Metta World Peace: LA Lakers Will Survive First Round Despite Star's Suspension

The Los Angeles Lakers were dealt a tremendous blow that only really pales to the one received by James Harden. Despite the loss of one of the best defenders, the Lakers will be just fine in Round 1. 

ESPN reported on Tuesday evening the suspension that finally came down from the league regarding Metta World Peace and the thrown elbow seen around the world. 

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace has been suspended seven games by the NBA for his elbow to the head of Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden.

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None of this is important compared to the health of Harden, who suffered a concussion for the deplorable play that came out of nowhere.

The legacy of the man formerly known as Ron Artest has again been tainted. While this is nowhere near the Malice at the Palace that warranted an 86-game ban in 2004, it serves to paint a picture of a player that is never far from the insane and violent.

But the question now remains: What happens to the Lakers? 

World Peace was averaging 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 39.4 percent shooting, but it was his play of late that really made Lakers fans hopeful for the postseason. 

Since April 6th, MWP managed to score double digits in every game save one. More than the scoring output off the bench, the Lakers will miss his defense, especially with Matt Barnes healing from an ankle injury. 

Well, I am here to issue a cease and desist for all you people worrying out there, because the Lakers will be just fine in the first round. 

Yes, a gauntlet the size of the Thunder and Spurs remains in the subsequent rounds, but the Lakers are likely to match up with the Denver Nuggets to open the playoffs. 

World Peace will most certainly be missed on the defensive end, especially against Danilo Gallinari, but the Lakers pose many mismatches in other ways. 

In their first game against the Nuggets this season, Andrew Bynum went off for 29 points and 13 rebounds, getting another 22 and 10 in their second matchup with Denver.

In short, as long as the Lakers have Bynum healthy and motivated, they trump one smaller aspect of the many subplots. 

This will not be a cakewalk, and the first round is now bound to loom closer to seven games than four, but there should still be a great deal of confidence that first-round disaster has been averted. 

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