Getting to the Basket a Positive Good?

Let's take a look at today's Jazz Naotes [sic]:

Fisher searching for shooting touch

Ah, this will be Fisher apologizing for his horrible performance in the last 13 games, wherein he's shooting 30.6% with 9.5 FGA/Gm.

Deron Williams jokes with Derek Fisher about passing the ball to him, and Fisher — smile ear-to-ear wide — plays along.
"He's just bitter," Fisher, the Jazz's starting shooting guard, says of Williams, the Jazz's starting point guard who this season is averaging more assists per game (9.4) than everyone else in the NBA except two-time league MVP Steve Nash.
"He's just bitter because he's second in the league in assists and not first," Fisher adds with a sincere laugh, "and he feels like it's my fault, because if I hit a couple more shots then he would have been first."

Here's how I guess that "joke" went:

Deron: "This guy ****ing sucks, he doesn't pass, he can't shoot, and he keeps driving 1-on-4 and getting blocked."
Fisher: "He's just bitter."
SLMedia: "Hahahahaha!"

Nothing like a person making fun of doing his job horribly. Right now, Fisher's in the Sitcom Zone. He has become so inept and so inexplicably liked that he's Urkeled the SLMedia into fawning submission.

My favorite part, of course, is Fisher's replying with a "sincere laugh." What does that even mean?

All kidding aside, Fisher — who won three title rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and is known for being a sharpshooter when games are on the line — realizes he is struggling with his shot.

He's "known for being a sharpshooter when games are on the line"? Yet again, perception has out-distanced reality, and--in this case--is lapping it. In recent weeks, there have been quite a few games on the line. And in recent weeks, Fisher is shooting 30.6%.

Before making just 1-of-4 against Portland on Monday, the veteran guard hit just 2-of-9, 2-of-10, 3-of-13 and 4-of-11 in four of his five prior games.
"It's probably a small mechanical thing that I'm continuing to try to work through — trying to keep my focus on the rim, trying to stay with my shot," Fisher said.

That's a pretty small sample. Here's an expanded one:

Apr. 16: 1-4
Apr. 14: 2-9
Apr. 13: 3-7
Apr. 11: 2-10
Apr. 9: 3-13
Apr. 7: 4-11
Apr. 6: 5-15
Apr. 4: 3-8
Apr. 1: 2-7
Mar. 30: 5-11
Mar. 28: 3-8
Mar. 26: 2-10
Mar. 24: 3-11

That's a small mechanical problem the way lacking an engine is a small mechanical problem for a car.

Here's a better suggestion for the root of his problems:

Derek Fisher, Career FG%: 39.7

If the guy's a sharpshooter when games are on the line, he must have been in many, many blowouts. In reality, his recent struggles are just part and parcel of being a crappy shooter. Occasionally, when he gets hot, he'll hit 44% for a stretch. But in general, he'll be hovering in the low 40s and high 30s, the Jazz equivalent of Montana.

"But I'm attacking the basket better than I ever have and getting to the free-throw line," he added after making 11-of-12 from the line against the Trail Blazers, "so I'm really just trying to stay focused and in the moment."

Hey, gotta give him credit. In that same 13-game stretch, he's shooting 4.6 FTA/GM, higher than 2.2 career average. But, then again, attacking the basket is usually a lot better when that attack doesn't result in the ball getting spiked to midcourt by Earl Watson. One of my favorite stats is Points Per Shot, which generally shows how well offensive attempts are translating to points. Fisher's PPS over the last 13 games:

1.0.

1.0! He is scoring 1 Point per FGA. By comparison, on the season:

Notorious Offensive Liability, AK: 1.40
MLA King, Harp: 1.36.
Soft European, Giri: 1.24.
Rafer Alston: 1.19
Adam Morrison: .97

OK, Adam Morrison really sucks, but you get the idea. Even when Fisher is "attacking the basket better than [he] ever [has]," he's being less productive than the average production of his teammates. Incredible.

Even with only one regular-season game, tonight's vs. Houston, remaining before the Jazz open a playoff series against the Rockets this coming weekend, Fisher is confident he can iron out the wrinkles before postseason play gets under way.
"I guarantee you there won't be many people that'll leave me open come the playoffs," he said. "There is no question that I'm gonna be able to knock shots down if my teammates continue to hit me when I'm open. I'll get the job done — that's no problem."

What we have here is a guy that's not only admitting he only turns it on for playoffs, he's bragging about it. But, a few points:
-I guarantee you there will be people leaving Fisher open in the playoffs
-I guarantee you that he will knock down shots if his teammates continue to hit him when he's open, just at around a 40% clip
-he won't get the job done, that's a problem

And if there is one thing that is no problem for Fisher, especially lately, it's taking shots.

Heaven help me, but I can't tell if this is supposed to be a dig or admiration.

"I've been frustrated and disappointed with myself throughout the season at times because I feel like knocking down a few more shots would have helped us win a few more games," he said. "But, at the same time, the reason I was brought here was ... not just shooting the ball, not just one aspect of the game.

Not just shooting the ball? If the Jazz brought Fisher in AT ALL to shoot the ball, then they need to purchase a simple calculator and learn how to divide total FGM by FGA. But you gotta give Fisher credit. As frustrated and disappointed as he's been at his inability to help the team succeed, he plays through it. Like when he shot 3-11 in 18 minutes versus the Grizzlies. Or 5-15 versus Sacramento in a 4-point loss.

"It was being a leader on and off the court, helping guys understand how to be professional. I feel like I've lived up to those expectations," added Fisher, who took several shots Monday that were directed at Jazz owner Larry H. Miller because of disparaging remarks that Miller earlier had made about the club. "Now we're getting into that part of the season where people really feel like I can help this team, and I'm relishing the opportunity to be a part of it."

Ah, and we finish with the classic "Juxtapose-Comment-with-Contradictory-Context-
that-May-or-May-Not-Be-Intentional."

And yes, we are getting into that part of the season where Fisher can help the team: the off-season. Any time Fisher is not on the court in a Utah uniform is a win/win situation.

SLMedia, God bless'em.