It's a long way from the level of Phil Jackson calling Kobe Bryant "uncoachable," but first-year Lakers coach Mike Brown had to have a little talk with Metta World Peace on Tuesday morning.
Brown said he took issue with a comment from World Peace to CBSSports.com referring to Brown's history as a video coordinator and now being a "stats guy" as a head coach.
Brown said he sought out World Peace to hash things out with a player he helped coach to prominence back with the Indiana Pacers when Brown was an assistant coach. Brown told World Peace to be thankful for the time he is getting on the court as the Lakers' starting small forward.
Brown said he told World Peace: "If I was a stats guy, Metta, you wouldn't be playing at all."
World Peace entered the Lakers' 86-78 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night at Staples Center with 4.7 points and 1.8 assists per game. Brown also mentioned World Peace doesn't rank well in defensive statistical analysis.
World Peace responded with an even better game against Atlanta, scoring 10 points in 27 minutes. And he will remain a Lakers starter going forward, with the next game Friday night at Staples Center against the Phoenix Suns.
NOTES, QUOTES
--The Lakers' defense was promised to be much improved under new coach Mike Brown, and there have been several games this season when that defense has been overwhelming. The Atlanta Hawks shot just 34.4 percent from the field in the Lakers' victory Tuesday night. The Hawks shot just 14.8 percent (four of 27) in the third quarter.
--Lou Baumeister died Tuesday morning at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer. Baumeister was president of California Sports, the parent company of the Lakers, from 1979 to 1999.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've got to find ways we can enjoy what we're doing out there." -- Lakers forward Pau Gasol.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--G Kobe Bryant is averaging 38:17 of game action, and Lakers coach Mike Brown said he does intend to trim that if he can. Bryant played 34 minutes against Toronto on Sunday and 34 minutes again against Atlanta on Tuesday. He is being backed up by rookie Andrew Goudelock.
--G Darius Morris is the odd man out for the Lakers now -- and the only one. With the waiving of forward Derrick Caracter, the Lakers have 14 players, one more than the limit to keep active for games. Morris is behind Derek Fisher and Steve Blake on the depth chart at point guard, where Andrew Goudelock has also proved capable of playing.
--G Andrew Goudelock was compared to Knicks phenom Jeremy Lin by Lakers coach Mike Brown in the sense that Goudelock is now showing great promise even though he dropped to No. 46 in the 2011 NBA draft (and Lin went undrafted in 2010). The Lakers were considering drafting Lin with the No. 58 overall pick in 2010, according to The Orange County Register, but opted for forward Derrick Caracter.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Kobe Bryant (torn right wrist ligament) hurt himself on a fall in the exhibition opener after having a shot blocked by the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan. He is playing through the injury.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Derek Fisher
--Shooting guard Kobe Bryant
--Small forward Metta World Peace
--Power forward Pau Gasol
--Center Andrew Bynum
Bench:
--Guard Steve Blake
--Guard Andrew Goudelock
--Forward Troy Murphy
--Forward Matt Barnes
