Rookie Fisher Made His Point

Going with the potential of a first-round pick, one who played well in training camp at that, over the experience of a veteran at a position where poise is critical, Coach Del Harris has decided to use rookie Derek Fisher as the backup point guard rather than Rumeal Robinson.

The endorsement of Fisher’s promise also effectively puts Robinson near the end of the bench. The free-agent signee, attractive because he can play both backcourt spots, becomes third string at the point and also at shooting guard, behind Eddie Jones and Byron Scott. Once Kobe Bryant is at full strength, Robinson will drop another notch, although it should help his cause that Jones and Bryant will also get minutes at small forward.

Fisher, having averaged 15.8 minutes a game during the exhibition schedule, thereby moves from Arkansas-Little Rock and the Sun Belt Conference into a key spot on a team that expects to contend for the conference title.

*

With Bryant, Fisher and Travis Knight, the Lakers have three rookie first-round picks on their roster for the first time since 1977-78, the season of Norm Nixon, Kenny Carr and Brad Davis. Only Fisher was a Laker pick. Bryant came from Charlotte in the Vlade Divac deal, Knight after being renounced by the Chicago Bulls because of salary-cap considerations. . . . Michael Cooper, who quit as an assistant coach the week training camp began, attended the game to prepare for a Sunday tryout as a sideline reporter for Fox Sports West.