World Peace no more for 2012-13 season plus NBA playoff picture
It was revealed on Wednesday that Metta World Peace will miss the rest of the regular season to have surgery on his left knee.
Of the all the injuries the Lakers have had this season this one is the most untimely, and perhaps the most important.
Metta World Peace had played in 70 out of 71 the Lakers games this season prior to his injury. Metta was a key part of the offense, providing spacing by posing somewhat a three point threat.
In a team that already lacked good three point shooters – Metta is an average 3 point shooter at best making 34.7% this year – Metta World Peace is a big loss to the Lakers.
Another area where Metta’s presence is felt is on the defensive end of the floor. Although he is not the defender he once was, he is still one of the better defenders in the NBA and provides much needed defence to a starting five that features two less than impressive defenders in Pau Gasol and Steve Nash.
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As always the last playoff place in the western conference looks uncertain as it appears to be a three horse race between the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz. While the Lakers attempt to maintain their place in the last playoff spot, Dallas and Utah are breathing down their neck just one and two wins behind respectively.
Dallas have the momentum in their favour in the form of a three win streak whereas the Lakers had lost their previous three games before winning their last game. The Jazz have won their last two games and hope to make it three tomorrow night against Portland. The Lakers will have a tough test tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks who are hoping to improve on their eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
The race for the last playoff place will certainly go down to the wire and will be exciting to watch, however if you are a fan of either of these three teams then you may be a nervous wreck over the next few weeks.
