DALLAS -- Rick Carlisle didn't have too much to say about the seven-game suspension the NBA gave Los Angeles Laker forward Metta World Peace for violently elbowing Oklahoma City guard James Harden in the head this past Sunday, causing Harden to suffer a concussion.
"I don't really have a comment about it,'' Carlisle said after today's practice. "The league took a hard look at it and did what they thought was right.
"That's what they did and that's what it's going to be.''
Carlisle, of course, coached World Peace when the two were with the Indiana Pacers from 2003-'06, and when World Peace was known as Ron Artest. And it was on Nov. 19, 2004 when Artest was the main instigator in a brawl that involved several players during a Pacers-Detroit Pistons game at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich.
Artest incredibly went into the stands and engaged in a fight with a fan. That resulted in an 86-game suspension, which is the longest on-court suspension in NBA history.
Asked Wednesday what kind of person Artest was when he coached him, Carlisle said: "I don't want to go into any of that kind of stuff because it's not relevant to our situation.''
The Mavs will open the playoffs this weekend against either the Lakers or the Oklahoma City Thunder. If it's the Lakers, the Mavs won't see World Peace -- unless the series goes seven games.
-- Dwain Price
Follow me on Twitter
@dwainprice
Comments