Metta World Peace: What to Expect from Lakers Star in Return vs. Nuggets

Lakers talent Metta World Peace has spent the last two weeks on the sidelines and will now be the x-factor, the difference-maker in a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets that his team desperately needs.

World Peace was suspended for seven games by NBA Commissioner David Stern and the league office for an elbow to the head of Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden.

The shot to the head was as disgusting, uncalled for and unsportsmanlike as any we have seen in recent memory, as the suspension was undoubtedly warranted. If anything, World Peace was fortunate to miss just seven games for the cheap blow.

Yet now it's in the past, and there's no question these Lakers are all the more confident that World Peace will be taking the court with them in Game 7.

These are the three reasons why Metta World Peace will be the missing piece to the puzzle that these Lakers have been searching for against this high-powered Denver Nuggets squad.

 

Aggressive Play Offensively

World Peace has undoubtedly lost a step or two in the scoring department, yet there is no question that his aggressive, tenacious way about him has been missed on this end of the floor.

He is a talent that does anything but settle for jump shots, as he likes to take the ball to the basket and make things happen at the rim. With the Lakers boasting such size and skill in the frontcourt in Andrew Bynum and Pay Gasol, World Peace will give these talents all the more opportunities to make plays by taking the ball into the paint.



In spite of averaging a career-low 7.7 points per game this season, World Peace has picked up the pace in his last several outings. He has scored at least 10 points in seven straight games and in nine of his last 10. 

In a win over the West-leading San Antonio Spurs on the road, World Peace fueled the team with 26 points on 10-of-15 sh...

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