Metta World Peace Out Six Weeks

[Cam's iconCam]

Just when the Los Angeles Lakers thought they were getting healthy, the team lost it's most durable starter this season.

Metta World Peace will miss at least six weeks to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, the team said in a statement.

"Sorry bout the injury," World Peace tweeted on Tuesday after hurting his knee late in the first half of L.A.'s 109-103 loss to Golden State on Monday. "First ever knee injury. Recovery time hopefully is a week and a half."

He deleted the tweet later.

In a separate tweet, World Peace wrote: "I can't wait to get back. But our team is so good We will win and get into the playoffs."

Coach Mike D'Antoni said that Jodie Meeks would move into the starting lineup in World Peace's absence, with Kobe Bryant taking over small forward duties on the defensive end.

World Peace had been the only member of the Lakers' season-opening starting lineup yet to miss a game because of injury this season. World Peace has played in 70 of L.A.'s 71 games (sitting one due to suspension) and averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Source: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9104960/metta-world-peace-surgery-torn-meniscus">http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... n-meniscus</a><!-- m -->

What are your thoughts on this? How does this affect the Lakers playoff chances?

 

[knicksfan7]

I don't see the Lakers making the playoffs. The Mavs are only a couple games behind the Lakers for the last playoff spot, and being without Metta will really hurt them.

 

[Homerunsox2005]

Even if the Lakers do make the playoffs, they won't make it past the first round, so this appears to be a season ending injury for Metta.

 

[Kasem]

Oh my God no World Peace! Haha, but seriously I don't think it will even matter for the Lakers, they won't be able to beat the Spurs or Thunder in the first round if they do make the playoffs.

 

[Cam's iconCam]

From what I understand, Metta World Peace is supposed to get a little bit of playing time tonight. He isn't starting and he definitely isn't 100%, but it hasn't been anywhere close to six weeks.