Derek, I’m over here.
Thanks for inviting me out. I thought I was the one that was supposed to be doing that, since I’m conducting this meeting.
But, this is cool. I heard the food is off the hook here, at Harold and Belle’s. Nothing like some good ol’ Louisiana Cajun-style cuisine to satisfy the taste buds.
We’re here, of course, to discuss your role in this past season and your projected role as far as this upcoming season is concerned.
It’s a good thing that I’m not sensitive. Because I’ve been getting blistered on those fan web sites about the fact that you were on the bench for long stretches of time, during the NBA finals.
The prevailing consensus is that the Lakers would have prevailed over the Boston Celtics, had you been on the court in criticial junctures, like Game 4 at home, when we let that 24-point lead get away.
That’s neither here nor there, now, however. And you know how fans are. They blow with the prevailing wind. One minute they’re with you, the next minute they’re howling for your scalp.
Don’t believe me? Ask your pal, Kobe.
That said, however, there is no doubt that you had a very good season, Derek. You were a stabilizing factor for the Lakers, both on the court and in the locker room.
If there was a big defensive play to be made, a crucial offensive decision to be made or a clutch basket to be made, very often it fell you, Derek Fisher. And you typically delivered.Young players coming into the league can learn some valuable lessons from you on how to keep their bodies’ healthy over the long haul.
This was your 12th season in the NBA, Derek, yet you have played in 246 consecutive regular-season games over the past three years and since you’ve turned 28 years old, you’ve only missed eight games over the past six years.
That’s eight games out of a total of 492 games. Simply, amazing.
We know you will be 34 years old, when the 2008-2009 season begins but if you’ve lost a step or step and a half, you’ve compensated for it with your extraordinary court savvy.
The Lakers certainly will be looking to you for leadership and solid court play in the upcoming season.
You have three NBA championship rings in your jewelry box. I’m sure you’d like to add at least another, before you finally step away from the game as a player.
See you, at training camp.
