Metta World Peace elbow to Harden

[bruddahmanmatt]

You're right and Ron is in that 99.9% who don't intentionally knock out an opposing player with a concussion.

There was clearly an intent to injure there. If you don't see that, you're in denial. Artest has total anger problems that he has proven unable to rein in over and over again.

An intent to injure (give him a concussion)? You sound like your Clippers commentators now. Not a good thing.

He's like the James Harden of the board, trying to get up in your face after a good post and he's attempting to bait you into an e-elbow with some trolli scented bait, don't do it Ron.

[MastaStrategist]

I understand why most people who don't know Ron outside of the crazy ish they've seen or heard about him doing can form these opinions though. I'm basing my opinion on what he meant or didn't mean with a more complete picture of the guy than most.

I happen to know Ron personally, and he just sent me a text saying you're full of ****.

Cool bro, tell him I said wut up.

[nugzin2040]

I'd be surprised if he was banned for life. Probably will be banned for the playoffs though.

[Neutral 123]

:lol: at Westbrook and Ibaka waiting until Artest was safely out of distance before they went after him. They clearly wanted none of Artest.

Luckily it didn't turn into something that would have hurt OKC's title hopes more than potentially losing Harden. The Lakers really don't have much to play for, which is why I hated what happened at the end of the Dallas/Lakers series last year. A team with nothing to lose, potentially sabotaging a team that won the title.

The Lakers don't have much to play for? Are they not in the playoffs, or did I miss something?

A first or second round team at best. it's sort of similar to what happened last year where they were going to get knocked out and they took advantage of that by taking cheap shots at a team that had a championship run on the line. Anymore of this from them, and the league should look at massive fines for the franchise. What happened against Dallas last year was nearly as disgusting as what Artest did to Harden.

[MastaStrategist]

You're right and Ron is in that 99.9% who don't intentionally knock out an opposing player with a concussion.

There was clearly an intent to injure there. If you don't see that, you're in denial. Artest has total anger problems that he has proven unable to rein in over and over again.

An intent to injure (give him a concussion)? You sound like your Clippers commentators now. Not a good thing.

He's like the James Harden of the board, trying to get up in your face after a good post and he's attempting to bait you into an e-elbow with some trolli scented bait, don't do it Ron.[/quote]

I'll refrain. If it happened in .5 sec like it did for MWP though, I'm not sure I'd be able to show this much restraint

[GrangerDanger]

If he doesn't get a life ban I'm to lose faith in the league. How many more chances does Artest deserve? he's a threat to fans, players, coaches, refs, and himself. He just has moments where he snaps, and he doesn't seem to understand that his actions have consequences. Stern needs to ban him not just to send a message but to protect the other players

[MastaStrategist]

:lol: at Westbrook and Ibaka waiting until Artest was safely out of distance before they went after him. They clearly wanted none of Artest.

Luckily it didn't turn into something that would have hurt OKC's title hopes more than potentially losing Harden. The Lakers really don't have much to play for, which is why I hated what happened at the end of the Dallas/Lakers series last year. A team with nothing to lose, potentially sabotaging a team that won the title.

The Lakers don't have much to play for? Are they not in the playoffs, or did I miss something?

A first or second round team at best. it's sort of similar to what happened last year where they were going to get knocked out and they took advantage of that by taking cheap shots at a team that had a championship run on the line. Anymore of this from them, and the league should look at massive fines for the franchise. What happened against Dallas last year was nearly as disgusting as what Artest did to Harden.[/quote]

Yes, I'm sure everyone on the Lakers, especially Kobe is just giving up on the year. I honestly think people like you have never played a game of basketball in your life. Or else you were the least competitive player on the court.

[Neutral 123]

Yes, I'm sure everyone on the Lakers, especially Kobe is just giving up on the year. I honestly think people like you have never played a game of basketball in your life. Or else you were the least competitive player on the court.

