Oklahoma City Thunder benefitting from veteran Derek Fisher’s presence on roster – NBA Playoffs Update
The Oklahoma City Thunder have already booked their ticket for the NBA Finals while the battle in the Eastern Conference still rages on. The Western Conference Champions will be making their first ever trip to the NBA Finals, so they are glad to have someone
on the team that is very familiar with the territory; Derek Fisher.
The veteran point guard linked up with the Thunder late in the regular season and has been a calming influence ever since. The Thunder wanted to have Fisher on board for the experience he brings, the toughness and the nous, and the guard recently showed
his value with some clutch plays against the San Antonio Spurs.
It is no surprise then that Thunder star James Harden is raving about Derek. Harden, who was sensational against the San Antonio Spurs as he has indeed been throughout the playoffs, praised the effect Fisher has on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"He's been there 20 times," Harden said. "He knows how to handle those situations. Creating big shots, defensive plays, plays hard. He just keeps us calm. It's great to have him."
Fisher already has 5 NBA World Championships to his name, all five coming with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers however offloaded the veteran this season but Fisher didn’t want to go the Houston Rockets. So he negotiated an exit and began looking for a
team with championship credentials.
The Oklahoma City in the meantime were looking for someone with championship experience and pedigree. It seemed like the perfect marriage.
"Derek, he helps us in many ways and it's just not on the floor," Oklahoma City Coach Scott Brooks said. "It's in the locker room, talking to him. The thing I love about him, I tell everybody, is his toughness and he's a winner, and you can never have enough
of those guys on your team."
As fate would have it, Fisher and the Thunder ousted Los Angeles Lakers from the playoffs, and are now headed to the NBA Finals while Kobe Bryant and company watch on from home. For Derek though, the fate of the Lakers isn’t relevant anymore, he is living
in the now.
Tags: