In a little more than a month, Lakers forward Metta World Peace went from a starter, to the team's sixth man to someone whose playing time remains in flux.
But Lakers Coach Mike Brown said World Peace's non-appearance in the Lakers' 97-92 victory Friday over the Cleveland Cavaliers had nothing to do with performance. It had more to do with a sore Achilles' tendon and back that Brown said World Peace talked to him about during the team's morning shoot-around.
"He was available if I needed him," Brown said. "But I felt especially with the season the way it is, this may happen from time to time. I'll sit a guy just to make sure he gets his body right."
World Peace acknowledged that he had a "little, slight problem," but then reiterated "it's not really an issue."
In eight different variations, World Peace emphasized that the team won so any questions pertaining to his reduced playing time and injury hardly bears significance.
Still, it's hard not to notice how World Peace's production from December to January dipped in points per game (9.2, 3.6) and shooting percentage (40.9%, 27.8%) "It's not even an issue," World Peace insisted. "The main thing tonight is we won."
