Suspend MWP for the playoffs...

[DisAsTerBot]

The reason I disagree with this is because Harden had no business bumping Artest during his celebration. Yes the Elbow was intentional, but Artest was more like get the F outta my way F'er, not with the intent to purposely injure Harden. I think 5 games is enough.

That Kermit Washington punch, he purposely punched Rudy T and Rudy T wasn't even going after him but just probably going over to stop the altercation. Washington stepped up a INTENTIONALLY meant to clock him.

I have watched Harden and he is a chippy player, flopping and throwing little elbows to players off of screens and such. As the saying goes, he just messed with the wrong F'er this time around. Not excusing Artest, which why I think he should be suspend at least 5 games for his actions.

so it's not so bad because someone was in his way? Also you say the elbow was intentional but Washington's was worse because it was intentional??

[TheSkeptic]

The reason I disagree with this is because Harden had no business bumping Artest during his celebration. Yes the Elbow was intentional, but Artest was more like get the F outta my way F'er, not with the intent to purposely injure Harden. I think 5 games is enough.

That Kermit Washington punch, he purposely punched Rudy T and Rudy T wasn't even going after him but just probably going over to stop the altercation. Washington stepped up a INTENTIONALLY meant to clock him.

I have watched Harden and he is a chippy player, flopping and throwing little elbows to players off of screens and such. As the saying goes, he just messed with the wrong F'er this time around. Not excusing Artest, which why I think he should be suspend at least 5 games for his actions.

Looked to me like Harden was going for the ball in this one. He wasn't even looking at Ron and he definitely wasn't expecting to get clocked. Even then Artest's complete lack of proportionate response is disturbing. Bumps like that happen all the time during the course of a game and while an opposing player might be annoying that's not a valid reason to concuss someone who clearly wasn't a threat.

Put simply, brain-related injuries are serious business and Artest already has a history of lacking self-control. Throwing that elbow was reckless at best and either way excessive. The fact that he tends to react in extremes and is unpredictable makes it too risky to have him on the floor with other players in my opinion.

Physical basketball is one thing but this play was disgraceful. Artest has had his chances. Stern/Jackson need to drop the hammer on this one. 12 games would be a start followed by a review in the offseason and mandatory anger management courses after that if the league is intent on not banning him.

[T Park]

He should be gone. Out. Done. His antics are tired and played out. HS proven time and time again he's not mentally stable or able enough to control his actions and emotions to play the game of basketballl. Playing the game is a privilege not a right. Goodbye, get out, go away.

[GSH]

Just a little reminder. One year ago, in the playoffs. Not long after Artest had been given the "citizenship award", to try and help sanitize his image.

[rascal]

Kevin Love only got two games for stomping on Scola's head.
2 or 3 games max. Especially if Harden is cleared to play.

Stern isn't going to mess with his potential dream Lakers vs Miami matchup.

A sure way to kill ratings is to have the Spurs make it to the finals.
OK City being their first trip to the finals would even be a better draw than San Antonio.

[ambchang]

I saw rascal play in a game, got chippy, one of the dudes pulled out a gun, shot at him three times. All misses, and the police didn't press any charges because nobody was hurt.

Later in the game, somebody pulled out a chainsaw, chopped off rascals left arm, picked him up threw him on solid concrete head first, then ran over him with a pickup truck. Rascal got up, put his arm back on, and continued playing.

True story.

[timvp]

Rascal got up

rascal didn't get up ... because he never fell down to begin with.

[GSH]

And for the idiots who suggest that OKC cooked up the concussion, just to get Artest in trouble (anyplace there are Laker fans, you can read these kinds of stupid comments) - have a look at the league's concussion guidelines. Diagnosing a concussion isn't something that any team would do unnecessarily - especially with one of their star players.
------

Under the NBA's newly ins uted concussion policy, Harden can return to the court only after passing a rigorous evaluation process that could take several days.

Once he's considered free of concussion symptoms, Harden must make it through increasing stages of exertion — from riding a stationary bike, to jogging, to agility work, to individual basketball skills — while ensuring the symptoms don't return after each stage.

If Harden passes each test the team then has to consult with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the director of the NBA's concussion program, to determine when Harden can return. The NBA's concussion policy went into effect at the start of training camps this season.

[T Park]

Rascal can't quite grasp the "rap sheet" "past history" thing.

[GSH]

Stern isn't going to mess with his potential dream Lakers vs Miami matchup.

A sure way to kill ratings is to have the Spurs make it to the finals.
OK City being their first trip to the finals would even be a better draw than San Antonio.

