Forty-eight hours after James Harden went down with a blow to the head that caused a concussion from Metta World Peace’s elbow, the punishment that many predicted finally came out last night with NBA commissioner David Stern’s announcement that the Lakers’ player would be suspended for seven games. Given his history as Ron Artest, the league had no choice but to make it a lengthy one.
"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," Stern said in a statement. "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."
World Peace insisted after the game that he did not know where Harden was at and that he was caught up in the moment. He also apologized after the game. However, others believed it was intentional and Magic Johnson, former Lakers icon and Hall of Fame player, came out publicly saying it was a "cheap shot."
Depending on the appeal process, a very shallow Lakers roster could suddenly be even more so through the first round of the upcoming NBA playoffs.
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