Derek Fisher plays for the Lakers now, but spent last year as a member of a Utah Jazz team that went to the Western Conference finals. Because of this, Fisher has an entire season of knowledge gained on the intricacies of Utah's offensive and defensive schemes. And Phil Jackson isn't at all hesitant to try to use that knowledge to the Lakers' advantage.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson acknowledged that beyond scouting reports and hours of watching tape, any information provided by Fisher on Jazz tendencies is a bonus.
"There's a person that knows a lot more than we can impart to the players," Jackson said. "We can tell them what Utah is going to do, but then there's the reaction time and all the things that go into that make it easier for him (Fisher). He can tell his teammates, also."
There's no doubt that having a player who played for a team you're now facing in a seven game series can be an advantage, but I think it's more likely to help that particular player than it is his new team. The Lakers' coaching staff has hours and hours of video on the Jazz, and since Jerry Sloan has been coaching the team for (seemingly) the last 75 years or so, there aren't really any secrets left that L.A. isn't aware of.
But it's clear that Fisher's experience with the Jazz has helped him out personally. In Game 1, Fisher had a whopping six steals, which was most likely a result of him knowing exactly where Utah was trying to go with their passes. When Scottie Pippen played for Portland against Phil Jackson's Lakers earlier this decade, he had similar success at the defensive end due to his knowledge of the Triangle Offense. So yeah, an individual player may have some advantages as far as reaction time to what his former team is doing, but the team isn't likely to benefit much from this so-called "inside information."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-07-2008 @ 3:10PM
Feruw said...
Remember when Fisher got out of his contract to allegedly help his daughter/move to a better NBA market who just happened to need a PG. What a joke that was.
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5-07-2008 @ 3:58PM
thykat said...
Are you kidding me? The story about Derek Fisher is very true. His daughter was quite ill and is now doing much better since he & his family moved to be near Cedars Hospital! He is one of the most honorable and upstanding players in the NBA.
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5-07-2008 @ 4:02PM
Michael gifford said...
it's interesting that anyone would even bring this up...ANY player going to another team and wanting their new team to win will give that team whatever information they have...and as was mentioned...it's not a frickin secret...there's video galore, there's scouting all over the place...does anyone NOT know Boozer is going to bang the daylights out of the boards? or that Kirilenko is an awesome blocker and often is the help on the play? Is anyone surprised at Deron williams strength or drive to the basket? Since when did Jerry Sloan all of a sudden put in an entire set of new plays that no one has ever seen before or Phil for that matter? and as for the person who faults Fish for moving to LA where one of only two treatment centers for his daughter's disease is, then I suggest you would feel differently if it was your kid, or at least I would HOPE you too would move heaven and earth to make sure she was well...if not, then you have just defined yourself...
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5-07-2008 @ 6:18PM
frank said...
Like an Insider in the stock market ?
Either way is illegal;
I wonder if can be apply to the game of basketball ?
Interesting.
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5-08-2008 @ 11:34AM
philip millls said...
Feruw u need help my friend any parent would do what they can for their child. As for the UTAH JAZZ and their great coaching staff, also a owner with a heart ( wish more folks had this ) Jerry Sloan coach great coach, and Larry Miller owner you guys deserve the humanitarian award this orginazation has always shown class. forgive my spelling??????
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