Fisher: Defense is main concern for Lakers

Daily News

It's not difficult to figure out what the Lakers need to improve to take the next step this season and become NBA champions.

At least, not in the mind of veteran guard Derek Fisher.

"We have to defend a whole lot better," Fisher said. "We want a team that when we have to get stops to finish a game or finish a quarter, we get them.

"We just weren't able to lock teams down. I can't remember a lot of games where we were down eight or 10 points and kept them from scoring the rest of the game and stole the game at the end. It was more like we were close and then we went on an offensive spurt where we were able to win the game."

In fact, the lasting image of the Lakers in the NBA Finals in June was of a team that seemed incapable of preventing the Boston Celtics from charging to the basket for layups and dunks.

Fisher said he believes that must change this season.

"Defense first, is the biggest thing," he said.

The Lakers are banking on the return of Andrew Bynum, who suffered a season-ending kneecap injury Jan. 13, to help them patrol the paint. They also hope the pairing of Bynum and fellow 7-footer Pau Gasol makes them intimidating.

Certainly, a front line of Bynum, Gasol and the 6-foot-10 Lamar Odom at "small" forward would give the Lakers a great deal more for opponents to consider. Coach Phil Jackson has even experimented with Odom at guard.

But Lakers observers believe Jackson will return Odom to a forward spot when the regular season begins Oct.28.