[KayjayParticipant]

 

Lakers’ World Peace suspended seven games without pay

By Official release

Posted Apr 24 2012 7:51PM

NEW YORK — The Lakers’ Metta World Peace has been suspended for seven games without pay for striking the Thunder’s James Harden in the head with his elbow, the NBA announced today.

The incident, which resulted in a Flagrant Foul Two and ejection, occurred with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 114-106 victory over the Thunder on April 22 at Staples Center.

"The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area," NBA Commissioner David Stern said. "We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."

 

[llperez]

lakers should feel lucky. I personally think 7 is a fair punishment, but there have been numerous tv and radio guys saying the whole playoffs and who seemed really upset aobut what artest did so i was fearful for the worst. This suspension means 6 playoff games which should be just about the first round and if the lakers get to the second and have to play okc, he’ll be back.

[KayjayParticipant]

Even though I feel Artest is a douche bag. 7 games is reasonable.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Who does Lakers play in the first round and considering Lakers played great without Kobe, I am sure they can do a first round without Artest.  Let’s hope Lakers do not sweep.  They may not be able to afford missing Artest for 2 second round games.  I think the amount was less because they are playoff games.  Playoff games are worth more.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I have to side with Artest on this that it was an accident because the are probably a whole bunch of people they Artest would want to elbow to the head than Harden.  Harden does not have a bad reputation with players.  He may have meant to elbow but not to the head.  I don’t think he knew it was Harden.  If it was a bigger guy, it would have been in the chest and a lot of players do this and it is not called.

[sheltwon3Participant]

It was still a dumb move that needed to be punished.

[bloodshyParticipant]

Seriously?  He elbowed the guy in the head hard enough to give him a concussion and he ran down the court acting like he didn’t know he had done anything at all.  Then, when Westbrook approached, he got in his fighter stance.  He was well aware of what he did when he did it.  He threw the elbow on purpose and he tried to act like he did nothing wrong afterward.  This bumb needs to be out of the league.

I would have been OK with a 7-game suspension if it included a fat fine on top.  Since I saw no fine included, I’d prefer a 10+ game suspension. 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

7 game isn’t bad.  I thought we’d see 10+ but 7 isn’t half bad.  Now L.A’s problem is going to be, if they sweep the Nuggets, they aren’t going to have Artest for two games vs OKC, which could really hurt them because Artest plays very physical defense on Durant, not to mention it shortens their bench.  If OKC can open that series 2-0 before Artest comes back, that could cause some problems.

[Future_Scout’s board]

 definitely a nice flop

 

[patty-mills]

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[druneave3Participant]

is it "an accident" or "a dumb move that needed to be punished" ??   pick one

[aamir543Participant]

Part of David Stern’s quote,

"We remain commited to taking neccesary measures to protect the safetey of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."

[nick5354Participant]

I still cannot get ever the people who blame James Harden. This was disgraceful and warrneted more than 7 games. It does not fit the action. What’s is worse is Artest didn’t even seem upset at what happened. His apology seems he had to do it to look sorry, his tweet after the game was disgraceful, didn’t even seem like he realised what he did and the severity of what he did. 7 games is a joke.  

[Steven]

 i tend to agree with nick. listen, for all of you who do play basketball. pick up or an organized games, you know that james harden wasnt trying to get in the way of Artest when he threw that elbow. He was nt even looking at him. he might have been trying to get the inbound pass from bynum, or he was trying to hear what someone was telling him whther it be a play about to be set up or someone telling him something. IDK. all i know is he didnt get in Artests way on purpose and that happens all the time you can see it anytime a player dunks a ball like that. 

[thatshitkrayParticipant]

@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"

[Jlv2012]

would get special treatment. It should be a 10+ game suspension especially for someone with his history.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I Felt that he should’ve been suspended for the entire playoffs and 10 games of next season..This 7 Game Sh!t is a Slap on the Wrist for a player with a Reputation for having mental issues on the court and often do not think before he acts out…And for everyone that believe that Hit was an Accident,”Yall are Crazier than Artest.”…

[kobyzParticipant]

Artest was lucky, it could and should have been worse.

[rtbtParticipant]

David Stern should be embarassed. That was one of the most vicious, brutal, and unnecessary blows I’ve seen on a basketball court since the demolition of Rudy Tomjanovich a long time ago. Harden could have been very seriously injured and for no reason at all.

Throw in the fact that Artest’s been suspended 13 previous times and at a minimum, he should have been gone for the remainder of the playoffs and for part of next season. 7 games was a joke.

If James Harden was your brother or family member, you would never accept 7 games as adequate punishment for a perennial thug with 13 previous suspensions.

[sheltwon3Participant]

why can’t it be both.  Also some of you can not read.  It was dumb to for him to throw his elbows but I do not think it was intentional that he elbowed Harden in the head.  I am pretty sure I made myself clear.  I do realize some of you are younger and have no sense of perspective at all.  You are free to have your opinions about the situation and since none of us are God then we can only assume based on things we have seen.  Watching something in slow motion does not give you enough evidence when it happened in real time.  It was so quick in real time that it may no have been a second.  Ron Artest knew he would elbow Harden in the head within that second and did it.  The is nothing earlier to suggest it was provoked.   If he just mentally lost it for a second then it could not have been intentional.

[Author]

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