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Metta World Peace is the type that needs constant stimulation to keep his interests afloat. When he first came to Los Angeles you could see how seriously he took to his role of team enforcer. In his early Laker days the then Ron Artest was a defensive dynamo harassing opponents into careless mistakes.

Eventually that energy disappeared into the vast void of the triangle offense as Laker fans saw little from Ron Ron until it mattered most in the playoffs.

Perhaps it was championship hangover but Ron’s second year was a complete wash. He contributed little on offense, was largely a non-factor on defense and in the end his general indifference summed of the season for the Lakers.

When Mike Brown moved Metta to the bench it looked as if we were seeing the end of days for World Peace. His quirky name changed appeared to be a final plea for attention in the hoops universe. Metta’s decline in production was reaching Kwame Brown standards. We were truly looking at the end of an era.

Then, last night against the Clippers, something clicked.

The feistiness of Ron Artest finally appeared in the World Peace package. He did his best Dennis Rodman routine of getting under the skin of every Clipper he came into contact with while playing with an energy level not seen in two years.

Today, Metta told the L.A. Times that his decline was a result of boredom. That’s right. Apparently things were just coming far too easy for Artest.

 ”I got bored with defense because it was so easy for me to stop people over the years. I just got bored with it.”

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Remember that scene in Bad Boys where Martin Lawrence whips Will Smith’s Porsche like Mario Andretti? After riding Lawrence’s character for driving like a tourist on Hollywood Boulevard for most of the flick, Smith screams with adulation “from now on that’s how you drive!” as Lawrence pilots the heroic duo to a climatic defeat of the villain.

Well, there were no explosions inside Staples that normally accompany any Michael Bay film but there were some serious fireworks in the form of intensity. After seeing the Lake Show battle until the last second of the game, going toe-to-toe with the rival Clippers and coming out victorious in a hard fought 96-91 clash all I’ve got to say to Mike Brown’s team is, “from now on that’s how you play ball!”

Pau Gasol set the tone early. Perhaps he’s been stopping by LSL as recently I’ve been begging for the Spaniard to get more aggressive. Tonight Gasol played with a Spud Webb sized chip on his shoulder. He had that look of all business in his face and his actions spoke louder than any of the words he’s been spitting at the media lately.

Pau’s 23 and 10 came in the most impressive fashion we’ve seen all season long. He got more touches in the paint and made the most of them. Keep it up, Pau. Efforts like these will get this team back into the title chase.

But as we all know it takes contributions from unexpected sources to hang banners.

Enter Andrew Goudelock. Along with the early contributions from Gasol the rookie sharpshooter helped carry the Lakers in the first half. Flashing some serious confidence, Goudelock showed that sweet shooting stroke by dropping 10 of his career-high 14 in the first half.

All game long the Lakers were playing from behind against the Clippers. It looked as if they were destined to drop their 4^th in as many attempts against the Chris Paul-led Clippers.

Then something happened. Things got physical and the Lakers didn’t back down. Frustrations began to boil over as Kobe Bryant got a technical, Metta World Peace began to mix it up with Blake Griffin and for good measure Josh McRoberts got tossed.

Normally you’d expect this version of the Lake Show to collapse in the crunch, especially in a physical contest like this one. But that was not in the cards tonight.

If all you do is read the box score then you have no idea how huge World Peace was tonight. Playing a season best 38 minutes, Metta was every bit the hoops menace he’s built his career on.
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When he’s not assaulting IHOP waitresses or riding the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers Derrick Caracter is rehabbing his surgically repaired knee. As part of that on-going process the Lakers shipped Caracter off to the L.A. D-Fenders so he can see some actual PT in the D-League.

Having been out since the fourth day of training camp Caracter will see his first meaningful action of the season. Of course even if he were healthy chances are the second year pro would have seen little action behind the vets in front of him.

Caracter’s rookie season provided few memorable moments on the court. There was one contest in which he took it to DeMarcus Cousins a few times but otherwise his first NBA season will be remembered more for his infamous incident in a New Orleans IHOP.

An angry Gasol is good for the Lake Show.

Look, I know you can’t squeeze blood from a turnip. I’ve been told that a tiger can’t change its stripes. So why, after years of begging for it to happen, would Pau Gasol all of a sudden become a more demanding ball player?

We’ve heard all the critiques of Gasol’s soft game. We’ve seen him dominate and we’ve seen him disappear.

Well, I’m here to say that if Gasol doesn’t start going for his every night then this season will be another massive letdown for the Lakers.

In recent days Pau has finally spoke up about his role in the offense. While that is a good step in the right direction the next move is to start doing that same talking on the court. Airing your issues to the media in hopes of the coaching staff taking notice is like expecting a visit to the Jerry Springer Show to somehow substitute for actual therapy.

