As expected Metta World Peace has been suspended for the violent elbow he threw at James Harden during the Lakers game against the Thunder. The league decided to suspend World Peace for seven games including the Lakers finale at Sacramento and the Lakers next six playoff games. If the standings remain the same and the Lakers make it through the first round then they will meet Oklahoma City in the second round.
World Peace stands to lose $348,000 of his salary if he serves his entire suspension this year. If the Lakers face an early exit then the remainder of the suspension will be served next season. With World Peace out as well as Matt Barnes, Devin Ebanks will get more playing time. World Peace has since apologized for the incident and continues to claim it was an accident. James Harden has suffered a concussion; the seriousness of his injuries in conjuncture with World Peace’s long rap sheet of offenses led to the seven game suspension.
Before this incident Ron Artest had changed his name to Metta World Peace and substantially cleaned up his image even winning the Citizen of the Year award last year. It didn’t look like an accident to me but I do hope World Peace will continue to head down the right path as he was doing before.
Shaina (@Shay_Marie)