I said nothing of them giving up. That's what they are, a first or second round team. We saw the anger and frustration of them knowing they were going to lose translate into them taking cheap shot after cheap shot at Dallas last year. Had a Dallas player reacted, it would have hurt a team that went on to win the chip. The league can't allow teams to take cheap shots because they know they aren't going to win. Now if Harden is out, that badly hurts their championship hopes. If another player reacted and took a swing at Artest, they are hurt even more. Teams that aren't real contenders can't be allowed to destroy the championship hopes of real contenders. And it wouldn't be fair to call the Lakers out, but they did it last season. It's disgusting and needs to stop.

[kblo247]

Like I said about Ron. I have no problem with what he did. Give him 2-3 games. I also don't feel sorry for Harden as he pulled the same stunt versus Dallas this year when a player wasn't looking his way, where he faked an elbow to the ear like he was hurt when he wasn't just to turn a game.

Harden got hit because he put himself in the spot to be hit. He wasn't coming to get the ball as it hadn't even been picked up by a Thunder player to be inbounded and the ref picked it up. He wasn't in the wrong place as he wasn't part of the dunk. He purposely put himself there head at Rons armpit like he did versus Dallas with the idea of flopping to turn the momentum of the game and probably get Rn tossed off a refs natural instinct when Ron is in a scuffle or ugly play, and he just wasn't quick enough so he got knocked out for it.

Harden put his head and face in there, he just happened to have a glass jaw and feel a real hit this time. No concussion for him thankfully, but hopefully it teaches him to stop with the bs that he has tried to pull twice now this year. Likewise Ron earned the games by hitting him according to the letter of the law, it it shouldn't be excessive as the precedent is 1-2 games as Dwight has shown with the way he throws elbows while looking at guys

[MastaStrategist]

Yes, I'm sure everyone on the Lakers, especially Kobe is just giving up on the year. I honestly think people like you have never played a game of basketball in your life. Or else you were the least competitive player on the court.

I said nothing of them giving up. That's what they are, a first or second round team. We saw the anger and frustration of them knowing they were going to lose translate into them taking cheap shot after cheap shot at Dallas last year. Had a Dallas player reacted, it would have hurt a team that went on to win the chip. The league can't allow teams to take cheap shots because they know they aren't going to win. Now if Harden is out, that badly hurts their championship hopes. If another player reacted and took a swing at Artest, they are hurt even more. Teams that aren't real contenders can't be allowed to destroy the championship hopes of real contenders. And it wouldn't be fair to call the Lakers out, but they did it last season. It's disgusting and needs to stop.

Actually, by saying that the Lakers know they are a first or second round team and saying that they have nothing to play for (and are acting out b/c of it), you are implying that they are giving up.

[Kobe2ndFiddle]

lifetime ban = death penalty

suspensions = prison time




now that I have put the punishments in perspective to what is handed out for unlawful acts in society, we can all post rational means of punishment for Artest.

[-[Clippers]-]

Like I said about Ron. I have no problem with what he did.

Aaaaand that's where you lose all credibility.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Real talk. If World War gets lifetime ban I guarantee he will murder someone later on in his life. Real talk.

[MastaStrategist]

Real talk. If World War gets lifetime ban I guarantee he will murder someone later on in his life. Real talk.

I thank god (for his potential future victim) then that he won't get a lifetime ban.

[Neutral 123]

Yes, I'm sure everyone on the Lakers, especially Kobe is just giving up on the year. I honestly think people like you have never played a game of basketball in your life. Or else you were the least competitive player on the court.

I said nothing of them giving up. That's what they are, a first or second round team. We saw the anger and frustration of them knowing they were going to lose translate into them taking cheap shot after cheap shot at Dallas last year. Had a Dallas player reacted, it would have hurt a team that went on to win the chip. The league can't allow teams to take cheap shots because they know they aren't going to win. Now if Harden is out, that badly hurts their championship hopes. If another player reacted and took a swing at Artest, they are hurt even more. Teams that aren't real contenders can't be allowed to destroy the championship hopes of real contenders. And it wouldn't be fair to call the Lakers out, but they did it last season. It's disgusting and needs to stop.