Actions speak much louder than words. When Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t getting the rock all of Staples knew it, not just fans who read about it in the L.A. Times. While we know there is no chance of Gasol growing a Shaq-sized ego, there is the possibility he’ll become fed-up enough to snap.

Right about now the Lake Show needs an angry Gasol. It is hard to imagine the Lakers needing as much as they’re getting from Kobe Bryant. When you’ve got Pau and Andrew Bynum on the court things are supposed to be a little more effortless for Mamba. In fact, in Pau’s recent rash of outspokenness he’s made the claim that there’s not that big of a gap between himself and Dwight Howard.

Nice one Pau! Now go out and prove it.

Talk is cheaper than Craig Sager’s tie collection. I love Gasol’s inflated view of himself problem is his numbers don’t back the claim.
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It only took over a week but the league office is finally getting around to reviewing the non-call on Blake Griffin’s shove of Darius Morris. During the first installment of this season’s Battle of Los Angeles BG took offense to Morris continuing play after the whistle was blown. The All-Star forward gave Morris a very impolite shove to show his frustrations.

When the refs failed to blow the whistle for Griffin’s strong reaction to the extended play of Morris, Mike Brown flipped his wig. Brown’s reaction, unlike Griffin’s, didn’t go unnoticed by the officials. Brown was hit with a T while Griffin was able to walk away with getting as much as a hard look.

Brown says the league informed him a technical should have been assessed. As for why Morris didn’t get the call…just chalk that up to his virgin status in the NBA.

“The league said Blake should’ve gotten at least a technical for pushing him. The officials are human, but they overreacted and gave the Clippers a point there. It was officials looking at Darius and thinking, ‘He’s a rookie’.”

Lakers must face the ugly truth.

The standings reflect exactly what the 2011-12 Los Angeles Lakers truly are. Currently they’re on the outside looking in for the Western Conference playoffs.

You can argue that it is early in the season but we’re nearly a third of the way through.

You can throw out hypothetical scenarios but no title contender should have a road record worst than the dead last New Orleans Hornets.

You can debate whether or not a blockbuster trade would turn things around but the reality is the current Lakers are destined for the NBA Lottery.

When the Clippers landed Chris Paul they not only took the Lakers’ thunder they also stole their playoff spot. Currently it is the other team in Los Angeles that sits third in the Western Conference while the Lake Show languishes in the winning percentage battle for the 8^th and final playoff spot available.

Having topped the 100-point plateau just once this season, it is clear that the offensive woes are here to stay. Without another addition to the roster, this Laker team would struggle to break 90 on average even if Mike D’Antonio and his pickup style of hoops were employed by Jerry Buss.

Hard to believe that just three years ago the Lakers were looking poised to carry a dynasty into the new decade. Yet here we sit just two years into the 2010’s and it’s looking like another overhaul is necessary. Last time it took the Shaquille O’Neal shakeup to rejuvenate the franchise. While trading Kobe Bryant is as likely as Tim Tebow breaking NFL passing records the winds of change are already blowing.

Clearly the Buss family saw the writing on the wall. Why else would they allow Mitch Kupchak to ship Lamar Odom out without even trying to get competitive bids going? While that decision was influenced by financial reasons the chance to trade Pau Gasol is strictly hoops related.

It has become painfully obvious that Gasol just isn’t a franchise player. For what the Lakers were lacking in the post-Shaq era Gasol was a good fit. He fit the exact player type necessary to play alongside Kobe. Gasol was talented enough to be an All-Star yet undemanding enough to remain content as a second fiddle.

That is where the new era of Laker dominance differed greatly from the previous.
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Brown can't sacrifice Gasol's game for the sake of his offensive principles.

While Mike Brown continues to toy with his rotation in hopes of finding the right combo to put more points on the board, he might be better served taking a page out of the Triangle when it comes to coaching Pau Gasol. For whatever reason Brown sees Gasol as your prototypical Euro big who would prefer to shoot twenty footers than catch the ball with one foot in the paint.

In all his desire to make Andrew Bynum the focal point of the offense in the low post Brown has left Gasol out on the perimeter. While Pau has never been a low post banger he’s far from a seven-footer with range. Gasol would rather do his work in the paint than on the perimeter and he said as much.

“I would like to get a little more inside, myself. I always like to have different looks and be able to attack from different angles. A little too many jumpers for my taste. I’d like to get a couple of more looks inside the paint. That will increase the shooting percentage.”

To Gasol’s credit he’s taking the open shots when they come his way. He’s not making many of them but that’s what happens when you’re being forced into a role you’ve never played in.

Whatever Brown’s vision was of how Gasol would best contribute to the offense isn’t panning out. When you look back at the usage of Bynum and Gasol in the triangle there was a clear blueprint established allowing both men to get touches in areas they were most comfortable and effective.

Time for Brown to revisit some of those principles that were abandoned upon his hire. Asking Gasol to be a shooter is like asking George W. Bush to be accountable. Some things will just never happen.
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Forget all that talk about the Lakers’ offense being under construction. Every aspect of the team is in need of renovation.

The last three games have featured some truly forgettable offense on the Lakers’ behalf. For the first three quarters against the Indiana Pacers Mike Brown’s team looked like they suddenly remembered how to put the ball in the hole.

Problem was that focus on offense brought on a total lack of defense. L.A. jumped out quickly on Indiana with a strong first quarter on both ends. Then the wheels came off.

More of the same problems were surfacing as Darren Collison walked into the key then hit open Pacers who buried good looks all night. On the night the Pacers shot 46% from the field including a sickening 55% from deep.

Unfortunately for Coach Brown his team’s defensive collapse wouldn’t be the worst of his problems. After three quarters of effective offense the Lakers reverted to their usual form. More of the stand-around-and-watch Kobe Bryant operate technique was employed. More of those costly turnovers and wasted possessions surfaced. Those are all the symptoms that ultimately amount in, you guessed it, another fourth quarter collapse.

How a veteran team like the Lakers continues to be so shaken in the clutch is beyond concerning. It’s depressing.

How the Lakers can keep losing despite strong showings by Kobe is equally troubling.

Bryant finally got some of those reduced minutes Brown has been promising. 33 points in 35 minutes was far from an off-night however. These days it’s what is necessary just to keep these Laker games interesting.

What would help Kobe is for another Laker to step up and contribute on offense. Tonight Matt Barnes answered that call with 14 points coming from pure activity. Barnes didn’t shoot well but attacked the hoop, got to the line and filled the lane when the Lake Show got out in transition.

But keeping with the theme of the night, as Barnes rose Pau Gasol sank.

There is just too much give and take with this team. Pau’s production continues to dip as he falls further down Coach Brown’s offensive wormhole. Gasol keeps settling for jumpers and rarely catches the ball with his back to the hoop these days. 8 points on 4 of 12 shooting is a line you’d never see associated with Pau. Of course you also wouldn’t expect Gasol to dish out 10 dimes. This kind of awkward production is no doubt a result of Gasol trying to find his place in the offense. To be sure he dropped some sick dimes that led to buckets but he’s got to get his own on a night like this.

Hopefully the offensive rhythm will come in due time. However there is no timetable on playing with a sense of urgency.

Where is the passion? Where is the commitment to playing consistently on both ends of the court?
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Either Mike Brown’s new system is more complicated than the triangle or the Lakers just don’t have the firepower. Somehow I think the latter is more the case but this team is still learning a new offense on the fly. Some of the Lakers’ early season shortcomings can be attributed to a rushed camp and hectic regular season.

However the amount of turnovers, bad shoot selection and inconsistent production are largely the reasons why this team has only cracked 100 once thus far.

Coach Brown insists that the team’s ugly offense isn’t in as bad a shape as it may seem. Perhaps just coach speak let’s hope Brown is sending a much different message behind closed doors.

As it stands the entire offense is Kobe Bryant. He’s pitted with the responsibility of scoring, setting the table for others and controlling the tempo of the game. Almost reminds you the situation Coach Brown dealt with in Cleveland. During those days Brown’s offense was pretty much get the rock to LeBron James and get out of the way.

Too bad for Brown that Bryant didn’t find the fountain of youth during the trip to Florida. While Kobe’s play has been impressive there is no possible way he can keep up this pace given the frantic schedule.

In order for the Lakers to improve their woeful offense the likes of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum need to be much more assertive. Gasol especially. The Spaniard is content to coast along contributing as if he were the third option behind Bynum. Oh…that’s right…Pau is the third option now.

Bynum’s explosive start to the season has relegated Gasol to being an offensive afterthought.
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What else can Coach Brown do to motivate Metta?

When Mike Brown made the move to bench Metta World Peace we knew the former Ron Artest already had one foot firmly planted in hoops obscurity. Now that he’s officially irrelevant and buried on the Lakers’ bench it is safe to say he’s looking at owning property in Palookaville.

World Peace has become a complete non-factor for Coach Brown and the Lakers. Getting just 20 minutes of burn a night has limited an already unconfident Metta to being nothing more than a body on the court.

Across the board Metta’s numbers are down to career low levels and this is coming off a career worst year. Looks like the Lakers got about all they were ever going to receiver from Artest during his first season in Los Angeles. Even then it took some serious clutch moments in the postseason to salvage an otherwise forgettable year.

With the Lakers looking highly unlikely to make a deep playoff run you can’t even use the “clutch” angle to defend World Peace.

Brown’s experiment has been a colossal failure thus far. Early on World Peace looked confident in his new role. He was taking advantage of matchups, attacking the hoop, creating turnovers and was active.  Since that quick start his production has gone the way of his foot speed and slowed.
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