Metta World War

Saw the Lakers and Thunder double OT game yesterday.  The game was filled with subplots and story lines.  Among them: Thunder attempting to get back to the top spot in the West, the Lakers trying to hold onto the 3 spot and clinch the Pacific division.  The end of the game talked more about what transpired than what the last week of the NBA still holds
Metta World Peace (aka Ron Artest) had been playing increasingly better in the month of April compared to the rest of the season. MWP was averaging less than double digits in points and rebounds prior to April.  Now he was averaging 16 pt/ 9 rebounds per game.  This came at a good time for the Lakers with Kobe Bryant missing 7 straight games.  The team seemed to gel during that time in his absence going 5-2.  A hard fought nationally televised game yesterday saw  MWP revert back to Ron-Ron of the Malice in the Palace infamy.  MWP celebrating a breakaway steal and dunk did the obligatory chest pound when James Harden got a little too close for comfort.  The result was a much publicized vicious elbow to Harden's head.  He feel like a stack of bricks.  At first glance it looked (to me at least) like a flop.  It looked like MWP pushed him out of the way and Harden was just looking for a cheap foul.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.  Replay clearly shows a vicious hard elbow that got extended.  What ensued afterward was most concerning to me. 
MWP had been a model citizen with the Lakers.  The one time defensive player of the year seemed to be playing well in LA.  On Sunday, after a nasty hit on Harden  MWP got into his fighting stance when forward Surge Ibaka came charging.  Ibaka apparently remembered WHO he was dealing with because he stopped well short of actually engaging MWP.  Meanwhile MWP was locked and loaded and gunning for bear.  He prodded Ibaka to "come get some."  To me that was a different MWP/Ron Artest that the Lakers hadn't seen. While you have to be ready if someone runs up on you--not knowing their intentions.  This just seemed different to me.
I think back to when Mike Tyson was at the end of his career and still fighting.  He was known to go a little haywire on his opponent...reporters...or anyone else in the vicinity.  Mike blamed it on not taking his meds just before fights.  He felt it took his edge off--an edge he felt he needed as a competitor--a gladiator.  I can't help but think MAYBE Ron (who by his own admission) suffers from mental issues in which he's being treated.  Ron's numbers have picked up during April.  His aggressiveness Sunday showed a different guy Laker fans haven't seen in the purple and gold.
I'm a die hard Lakers fan--always have been. I'd love nothing more than to get another ring this year and tie Boston for most all time. Not at the expense of another player.  I hope Ron isn't sacrificing his mental health for the sake of a game.  He appeared to be contrite afterward. I believe him.  For a guy who worked hard to get a championship his whole career only to auction the ring off to donate to mental health charities says a lot about his character.  I certainly hope James Harden is OK and back playing, but selfishly I'm rooting for my guy--Metta World Peace aka Ron Artest to get himself back where he needs to be.  Not for another ring, but because it's the right thing to do.