The Goat Pen

Wilt's single game record is probably safe, true.

Sucks that Kobe's been injured, but on the bright side he's been helping out as "Coach Kobe", and everyone from Bynum and Gasol to World Peace and Sessions and Matt Barnes have found their rhythm and stepped up at times.

On the minus side they have to reintegrate Bryant quickly when he comes back to have a chance. Drew's postup opportunities seem to run down a lot of shot clock.

Actually, I think these breaks from playing, due to injury, by Kobe (which happen every few years) make people all say "hopefully, Kobe will trust his teammates more." Or, "hopefully, Kobe will pass the ball more." But, the the thing is, these breaks are never about Kobe. They are about the other players. THEY need to find out how to play aggressively with Kobe in the game or not. THEY have to learn how to leave their imprint on the game when they are on the floor. Year after year, people want to focus on what Kobe should look at, with regard to his teammates, when he is out on injury...when they should focus on what his teammates should look at when he's out on injury.

Kobe will be alright come playoff time with his game. He always is. The question is, will Gasol be alright? Will Drew be alright? Will Barnes be alright? When the playoffs kick in, will these players remember how to stay aggressive and command their games like they can when Kobe's not playing.

That answer will be the key to how LA does in the hunt for the chip.

metta world peace... wtf?

Peace, eh? If he was truly just celebrating, he would have had a reaction when his elbow smashed against the other guy. He would have apologized or helped him up. He did neither. IMO he did that purposely.

apparently there is a clause in MWP'z contract with LA regarding stuff like this, if he gets suspended the rest of the post-season he might have his contract voided

He'll lose the next two games, maybe 3. I'd be shocked if they gave him the whole post season.

It was intentional, though. I'm not saying that it is right in any circumstance...again, I'm not saying it's right...but Harden and Westbrook talk a lot and the OKC guys like to body up to you after a big play or foul to get their "tough on."

Metta ain't the dude to run up on. Just give him his space. Shit, he tried to choke Kobe in a game. Just give him his space. Nobody wants any part of uncontained Ron Artest. No body. Just give him his space. (3X for emphasis)

Metta World War, snitches.

You don't want none of that.

Ibaka was (wisely) walking backwards as he talked mess.

you guys need to take off the purple & gold goggles, that's basically on court assault

he's getting a double digit game suspension, minimum

I don't see what the big deal is.

I think Brook is correct about the tough guy pose from Harden. No need to brush up against him for the inbounds play like you're crashing a high school party.

Must've been some interesting thoughts in the locker room after the game. No Bynum, no Sessions, no Barnes for what, the final twenty minutes of the game? Crazy.

Because it's Stern, then maybe it will go close to 10...but I still say 5 is over/under.

maybe because I'm in the hockey capital, but I think that's the current climate in pro sports leagues nowadays

the NHL just suspended someone 25 games for a hit that makes what Artest did look like a kiss

then you look at the hard stance Goodell is taking with the NFL

I know it's apples & oranges, I can't help but connect the dots

I'm taking the over

Why didn't Harden's teammates attend to him? They just jumped in the scrum that was going nowhere.

While I'd give him the entire post-season off (previous actions do apply) but I suspect it'll be for the first round

I can't honestly see where anyone feels Harden "brushed up on him". Harden wasn't even looking at him.

I would also be surprised if that hit doesn't garner at least 10 games. If they factor in Artest's past, it's a season ending suspension. I personally think 8-10 is the right amount with or without his past (especially if you consider they gave Smith 2 games for a hard foul on Griffen). If Harden loses total conciousness and hits his head on the floor.... devastating.

I "sort of" actually feel sorry for Artest since he did seem to spend the last couple of years trying to improve his reputation but he snapped again. And it seems a little ironic that he finally started to be playing decent basketball (ie. useful) recently. Perhaps he needs that edge to play well.

Elbow violations are typically 1-2 games. It'd be typical Stern/Stu Jackson hypocrisy to give MWP - the reigning "J.Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award recipient" a death-penalty-like suspension.

Harden, OTOH, is one of the dirtiest players in the league. It'll be interesting to see how this affects his game. If the Lakers and Thunder play in the 2nd Round, I'd set 35,000 back screens for whoever Harden guards.

Dirtiest? I don't know about that...but he is a big talker. I don't know if it goes much beyond that.

For the record, though, the award MWP received was for off-the-court activities. It's not for anything that is done on the court and while a game is going. He got it for his contribution to mental health awareness.

"Elbow violations are typically 1-2 games."

What "elbow violation" has come close to that hit recently and only got 1-2 games? You make it sound like he grazed him on the shoulder or in the chest.

like I said, Artest actually seemed to be trying real hard to change people's perceptions of him but that was the Ron-Ron of yesteryear. I just don't know whether enough time has elapsed for the league to forget about what the fight at the Palace did to the league's rep.