If there were one team in this league that could pull off a four-on-five victory, this is it.
But it would be a mistake to sell Metta World Peace short, and an even bigger mistake to ignore what he'll mean to the Lakers' re-tooled offense. To hear assistant coach (and Princeton offense mastermind) Eddie Jordan explain it, the 32-year-old could quietly serve as one of the system's most valuable contributors (via Lakers' reporter Mike Trudell):
"Metta World Peace is the prototypical forward in this offense. He can make perimeter shots, he’s a slasher, he’s a willing passer and he can post up. And when he’s doing that action, maybe Kobe or Steve is getting a flare. Maybe Dwight’s rolling in on the other box. All the misdirection in the offense is supposed to benefit there. He’s tailor made more than anybody there is on the team."
That's high praise from a guy who would know what kind of forwards are built for the Princeton offense.
It's also good news for anyone worried that World Peace has become the one weakness on an otherwise elite team. He won't score more than seven or eight points a game at this juncture, but the last thing Los Angeles needs is another prolific scorer in that starting unit.
They need a guy who can knock down open shots and move without the ball. Given Metta's limited ball-handling ability, he'll be more than happy to do those two things.
He'll also be more equipped to do those things thanks to his improved conditioning.
More than any skill or physical tool, though, World Peace will succeed in this offense precisely because he's so forgettable. This isn't the guy you typically associate with the word "forgettable," but it's an apt description in this case.
The guy checking World Peace when the Lakers...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
