The Los Angeles Lakers had their home finale on Tuesday night and the story was all about Metta World Peace. It wasn’t quite Kobe Bryant’s 60 point performance, but the entire team wanted to make sure Metta was sent off right in what could be his final game at Staples Center.
World Peace led the team with a season-high 18 points and also added four rebounds and four steals in helping the Lakers to their fifth consecutive win. Fans showered him with cheers all night and teammates went crazy after every shot he made.
In true World Peace fashion however, he was more focused on the team than himself after the game. Metta hopes the Lakers remember that their great start really fell apart when key players got injured.
“We had a great start to the season. We were in fifth place and then guys got hurt. D’Russ (D’Angelo Russell) got hurt, Black got hurt, and Nick got hurt. We were doing well.”
More importantly, World Peace wants the young guys to carry this momentum forward, but not to next season. Rather, he wants them to use this as motivation for the summer.
“Five in a row right now, we have some good additions right now and we try to hopefully carry this over into the summer. Not even to next season, carry it over to the next workout.”
It may not be expected, but World Peace makes a good point about not looking too far ahead. While many will be expecting another step forward next season, that won’t come if the young Lakers don’t put in the work during the offseason.
One thing that has always been talked about with Metta is that he always put in the extra work and these players must do the same. There is a ton of potential on the roster already and depending on what happens this summer, the Lakers could be poised to make another leap next year.
Hopefully they all take Metta’s advice and put in all of the necessary work this offseason so the Lakers can continue their climb back to the top of the NBA.
**All quotes obtained by Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters**