"Metta World Peace started Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks on the bench, but Lakers coach Mike Brown indicated his days as a backup to small forward Matt Barnes could be nearing an end.

"I like him on the second unit," Brown said. "I want to give him a chance to be with that second unit. But, at the end of the day, there is a chance I would throw him in the (starting) lineup if I thought it would help our team.

"Yeah, I'm not opposed to that."

Brown's rationale for moving World Peace to the bench to start the season was sound.

After the Lakers traded Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks last month and Shannon Brown signed with the Phoenix Suns, Brown searched for a way to bolster the team's second unit. So he moved World Peace to a backup role.

World Peace (the former Ron Artest) was a starter throughout his career, but said he felt comfortable in a reserve role despite some rather disappointing statistics. Then he had three points, five rebounds and seven assists Wednesday against the Clippers.

Brown liked World Peace's play so much during the Lakers' rough-and-tumble 96-91 victory he kept him on the floor for a season-high 38:07. Barnes scored only two points in 10:14."