Lakers’ Metta World Peace, Nick Young bright spots in 101-88 loss to Miami

MIAMI — The fun times for Nick Young seemed like a distant memory, forever lost amid a poor shooting percentage and endless clashes with Lakers coach Byron Scott. But for at least one night, Young became a bright spot in the Lakers’ 101-88 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena by scoring a team-leading 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting and 5-of-9 clip from the perimeter in 25 minutes off the bench.

Afterwards, the self-appointed ‘Swaggy P’ could have become enticed to call himself “IDM” again,” an acronym that stood for “I Don’t Miss” after hitting a rare game-winner last season in San Antonio. But instead, Young spoke in a hushed albeit agitated tone about something larger than himself.

“We lost man,” Young said, shaking his head. “The shot’s felt good. But we were always on a comeback mode. That’s something we have to change.”

The fun times for Metta World Peace also seemed like a distant memory, the former Ron Artest spending the past two years sitting on the bench with the New York Knicks and then toiling overseas in China and Italy. But for at least one night, World Peace started at small forward over an injured Kobe Bryant and filled the role by dropping 14 points on a 5-of-7 clip and 4-of-4 mark from 3-point range.

Afterwards, World Peace could have waxed nostalgia about his first NBA start in two years during his original four-year stint with the Lakers (2009-2013). But instead, World Peace extended his own individual goals with the team.

“I got a big ego. I have a big personally. But when I’m on the court playing five guys, I know how to play with five guys,” World Peace said. “I have a certain way I feel about myself. That’s never going to change. But whether I start or don’t start, nothing’s goings to change.”

The Lakers hope one thing changes, their 1-6 record already cementing a poor response to last season’s worst record in franchise history amid debilitating injuries and an unproven roster.

“We have to keep encouraging our young guys to play the right way,” World Peace said. “From how they market individual players to how they play in high school, AAU coaches baby All-Stars. Then in college, everybody is one-and-done. That can carry over. Everybody is trying to be the Golden State Warriors. But I’m 100% sure you can’t do it by youself. I’m 100% sure Stephen curry knows he can’t do it by himself. There’s no way Stephen Curry can win by himself. He’s not that good.”

World Peace then started speaking as passionately as he played on the court where he made open shots, posted up and injected defensive energy.

“But Curry wins as a team. He’s an MVP player because of the way he plays,” World Peace said. “When you have a great player like that, it trickles down. We have to get our young guys playing that way. But that’s on us. These losses are not on them. It’s on us. We have to do our job as leaders and prepare them better.”

The Lakers have experienced a tough dynamic with that. Kobe Bryant has averaged 16.5 points on a career-low 32.2 percent clip before back tightness kept him out of Tuesday’s game in Miami. Lakers rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell sat the entire fourth quarter in the third time in the team’s seven contests. The Lakers have ranked 27th out of 30 NBA teams in total defense after finishing 29th last season. They personified their ineptitude when Heat forward Luol Deng had an open layup without any five Lakers contesting him late in the fourth quarter.

One of those responsible offenders included Young. But instead of becoming defensive for not playing defense, Young raised his hand up.

A tough play. We’re frustrated and down and trying to work hard,” Young said. “When plays like that happen, it hurts your spirit.
It’s tough. It’s still early. You can’t panic and get frustrated to the point where we start separating as a time. We’ll stay with it.”


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