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When Fisher talked young Bynum listened
The Lakers trailed the Toronto Raptors by eight points at halftime March 9 at Staples Center.
They played as if they were going through the motions and it appeared as if their losing streak might stretch to four consecutive games.
“The guys were just playing lackluster out there, acting like we didnt care, acting like we had something else to do,” Lakers center Andrew Bynum recalled.
Derek Fisher addressed the team in the locker room, delivered one of his kick-in-the-butt speeches and “he kind of straightened that all up,” according to Bynum.
The Lakers ended their skid, with Kobe Bryant hitting a game-winning jump shot from along the baseline with 1.9 seconds remaining.
The Lakers then went on to win their next three games, including Tuesday night over the Sacramento Kings.
“Thats what he does,” Bynum said late Tuesday night of Fisher, who made several similar motivational speeches during the playoffs last season.
“Hes a great leader.
He speaks to us and motivates us.
He definitely did that for me.”
And what was Fishers message?
“Play basketball, do what you do, be aggressive,” Bynum said.
Bynum, in fact, has taken the words to heart in the past 3 1/2 games.
He had 22 points and six rebounds against the Raptors; 18 points and nine rebounds against Phoenix and 19 points and 14 rebounds against Golden State.
