Ron was definitely in the wrong (by a long shot), but I feel like people on here are jumping on him more than they would another player because 1. -Hes a Laker, and 2. so many on this site have a crush on OKC.
His elbow isnt even comparable to most of the events its being compared to, because he didnt even look before he threw it. He had NO IDEA he would hit Harden in the head. Artest was pounding his chest and jumping around. He just lashed out blindly. It could have even been a laker teammate behind him for all he knew (highly unlikely since Harden was the last to pass by him, but still possible).
If he was looking at Harden, sized him up, and then elbowed him, I'd agree with the backlash...but he didnt. He had every intention of hitting whoever he felt on him, but he had no clue whatsoever where he was going to hit that person (if at all). Striking backwards blindly like that, he could just as easily have missed completely, and this wouldnt even be news.
This was way more an emotion response like "get off me", than it was a premeditated assault on Harden in particular. It just had unfortunately damaging placement.