The NBA's seven-game suspension of Metta World Peace for his vicious elbow to the head of Oklahoma City guard James Harden last weekend takes into account the potential postseason fortunes of the Los Angeles Lakers. What it should have taken into account is the seriousness of the incident itself and World Peace's track record -- now 13 suspensions in 13 seasons.

The Lakers will be without the former Ron Artest for the entire first round of the playoffs unless they play a seventh game. But six inches difference and NBA commissioner David Stern would have had a Kermit Washington-Rudy Tomjanovich situation. There would be no more World Peace in the NBA this year for sure and maybe not ever again.

Stern could learn from the NHL, which slapped Phoenix Coyotes serial offender Raffi Torres with 25 games for his attack on Marian Hossa. As the Stanley Cup playoffs reach the conference semifinals, the Coyotes are still playing. But Torres isn't, and neither should World Peace.

- Craig Stouffer

cstouffer@washingtonexaminer.com