It’s a Different Game Off the Bench, and Fisher Has Trouble Finding It

Laker point guard Derek Fisher began the season as a starter and stepped up with some big offensive games. He was making his shots from the perimeter and created easy baskets for his teammates.

Lately, however, Fisher’s shot has been off as he adjusts to his role coming off the bench.

“I’m not shooting the basketball as well as I would like to, but I’m not displeased with my overall play,” he said. “I still go in there and try and defend and be smart with the basketball.”

In his previous five games before Wednesday night’s game against the Clippers, Fisher made only four of 27 shots.

“Winning helps everything,” said Fisher, who worked on his shot hours before the start of Wednesday’s game.

“I just have to put in some extra time [shooting]. It’s unfortunate that you have to do that, but when you’re not shooting the basketball well, there’s a reason. . . . Shooting is rhythm and repetition.”

As a starter, Fisher liked getting a feel of how a game was being played early. But as a reserve, Fisher understands his role is somewhat different.

“I come in the game now, I have to figure out a way to adapt,” he said. “Lately, I haven’t been able to really get in a flow.”

He didn’t get into the flow Wednesday, either, making one of eight shots against the Clippers.

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The 1996-97 season was the last time the Clippers defeated the Lakers and they defeated their city rivals two times in a row. The key for their success was the absence of Laker center Shaquille O’Neal, who sat out both games because of injuries.

“It makes a world of difference having Shaq in there,” said guard Eric Piatkowski, the lone Clipper remaining from the 1996-97 team.

“I always have trouble the last couple of years when people said they would build their team around a Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan. Those guys are great, but I always thought that was insane. If there’s one guy in this league who you would want on your team, it has got to be Shaq. Nobody dominates a game the way he does and he keeps getting better and better.”

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Before the start of Wednesday’s game, the Clippers waived forward Marty Conlon. Conlon, who was cut by the Boston Celtics in early December, was signed by the Clippers as a free agent on Dec. 17. Conlon played in three games and missed some time to be with his ailing father in New York.

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Laker guard Kobe Bryant played the entire game without a protective glove on his right hand after taking it off for the second half of Tuesday’s game.