Fisher Has Shot at Rookie Team

Ballots for the rookie all-star team went out Tuesday from the NBA office in New York to five media members around the country, otherwise known as the process of deciding where Derek Fisher will spend several days in February.

If Fisher is one of the eight Western Conference players picked, which likely will include three guards, he’s honored and headed to Cleveland for the Feb. 8 game. If not, he’s happy for the chance to visit family and friends in Arkansas.

The case for Fisher is that he has played well in a critical spot, as backup point guard, on a 19-9 team. Working against him is that the likes of Matt Maloney, in the CBA last season but eligible because he is an NBA rookie, and Stephon Marbury are starting guards and that someone like Steve Nash has a greater name recognition.

“I think one thing they [voters] should take into consideration is that these guys have been playing on a first- or second-place team all season and are playing key roles,” Coach Del Harris said of Fisher and fellow rookies Travis Knight and Kobe Bryant. “And we’re not blowing anybody out for the most part, so they’re playing in a lot of close games.

“They don’t have any way of factoring that in. You can say, ‘This guy is averaging 20 points, or that guy is getting 10 assists some nights, so they must be a better player.’ But a lot of their teams are probably not going to even make the playoffs.”

Selections will be announced in about three weeks.