Metta World Peace elbow to Harden

[Left Side Drive]

Is Harden okay? Is he still alive?

[HotRocks34]

Why I think MWP will be suspended a minimum of 10 games, but likely more along the lines of 15 (including the playoffs). All of these statements are my own opinion, and nothing more:

* The seriousness -- including legal ramifications for leagues -- of head injuries in sports at this moment in time. The NBA has a new concussion policy; the NHL is cracking down on concussion issues; the NFL is cracking down on concussion issues, and is facing legal action from former players because of concussions

* Ron Artest's lengthy history of suspensions, including the Malice In The Palace and last year's close-line of JJ Barea. The LAST thing the league wants to see happen is they let MWP back for the second round of the playoffs, OKC is getting ready to take out the Lakers in that round, and MWP does a repeat of the close-line to Harden or another Thunder player out of frustration. MWP did what he did to JJ Barea, if I recall properly, because LA was getting burned in the series or game.

* As someone mentioned earlier, the elbow to Harden may have changed the playoff seedings in the West. As a league, you cannot allow that type of play to cause such an impact without severe penalties resulting. Even if it wasn't being done (the action) to achieve such an end.

* The new CBA is done. The owners -- and Stern works for the owners -- would love nothing better, I'm sure, than to reassert their authority over the players. Stern likes to play the "heavy" of the piece, and I doubt he will pass up the opportunity here. Without having to worry about getting a deal done in the near future.

* It's a lockout year, which means that fans have to be catered to. Yes, fans have come back to the game in large part. But, if you are the commissioner, and this happens on a Sunday afternoon (national TV) of a lockout year, I have to think you're going to throw the book at MWP. The fans are back, you need them to remain back for the game, so you're going to have to make an example out of MWP, in my opinion.

* Bynum was suspended for 5 games last year in the playoffs for the elbow to JJ Barea. That was between the whistles. This was after them. No way 5 games is going to be enough here, I don't think

* MWP seems to have impulse control issues, as was noted earlier. He seems like a good guy, but he still can't seem to control himself in high-emotion moments. He may not be able to change that. Whatever the case, the rest of the league needs to get the message that this won't be tolerated, and opposing players will be protected from someone who may be prone to lose his temper easily

* Harden suffered a concussion. I believe that has been confirmed. That will raise the level of MWP's punishment, I'm sure

* The last issue the NBA wants dominating the news cycle as the playoffs near is one player concussing another player with an elbow in a very important, nationally televised game. Stern is likely going to want to change the narrative, and do so strongly

* OKC is a premiere team, a legitimate contender. Injuring one of their three best players is likely to draw, perhaps, even more scrutiny than would be the case if Harden played for, say, the Golden State Warriors

* MWP's Twitter statements. Not likely to do him any favors, at all. I think those may up the punishment he receives, fair or not

* History between the two teams. Recent history, with Harden talking trash. This could look a little too much like "payback" from MWP, even if it was not. Stern and his guys are likely to take that into consideration

* Another thing the league does not want is the Lakers -- with MWP as a key piece -- beating the Thunder in the second round. Then, it could look like MWP "won" by elbowing Harden. Image is crucial for the NBA. It matters how things look. This type of thing could send the wrong message, in my opinion

...

The league, back in the 1980's and 1990's (I was watching then), let much more go on in terms of physical play. Those days are long, long gone. The NBA is a global, multiple-billion-dollar-per-year industry. You can't have anyone, certainly not a relatively minor player in the twilight of his career, looking like he got away with something of this nature that might have helped his team gain a competitive (seeding) advantage. And particularly so against a probable second-round opponent.

I think Stern is going to come down very hard here, and deservedly so. I don't think MWP will be playing in the second round of this year's playoffs. Or if he does, I think it will be coming after a 10-15 game suspension, which would include the final game of the regular season and the playoffs.

[STFU]

The stupidity of some people thinking Harden was faking the severity of that contact. Try getting hit full speed in the ear/neck with an elbow from a 6'7 240-250lb guy without any time/warning to brace for the impact. A serious neck injury could have occurred from that hit. Hopefully Harden is ok.

[justinandimcool]

Is Harden okay? Is he still alive?

Are we going to have to wait for someone to have significant career-ending brain damage for it to be a big deal?

[Teen Girl Squad]

I know that you're trolling but let me answer anyway.

Ron does not have any lust for violence or human suffering. He is just mentally unstable.

Exactly, yet people are making him out like he's some heinous, evil creature for acting impulsively. I doubt he had a thought in his head when he swung that elbow... Not excusing him for it, it was terrible and suspension worthy. But I don't think it makes him a terrible person at his core either. He obviously feels bad about it anyway, just like he felt bad about the Detroit incident.

However, you have to understand that this very reason is why the league should consider him to ban him from the league.

You cannot risk putting a mentally unstable person in a competitive environment that is likely to tick him off. You just don't. He is a ticking bomb. You are risking an outburst.

True but outside of the melee (which was obviously a very unique situation) and this really bad elbow, Artest really hasn't had that many flagrant fouls. His rep has been so bad from just the melee that he gets the most ticky-tack flagrants in the league. People are still assuming a lot from Artest when he really doesn't have the track record that people assume he has.

[Nuntius]

I seriously don't understand how or why you would try and rationalize or justify what Artest did tonight. I'm dumbfounded.