This is a photo of the cap that rascal was wearing in that infamous softball game:

[rascal]

rascal didn't get up ... because he never fell down to begin with.

Worst part of the play after I made the diving catch was I rolled into poison ivy. A couple of days later my forearms were seeping fluid from poison ivy blisters really bad. I remember standing in line at a bank and the fluid dripping down my arm and a guy I worked with said I needed to get that fixed.


Had to go get the steroid pills to clear it up. Bandaged the arms up and was back on the field for the next week.

[rascal]

And for the idiots who suggest that OKC cooked up the concussion, just to get Artest in trouble (anyplace there are Laker fans, you can read these kinds of stupid comments) - have a look at the league's concussion guidelines. Diagnosing a concussion isn't something that any team would do unnecessarily - especially with one of their star players.
------

Under the NBA's newly ins uted concussion policy, Harden can return to the court only after passing a rigorous evaluation process that could take several days.

Once he's considered free of concussion symptoms, Harden must make it through increasing stages of exertion — from riding a stationary bike, to jogging, to agility work, to individual basketball skills — while ensuring the symptoms don't return after each stage.

If Harden passes each test the team then has to consult with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the director of the NBA's concussion program, to determine when Harden can return. The NBA's concussion policy went into effect at the start of training camps this season.

Harden will be on the floor for game 1 of the playoffs.

[TheSkeptic]

You miss the point. Artest elbow was intentional but it wasn't directed at Harden in a premediated fashion. Washinton stepped in front of Rudy T and punched for him no reason and that punch was not only intentional, but it was premediate and was direct purposeful manner at Rudy T's head. There is a big difference.

Kobe had it right when he said that Artest exploded with an Outburst on the play because Harden got in his way of celebrating. He was right there and saw the whole thing. It wasn't intentional, it as to injure someone, but it was intentional as to move Harden out of his way. He just reacted in a more violent fashion than most people would.

I for one would have pushed Harden off of me if he came and bumped while I was celebrating a big play to cap off a 12 point swing in a game over the course of a few minutes.

Im sorry if I stumped you on the meaning of my prior post.

See that kind of proves my point. Either Artest comes from the celebration> colleague's health and physical well-being school of thought or he lacks the ability to measure an appropriate response. Either way, he shouldn't be on the floor.

Harden will be on the floor for game 1 of the playoffs.

Good to hear.

[GSH]

Harden will be on the floor for game 1 of the playoffs.

Good to hear.

He doesn't know that, Skeptic. Nobody knows the timeline yet. Not Harden, not the Thunder medical staff. Not the league. It may turn out that way, but he's just making up. Errr... making more up.

Read my post with the NBA guidelines. There's a whole process he has to go through, including being evaluated by the league's own concussion specialist. It takes a minimum of a few days. Nobody has announced that Harden will be playing in Game 1, because nobody knows yet. People thought Kevin Love would be back a lot quicker from what looked like a minor concussion. It didn't exactly work out that way, did it?

I bet the T-Wolves made that up, too, just to try and get Javale McGee in trouble.

[Mel_13]

Predictable.

A horrible act by a mentally disturbed athlete being defended with horrible takes from a delusional poster.

[GSH]

This happened to Kevin Love on 4/12. It wasn't nearly as violent of a hit as the one on Harden. He could have been cleared to play last night - 10 days later. The Wolves decided to keep him out the remainder of the season, for precautionary measures. But the 10 days to get clearance was unavoidable. Concussions are funny things, and with all the attention they are getting, he won't be rushed back, no matter how much he or the Thunder want it. If he is back by Game 1, it will be sheer luck for Artest.

[DisAsTerBot]

premeditated or not, he made a decision is a split second to elbow, with full force, someone's head. He's obviously got issues if that's how he responds. Get him out of the league.

[Mel_13]

Predictable.

A horrible act by a mentally disturbed athlete being defended with horrible takes from a delusional poster.

And you are still stupid. I am not defending his actions whatsoever.

I wasn't even referring to you, but apparently you believe that the delusional tag fits you.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I wasn't even referring to you, but apparently you believe that the delusional tag fits you.

You're giving donjuansdaddy too much credit if you thought he wouldn't bite. He's as dumb as they come.

[GSH]

And you are still stupid. I am not defending his actions whatsoever. He deserves to be suspended. But his actions weren't premediated and Harden has no business going over there and bumping him while he was celebrating his play.

Artest was response was totally wrong, just to let you stupid ass know. But it wasnt premediate, and if Harden didn't purposefully step in front of Artest and bump him, we wouldn't even be talking about this incident.

