Fisher May Finish What He Starts

Coach Del Harris indicated Thursday he might stay with Derek Fisher as the starting point guard until the playoffs and continue to bring Nick Van Exel off the bench, a decision sure to be controversial even with any continued success for the team and the full support of Van Exel.

“It’s a possibility,” Harris said of keeping the current lineup for the postseason, adding:

“Anything can change. But as long as it’s working and people are happy, I don’t see a reason to change.”

The comments come as the coach has been emphasizing a playoff mind-set for the final 13 games of the regular season and with a showdown against the Jazz on Saturday at Utah. As always, Harris downplays the importance of who starts at any position. But the implication for now is that Fisher will be going against John Stockton for at least the first quarter unless Van Exel enters ahead of schedule, then the true No. 1s will probably finish the game together.

Chances are still good Harris may start Van Exel before the playoffs, an option he has spoken of while hoping Van Exel would make the same decision on his own. But timing might become an issue--do you make the switch with the Lakers on a run of 11 wins in 12 games or wait for the end of the regular season to get nearer and risk the opportunity for stability?

“I don’t know,” Harris said. “I don’t think it [a late change] would be all that critical. As long as we stay with the same style.

“We’ll just see. It’s all a day-to-day proposition.”

No need to ask where Van Exel stands on the issue of sitting. He’d prefer to come off the bench even in the playoffs.