Despite Success in Utah, Fisher Misses His Laker Days

In a recent L.A Times column, Utah Jazz guard, Derek Fisher asked out loud what many people have been wondering for the last three seasons. And that is: What would have happen if Shaq, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers did not implode in 2004? Here is what Fisher told J.A. Adande:

"Professional sports, you know you're not going to stay together forever," Fisher said. "But it was so special what we were able to accomplish together as a group that a lot of times, even years removed, you still have to kind of stop and think like, 'Man, what if? What if we had two or three more years together? Could we have won another three or four championships?' "

"Sometimes it just seemed like things were too complicated," Fisher said. "Couldn't we just focus on being the best team we could be? "I wish it could [have been] different at times so we could just focus on trying to win a championship."

Despite his success in Utah, it's obvious that Fisher realizes the Lakers had something special. Too bad a person with an even head like Fisher wasn't able to sit Shaq, Kobe and the rest of the Lakers in a room and make sure that things didn't fall apart. When you see the Spurs (the Lakers chief rival during the Shaq/Kobe days) still competing for championships year in and year out, Laker fans can't help but wonder: "What if?"

Previously at Fanhouse:
Derek Fisher: The Professional
Kobe Bryant is Against the Lakers Youth Movement

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-18-2007 @ 2:15AM

The Troll said...

Let me save some you the touble and wasted time.

Blah blah blah, Kobe caused the wild fire in LA, Kobe drowns little kittens for pleasure, Kobe pushed your Grandma into traffic. For all the Haters, listen "We just don't give a damn". Want to know why?

1. Kobe is paid like you and your children�s children will never be.

2. Say what you want i.e. "he would never have won anything without Shaq" (by the way, thank you Shaq), the bottom line is he won. All the losers posting here are probably at home living in their mom�s basement.

3. If you don't like Kobe and coming to shit in this blog is the best you can do, then you are a "mental midget" show some imagination, do something creative, recycling and rehashing the same lame and tired excuses from 2004 shows a staggering level of redundancy. There are chimps more innovative than this.

4. As you continue to grow that tumor (hating does have it�s own rewards see) every time you hear the name Kobe, my joy increases you see, I heard he does deathbed visits, who knows you might make his list.

5. Finally, please let the bile runt over, how dare Kobe ask for better talent? He should be forced to play with ONE ARMED teammates, the little shit. How dare he complain when it is his inability to stop Shaq from eating, Fox from resigning, Malone from hitting on his wife, Patton from being traded, which caused the team to decline. The nerve of that Kobe Bryant He can't even make Kwame Brown stop fumbling or inspire Smush Parker to move his feet. AI carried the Defensive Player of the year, The Sixth man of the Year, plus Raja Bell and others to NBA finals and Kobe can't even Lift Lamar Odom and 10 other stiffs past the first round, shame on him.

5-18-2007 @ 2:38AM

enoch said...

i think someone takes these blog comments a little too seriously?

anyways, i agree with the "what if" sentiment, especially this year with the playoff production of fisher and horry. their smart team play, scrappy d, clutch outside shooting... in hindsight it's clear how valuable those two were.

5-18-2007 @ 3:18AM

DM said...

I like how Derek Fisher, Robert Horry , and Shaq has had success since the Laker break-up. And I know how Kobe realized this. While his former teammates are winning in the playoffs getting to at least the conference finals, Kobe can look back on the what "if's". You reap what you sow Kobe.

5-18-2007 @ 5:41AM

Napoleon said...

I like how Derek expects to win 3 or 4 more titles by keeping the band together 2 or 3 more years.

5-20-2007 @ 12:13AM

HT said...

KOBE is a LOSER..He's another Scottie Pippen. Would anybody have ever heard if Pippen if it wasn't for MJ? Nobody would have heard of Kobe if it wasn't for Shaq.. It piques me that people go ga-ga over Kobe scoring 50 a game... Hey, if you take 45 shots a game, it's not difficult to score 50...

5-21-2007 @ 2:22PM

aka_oBama said...

By chasing away shaq, and everyonelse out of the lakers, kobe thought he had what it takes to win himself not just the titles but the MVP trophy (which he thought shaq was stealing it from him. But he was damn wrong.
Instead of going for Wilt's record he should try to emulate Lebron and be more of a team player.

5-23-2007 @ 11:15PM

Larry said...

Are you guys serious. How in the hell can you compare Kobe to Pippen.What brand of crack are you smoking. Shaq would have never won that many championships with out Kobe. They needed each other. Half the time Shaq was either in foul trouble, hurt or out of shape. Kobe can't make Shaq stay anywhere you does not want to be. There are some serious Kobe haters in the world. Thats how you know he's so dawm good. Bottom line the Lakers orginization has not done what it takes to bring in some quality talent around Kobe. You put him on any of the top teams and the championship is there's. You haters get ready because your worse night mare is coming. there will be some serious changes made in the next two years. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!