Fisher improving, hopes to return by Nov. 1

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Oct 19, 2006 | by Tim Buckley Deseret Morning News

Four days after going splat in Indiana, and still not walking without a wince, Derek Fisher finally was up to talking Wednesday.

As he spoke, Fisher made it abundantly clear he has no doubts about being ready for the Jazz's Nov. 1 regular-season opener against the Houston Rockets.

"None whatsoever," said Fisher, who badly bruised his pelvis after crashing hard to the floor of Conseco Fieldhouse in the opening quarter of Utah's preseason win over the Pacers last Saturday night.

Just a few days prior to Wednesday, however, Fisher would not have been nearly so certain about his return.

"The first 24 to 36 hours were really tough, and it was hard to be positive," he said. "But the last couple days have been a lot better, and I've improved greatly every day, so I'm looking forward to getting back out there as soon as possible."

Also hoping to see him soon are the Jazz, who before he went down were trying to decide just how Fisher -- acquired in an offseason trade with Golden State -- will fit into their regular rotation, whether it's backing up Deron Williams at the point or starting next to Williams at shooting guard.

"With this being a new situation for me, and me continuing to learn what I'm doing and still adjusting to just being able to go out there and play without thinking ... that adds to the frustration of not being out there right now," Fisher said. "But there's not much I can do about that.

"The goal is to be ready to start the season, obviously, but ... my body will tell me what I can and can't do. But I'd like to be out there as soon as I possibly can."

It definitely won't be tonight, when Utah plays host to Portland in its exhibition opener at the Delta Center. And it won't be Friday night, when the Jazz are in Sacramento to cap a back-to-back preseason set.

If all goes well, though, Fisher should be going again when the Jazz play their preseason finale against -- go figure -- Indiana next Thursday night at the Delta Center.

"My hope would be to get back out there with the guys at some point this weekend," Fisher said. "What I would like to do if is just try to find my way back out onto the court (for practice) Saturday or Sunday, maybe, and just see how it feels. Then, if it feels up to it, even if Coach (Jerry Sloan) has to watch my minutes, I'd love to get back out there."

When he first fell, however, playing again was the furthest thing from Fisher's mind.

"My only thought was pain. Excruciating pain," he said. "Once I was able to gather myself a little bit, and (Jazz trainer) Gary (Briggs) came out to make sure I was OK, and we checked all the extremities to make sure I could move everything, from there it was just a matter of assessing what actually happened and what's really hurting."

That answer proved rather non-specific.

"It seemed like I was hurting everywhere," Fisher said. "The pain in my lower back and pelvis region was so intense."

Fisher, though, had wrecked a time or two previously in his 10- year NBA career.

Surely this crash--which occurred when Fisher collided with Indiana big man Jermaine O'Neal as the much-smaller Fisher soared to the basket, sending him up for another second or two before he actually came down--wasn't any different?

Or was it?

Fisher hoped not.

"I've fallen so many times, and taken some serious falls, that I really felt like I could get up and get out," he said. "I didn't know."

After one step, though, he knew.

Oh, did he ever know.

"Until I got about and tried to walk," Fisher said. "I didn't realize I couldn't."

All X-rays have proven negative for fractures and breaks, though, which is something of a comfort to the still stiff-and-sore Fisher. And these days he welcomes the notion of comfort in any form it arrives.

"At times," he said, "it hurts to sit, to stand, to walk."

That leaves little leeway for passing waking hours pain-free.

Little signs pointing toward eventual full recovery, however, help ease the unwelcome downtime.

"My walking motion is a lot better," said Fisher, who undergoes daily treatment for deep bruising on the back-right side of his pelvis. "I couldn't walk, really, the first couple days.

"But it's improved so much," he added, "that I feel a lot better about my chances of getting back sooner rather than later."

And soon, in this instance, is marked on the calendar as Nov. 1.

NBA preseason

Portland (0-2) at Utah (1-2)

Today, 7 p.m.

Delta Center

TV: none

Radio: 1320AM

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com