Lakers benefit royally from Sessions time

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Lakers may have lost their coolest head in veteran Derek Fisher last week but they have gained a red-hot facilitator in fellow guard Ramon Sessions.

Fisher, who has won five NBA Championship rings in LA with All-Star Kobe Bryant, was traded to the Houston Rockets eight days ago as Sessions was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with forward Christian Eyenga. While the absence of Fisher`s innate leadership skills and winning mentality will be keenly felt in his old team`s locker room, the arrival of 25-year-old point guard Sessions has already given the Lakers much needed speed and athleticism. In his first five games, the aggressive Sessions has galvanized the Lakers offense and, perhaps most significantly, has freed up the high-scoring Bryant to focus on scoring rather than on play-making. After recording 17 points and nine assists in Wednesday`s 109-93 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Sessions was given his first starting role at Staples Center on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. He delivered in style, scoring a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists as the Lakers triumphed 103-96 to complete their 20th home win of the regular season. "Sessions did a great job controlling the tempo for us," Lakers coach Mike Brown told reporters after his team had totaled a season-high 33 assists. Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Lakers may have lost their coolest head in veteran Derek Fisher last week but they have gained a red-hot facilitator in fellow guard Ramon Sessions. Fisher, who has won five NBA Championship rings in LA with All-Star Kobe Bryant, was traded to the Houston Rockets eight days ago as Sessions was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with forward Christian Eyenga. While the absence of Fisher`s innate leadership skills and winning mentality will be keenly felt in his old team`s locker room, the arrival of 25-year-old point guard Sessions has already given the Lakers much needed speed and athleticism. In his first five games, the aggressive Sessions has galvanized the Lakers offense and, perhaps most significantly, has freed up the high-scoring Bryant to focus on scoring rather than on play-making. After recording 17 points and nine assists in Wednesday`s 109-93 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Sessions was given his first starting role at Staples Center on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. He delivered in style, scoring a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists as the Lakers triumphed 103-96 to complete their 20th home win of the regular season. "Sessions did a great job controlling the tempo for us," Lakers coach Mike Brown told reporters after his team had totaled a season-high 33 assists. While center Bynum scored a team-high 28 points and Spanish forward Gasol weighed in with 10 plus 16 rebounds, Sessions became the first Lakers point guard to record a double-double since January 11, 2009. On that previous occasion, it was Fisher who shone with 13 points and 11 assists against the Miami Heat in a 108-105 win at Staples Center. "I`m just playing my game, no matter who I`m out there with," Sessions said of his best performance so far for the Lakers. "The guys in here believe in me and tell me to be aggressive and play my game. It`s one of those things where you have to keep being aggressive and be ready to go." Bureau Report