Lakers vs. Thunder: Metta World Peace's Beef with James Harden is Childish

As if Metta World Peace's reckless elbow to the back of James Harden's head wasn't bad enough, the Los Angeles Lakers' erratic small forward is now quite literally adding insult to injury.

After a surprisingly effective performance in Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets, World Peace told reporters he doesn't "shake substitutes' hands," making reference to his plans for Harden in Monday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder (via ESPN LA's Dave McMenamin):

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"I shake everybody's hand before the game, but Oklahoma City, they don't shake hands," World Peace said. "Only some of them, but I don't think they really shake hands before the game. Kendrick Perkins and now (Russell) Westbrook don't shake hands either. (Russell) used to shake hands, but now he don't shake hands anymore."

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World Peace had plenty to say on the issue of hand-shaking, apparently reveling in the opportunity to discuss an entirely tangential point of contention between the two clubs.

It's still uncertain whether he's attempting to play mind games with Scott Brooks' young squad. No one would put that kind of calculated maneuvering past World Peace and his bizarre repertoire of rotating parlor tricks.

Of course, it's also entirely possible that World Peace is himself the victim of distraction. No doubt pleased with his unlikely success in Game 7, maybe this was just his way of showboating and taking advantage of the media attention while he still can.

Yes, the many personalities of Ron Artest have had more than their 15 minutes of fame, but the oddball allure won't last forever—just ask Dennis Rodman.

While it's understandable that World Peace should cling so desperately to relevance (or some distant simulacrum thereof), this certainly isn't the way to go about it.

The notion that the Thunder somehow deserve shunning on account of their own hand-shaking habits would be properly labeled "childish" were it not so insulting to the many millions of children who would know better. Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins are no doubt flattered that World Peace has made mental note of their pre-game rituals.

And yet, the real affront here is the dismissive reference to Harden as being merely a "substitute."

As substitutes go, there is none better than Harden, who took home this season's Sixth Man of the Year honors. While he may not on the floor for tip-off, he's invariably there when the final buzzer sounds.

World Peace quite simply hasn't made half of the impact Harden has this season.

The implicit air of superiority in World Peace's comments were a sad commentary on his priorities. His detours into the daytime drama of professional basketball were anything but professional. Rather, they follow in a long line of unsportsmanlike conduct that has defined a career that would do well to be called "checkered."

It's a shame for the Lakers' otherwise first-class approach to be tarnished by such peripheral banter. World Peace may have helped his team get to this second round, but he's done them no favors with respect to a hungry young Thunder team.