No one can rationalize what Artest does when he's angry or pumped up. If he cannot do this himself (and he has shown that he cannot) then no one can do this anyway.

[MastaStrategist]

Do you think MWP still has that psychiatrist he shouted out in the 2010 Finals?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkLp3ixrzQ[/youtube]

[Nuntius]

However, you have to understand that this very reason is why the league should consider him to ban him from the league.

You cannot risk putting a mentally unstable person in a competitive environment that is likely to tick him off. You just don't. He is a ticking bomb. You are risking an outburst.

True but outside of the melee (which was obviously a very unique situation) and this really bad elbow, Artest really hasn't had that many flagrant fouls. His rep has been so bad from just the melee that he gets the most ticky-tack flagrants in the league. People are still assuming a lot from Artest when he really doesn't have the track record that people assume he has.

His flagrant fouls are not the problem. It's his mental instability.

He cannot control himself. He does not even seem to think when he's angry or pumped up. He can explode at any given moment. That's the problem. Not how dirty he is.

[SadKingsFan]

True but outside of the melee (which was obviously a very unique situation) and this really bad elbow, Artest really hasn't had that many flagrant fouls. His rep has been so bad from just the melee that he gets the most ticky-tack flagrants in the league. People are still assuming a lot from Artest when he really doesn't have the track record that people assume he has.

Exactly.

[SVictor]

Until I saw the general view, the regular TV view, I thought Harden was looking for contact, trying to provoke Artest. It really looks like that in the close up, but if you review with a general shot, IMO he is just looking for the inbound pass.

Man, it gets dirtier each time I see it.

[wallflower]

Semi OT but did anyone else find Breens sensationalist coverage a little off-putting and irresponsible? His 5 minute tirade on Peace's history was condescending and needless. I think JVG was off put by it too as evidenced by his uncharacteristic silence.

I mean I know hyperbole is his schtick but that was a little much amirite?

[HotRocks34]

Do you think MWP still has that psychiatrist he shouted out in the 2010 Finals?

I'm pretty sure MWP still takes meds (psych meds). If he does, then he almost certainly still has a psychiatrist, even if it is not the person he was seeing in 2010.

[ibraheim718]

Until I saw the general view, the regular TV view, I thought Harden was looking for contact, trying to provoke Artest. It really looks like that in the close up, but if you review with a general shot, IMO he is just looking for the inbound pass.

Man, it gets dirtier each time I see it.

That's exactly how I felt.. the more I watched especially in full speed the more I believed he's probably done for the year... The pounding of the chest... then the elbow and then squaring up with Ibaka and that RonRon look in his eyes.. he's done.

[MastaStrategist]

Until I saw the general view, the regular TV view, I thought Harden was looking for contact, trying to provoke Artest. It really looks like that in the close up, but if you review with a general shot, IMO he is just looking for the inbound pass.

Man, it gets dirtier each time I see it.

That's honestly the problem. We see it so many times in slow-mo, analyzing it over and over from every angle. While in reality, this all went down in about .5 seconds. Not saying it makes what he did anymore right or wrong, just that we lose sight of the fact that these guys don't have long enough to think "I'm going to give this guy a concussion" or "I hope I knock him out". They just react.

[Ruckusmh]

Anyone saying Artest doesn't deserve 10-15 games is out of their mind. That was vicious, intentional if not thought out (watch the way he loads up and follows through with that elbow), and absurdly dangerous.

Harden is lucky not to be more seriously injured if all he has is a concussion.

[MastaStrategist]

Semi OT but did anyone else find Breens sensationalist coverage a little off-putting and irresponsible? His 5 minute tirade on Peace's history was condescending and needless. I think JVG was off put by it too as evidenced by his uncharacteristic silence.

I mean I know hyperbole is his schtick but that was a little much amirite?

Breen is a tool, who is self-righteous to the point of high comedy. I think the coverage was almost as bad as the act itself tbh.

[justinandimcool]

Breen is a tool, who is self-righteous to the point of high comedy. I think the coverage was almost as bad as the act itself tbh.

I mean I know hyperbole is his schtick but that was a little much amirite?

[MastaStrategist]

Breen is a tool, who is self-righteous to the point of high comedy. I think the coverage was almost as bad as the act itself tbh.

I mean I know hyperbole is his schtick but that was a little much amirite?

Breen had no right to say some of the stuff he said. The dude was acting like MWP was some sort of animal to be caged. Right after Ron walked away from Ibaka he said "He's over there all by himself now, someone from the Lakers should make sure they're over there with him" or something to that effect, like he was about to go rape someone in Row 2. Then just kept repeating "what a disgrace" over and over like we didn't hear him the first time. Really overstepped his bounds.

[icat2000]

Needs to be banned from the NBA. End of story. Just crazy.

[HotRocks34]

Breen had no right to say some of the stuff he said. The dude was acting like MWP was some sort of animal to be caged. Right after Ron walked away from Ibaka he said "He's over there alone, someone from the Lakers should be over there with him just in case" or something to that effect, like he was about to go **** someone in Row 2. I couldn't stand it.

I didn't see the game (have it recorded but haven't watched it yet), but I do agree that there are times when Breen seems a bit too self-righteous for me.

Reminds me of Joe Buck trashing Randy Moss after Moss did the 'fake mooning' to the Packers fans.

I don't think Breen is nearly as bad as Buck is, though, overall.