There is a reason after getting blowout twice by the Spurs, none of the Lakers but a hard foul on the Spurs players, because they play straight up basketball and don't instigate confrontations, which IMO Harden did. Majority of players would at the very least pushed Harden if he stepped in front of them needlessly while celebrating a play.

Jimmy Page would beat your ass with a Les Paul.

[TheSkeptic]

We all know World Beast has mental issues. I think Harden definitely KNOWS that by now. But Honestly, Love hacking the outta of Scola and then stomping on his face was just as bad and this was premediated for Scola NOT INTENTIONALLY throwing the ball off Love's balls and racking him a few days earlier, when Scola was falling outta of bounds.

Love only got a 2 games suspension for his actions.

Artest hasn't have a serious infraction in years, but he does have a history, so that is why I think 5 games and a hefty fine should be suffice. If he does this again, not controlling his emotions, in the playoffs or next season, 10-15 game or longer suspension would definitely be warranted.

For the hockey hit, Torres intentionally left his skates and drove his shoulder into Hossa head going full force. Totally Intentional and premediated. There is a huge difference as to why he got a 25 game suspension.

Love doesn't have Artest's history and even at the time it happened I thought that Love was getting off too easy.

Even you admit that Artest did the wrong thing and even if I agreed with you that Harden's motive was to disrupt the celebration, that doesn't make it look any better. In fact, that looks even worse because it shows that Ron doesn't have the ability to respond appropriately to other people.

And no, I'm not giving Artest brownie points because he's gone a few seasons without jumping into the stands and brawling with fans. Harden could've died last night and no amount of irritating basketball plays can justify that. Ron needs a hefty suspension along with a mental evaluation.

He doesn't know that, Skeptic. Nobody knows the timeline yet. Not Harden, not the Thunder medical staff. Not the league. It may turn out that way, but he's just making up. Errr... making more up.

Read my post with the NBA guidelines. There's a whole process he has to go through, including being evaluated by the league's own concussion specialist. It takes a minimum of a few days. Nobody has announced that Harden will be playing in Game 1, because nobody knows yet. People thought Kevin Love would be back a lot quicker from what looked like a minor concussion. It didn't exactly work out that way, did it?

I bet the T-Wolves made that up, too, just to try and get Javale McGee in trouble.

Just saw it. I actually think the NBA did the right thing with those guidelines. Thanks a lot for the information.

[Mixability]

I think he'll get 10, anyone else, it would have been 2-3.

[temujin]

This is what I think.
1) Less than 5 games would probably mean that the PO will turn into a constant fight. A dangerous fight. Anything will be allowed from now on. Just watch the "average" position of the elbows of that bas of Bynum, when he comes down with a rebound, already.
2) Unnecesary, provocatory and gorilla-like "celebrations" (for what? what did he accomplish with that basket EXACTLY? By the way, he should have been called for travelling) should get an immediate T. Straight up.
3) Bryant, the team captain, saying that Harden had no business interrupting Artest' celebrations should get a fine (laughters) AND a suspension (another laughter since it's Sac). In my eyes, this is even worst than Artest's act.
4) Thunder players, as a bunch, are soft and won't go anywhere. Their reactions to seeing Harden on the floor was slow and pathetic, with the exception of Ibaka. Not coincidentally Ibaka.
5) LA has two teams. And Stern has personally given one an All Star for essentially nothing. Not the Lakers.
6) No way LAL comes back yesterday with Harden on the floor. He is a heck of a player and the only one in the NBA that has Ginobili-like potential. I really hope he comes back in good shape.

[wildbill2u]

at the risk of pissing everybody off and bringing down a ton of on my head look at what Harden is doing.

MWP has turned from the baket and is running back down court, beating on his chest. Nothing wrong with that so far.

What does Harden do. He slides over to his left, beginning to block MWP path downcourt and actually gets into MWP body with his body and elevated left arm while still moving his feet.

This was an unnecessary move on the part of Harden who may have been trying to press on defense.

If MWP trips or bumps or flops--without the elbow-- it might have been a close call for a defensive block on Harden.

All that being said, the elbow was a deliberate action and unnecessarily violent reaction to a common body-to-body bumping situation. Given the size, speed and power of these athletes, you can't have someone on the court who cannot control his reaction to the actions of other players.

Given the past history the player and of punishments for especially violent hits to the head--and I'm thinking here of Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich--MWP should be suspended for the rest of the year.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

I'm calling the over under at 19 games and I have got the over.