I want to know. Really.

A lot of you have been watching Derek Fisher. Do the Lakers look like they’re playing 4-on-5 when D-Fish is in the game? Does he look like a bench coach who somebody let suit up, for the heck of it? Is there a point guard in the league he can still stay in front of?

If we’re going to talk hot sports topics, we could go with Mark McGwire or Gilbert Arenas, or Pete Carroll of Lane Kiffin, or the NFL playoffs, or even how good Landon Donovan looked, again, tonight as Everton handled Manchester City 2-0 … but from the other side of the world, I can say in all candor that I think about Derek Fisher almost as much as any sports topic.

And I need your help to tell me what’s up with the Fish Man.

I see his numbers. And they are grim.

Barely 7.0 points per game. A clankalicious field-goal percentage of 36.5. Only 34.6 percent from three-point range, which is supposed to be his specialty. Assists average of 2.6 per game, which puts him at a very modest 2-to-1 assists-to-turnovers ratio. (Shouldn’t you get 4-5 assists in per game with the Lakers just by throwing the ball to Kobe or Pau Gasol?)

And he’s still getting his minutes, even if he’s not getting his numbers. He is averaging 26.9 mpg (nearly a full minute above his career average) and has started all 40 of the Lakers’ games and is 204-for-204 as a starter for the Lakers since returning to the club in 2007.

His scoring line for the past three games: 3, 3 and 4. On 4-for-17 shooting.

Now, I like, D-Fish. Always been a standup guy and a good teammate.

But, at age 35, is he done?

Is he hurt?

Have the Lakers decided that having a vaguely thuggish not-so-little guy at the point gives them a physical dimension not everyone has? Even if he doesn’t put up positive stats of the sort we normally see in box scores?

Is he saving himself? For … the playoffs? For next season?

Anyway, he’s making $5 million this season, doesn’t seem to be doing much and maybe ought to get Brian Shaw’s job as “recent role player liked by most fans and players, now a coach” and give him Jordan Farmar as a personal project.

So, what’s is the deal with Derek, you Lakers fans? All I’ve seen of the team this season are a few seconds of espn.com highlights at a time and, I can assure you, D-Fish ain’t in ’em.

Write and let me know if he’s doing OK … or whether he will be the weak link that will keep this team from repeating. I will appreciate your insights into this.