Actually, by saying that the Lakers know they are a first or second round team and saying that they have nothing to play for (and are acting out b/c of it), you are implying that they are giving up.

They are taking out their frustrations, and perhaps even looking for ways to cheat. They did it last year. If you think that makes them quitters or whatever, then sure. But there's no question that's what they did last year, and arguably, what they did this year. Attempt to take out players from a real contender.

With all that said, I think he'll get 6-8 games. Maybe more if Harden misses games, but I don't expect him to be kicked out of the league or anything that severe.

[Wavy Q]

You won't convince this guy Anything bad for the Lakers is like X-mas in April.

You seriously think my disgust at Artest's actions are based on team loyalty? You are completely delusional.

No but to deny it doesn't play a role in the level of your disgust is equally as delusional.

[Jo Jo English]

I didn't think he purposefully meant to clock Harden. He was probably filled with testosterone and by his very erratic and violent nature clocked whoever got in his way for his celebration.

He still should be suspended for some games.

Agreed

You're both wrong. If he didn't mean to do it, some surprise would have registered on his face when his elbow slammed into another player's skull. He would have stopped to check on how the player was doing, not kept prancing down the court. There's no doubt at all it was intentional. Only the largest of homer would try to argue otherwise.

Damn straight. In the split second that the situation developed Ron-Ron's flawed brain decided to throw that elbow at whatever OKC player had decided to invade his space when he was celebrating. If it was a complete shock to him he would have turned back to see what damage he caused. He didn't. He expected the impact. Bad news for Ron.

I have little doubt that Ron had no premeditated intent of hitting Harden with an elbow to the head during the game, but it did happen. Honestly, regardless of whether you like Ron Artest as a person or not -- and I do, for the record -- it matters. Artest cannot control his emotions. He has a long history of this and it has caused more than one black eye to the league. I have my doubts as to whether or not it will happen at this point, but eventually the league is going to have to make a business decision and decide to cut its losses.

As I said before, I don't think that Artest is a "bad" guy. He has psychological issues. I think he has done a pretty decent job treating them over the past decade, but treatment isn't infallible. You will have moments like this. For Ron those moments tend to be very public. These twitter ramblings are certainly not helping his cause.


Side note. I have serious doubts about how well Artest is going to do in the decade or so after he leaves the NBA. I fear that some people who care about him now are going to start caring less as he becomes less 'relevant.'

[lodom7]

Like I said about Ron. I have no problem with what he did.

Aaaaand that's where you lose all credibility.

your username is where you lose all of yours

[The Main Event]

Metta WorldPeace ‏ @MettaWorldPeace
I just watched the replay again..... Oooo.. My celebration of the dunk really was too much... Didn't even see James ..... Omg... Looks bad

1h Metta WorldPeace ‏ @MettaWorldPeace
Hope James Hardin is ok... I remember when I hit by Marc Gasol the same way.. I was spitting up blood and a headache during the game...

http://twitter.com/#!/mettaworldpeace

He needs to come clean or I think Stern is going to come down even harder on him. It's obvious he meant to elbow him. I don't think he meant to hit him in the head though. When harden slid under his arm it caused his elbow to go up toward the head. denying he was trying to elbow the guy is a joke.

the guy is either in complete denial or is schizophrenic.

[MastaStrategist]

Actually, by saying that the Lakers know they are a first or second round team and saying that they have nothing to play for (and are acting out b/c of it), you are implying that they are giving up.

They are taking out their frustrations, and perhaps even looking for ways to cheat. They did it last year. If you think that makes them quitters or whatever, then sure. But there's no question that's what they did last year, and arguably, what they did this year. Attempt to take out players from a real contender.

With all that said, I think he'll get 6-8 games. Maybe more if Harden misses games, but I don't expect him to be kicked out of the league or anything that severe.

If you think being the 3-seed in the West = being frustrated enough to take players out and "look for ways to cheat" then I can't help you man.