Derek Fisher ejected for arguing foul call
New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher reacts against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Derek Fisher has been on the court for so many of Kobe Bryant's special Garden moments, but he left Sunday's game early.
Fisher was thrown out for arguing a foul on Kristaps Porzingis while Bryant attempted a three-pointer. There appeared to be minimal contact. Fisher got a quick hook with 7:11 left in the third quarter.
Lead official Marc Davis said Porzingis hit Bryant on the wrist and told a pool reporter that Fisher cursed three different times, was "screaming and clapping in my face 'That's horrible' and twice said, 'That's [expletive] horrible.' "
Porzingis and other Knicks were happy that Fisher defended his player the way he did. But when Fisher was asked if he did it because team president Phil Jackson said late last season that he needed to be feistier and get thrown out, he laughed.
"Oh, man," he said. "No, the strings aren't quite that tight."
High on Porzingis
Magic Johnson, who sat courtside, tweeted that "Knicks fans should applaud" Jackson for "getting the steal of the draft" in Porzingis. Jackson met with Bryant after the game, and Bryant said they talked a little bit about Porzingis. "I thought he looked very, very good," Bryant said. "I think he has a very promising future."
Mentally tough Jose
Point guard Jose Calderon has gotten off to a rough start, leading to questions about whether Fisher should start Langston Galloway or rookie Jerian Grant. Fisher has stuck with Calderon, who had 14 points Sunday after going scoreless Friday night. "I thought he led us in the mental toughness department, and that was a big catalyst to why the guys figured out a way to win the game," Fisher said.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
