Wow Wow NBA Comish slaps Spurs for non performance

[Bargnani_]

MIAMI -- For nine of the San Antonio Spurs, a six-game, nine-night trip was ending in Miami on Thursday.
For four others, it ended one game and one night earlier.
Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green -- the core of the Spurs -- were sent home by San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich a day early to rest, and weren't with the team for its nationally televised matchup in Miami against the reigning NBA champion Heat.
Following the decision to rest his star players, NBA Commissioner David Stern released a statement addressing the situation.

Popovich said he made the decision when he saw the schedule.

All four of those players appeared in Orlando on Wednesday, when the Spurs improved to 9-1 on the road and 5-0 on this trip. The team plane went to Miami, but that group went back home on Thursday instead.

"Everybody has to make decisions about their schedule, about players playing and back-to-backs and trips and that sort of thing," Popovich said. "In our case, this month we've had 11 away games, after (Thursday). We've had an eight-day trip and a 10-day trip, and we're ending it with four (games) in five nights here. I think it'd be unwise to be playing our guys in that kind of a situation, given their history."

Duncan is in his 16th NBA season, Parker his 12th and Ginobili his 11th. Green is a kid compared to those guys -- 25 years old and a veteran of only 110 NBA games -- but Popovich said he chose to rest him as well because of his high minute count.

Green leads the Spurs with 496 minutes played this season, which was 44th-most in the NBA entering Thursday's games. The Spurs aren't expected to practice Friday, then face Memphis on Saturday in San Antonio.

 

[Social Gent]

It's the right call, by the Spurs.

You never see Bud Selig telling teams "it's bad for the sport" when they bench their more regular players for (most) of the third or fourth game of a series at the end of an away stretch.
Fans aren't always happy that they don't get to see, say, Jeter, but it's a team sport and as a team they win.

 

[Plan B]

That was a slap in the face to the fans who saved their pennies to see these guys, and the dads who took their sons to see their heroes. They essentially tanked, and I hope they face severe sanctions.

 

[Babypowder]

That was a slap in the face to the fans who saved their pennies to see these guys, and the dads who took their sons to see their heroes. They essentially tanked, and I hope they face severe sanctions.

you obviously didn't watch the game.

He rested his star players because it was the last game of a 6 game. road trip the NBA needs to schedule their games alot better. Teams do this all the time. tough tittles if it was done on a nationally televised game.

 

[Dawgger]

If they had just benched the players would Stern still be upset?

Surprised the Raps weren't fined for benching Bargnani and his "sore" ankle in Memphis

 

[gcostanza]

That was a slap in the face to the fans who saved their pennies to see these guys, and the dads who took their sons to see their heroes. They essentially tanked, and I hope they face severe sanctions.

The Spurs lost by 5, after a furious 4th Quarter rally by Miami. Stern can go fuck a duck.

 

[Bargnani_]

The Spurs lost by 5, after a furious 4th Quarter rally by Miami. Stern can go fuck a duck.

The fact that it was in Miami where there fans get to see 3 Allstars ( 2 of which might be HOF'ers ) 41 nights a year . I am not going to pity that fan base . Heck this Raptors roster has no all stars ... Maybe Stern should fine Colengelo for his lack of producing a allstar in his 7th year as GM .

 

[richaceg]

Team strategy...Stern has no business with this one. He can call it poor or stupid move but. Spurs management can do whatever they want to be successful. If Pop want to rest his aging players...he has every freedom to do so. If he did play the 3 stars he had and one of 'em gets hurt...I'm interested on what Stern has to say.

 

[GlavaMan]

The players rested were older vets, may have been different if they were younger. Stern should STFU.

Popovich looked very friendly with Lebron after the game, I guess he is a fan too!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Six road games (Boston, Indiana, Toronto, Washington, Orlando + Miami) in nine days. Stern should impose a "substantial sanction" on those responsible for the NBA schedule...

 

[mightymouse007]

but seriously danny green needs to be rested?. tony parker is only like 30 years old

 

[Captain Fantastic]

but seriously danny green needs to be rested?. tony parker is only like 30 years old

Danny Green leads the team in minutes played. Tony Parker is in his 12th NBA season + lots of playoffs (think 2+ season's worth of games) + international ball every summer for France... he may 'only' be 30, but he has the wear and tear of a 35+ year old.

 

[shack]

I think Stern should have waited 'til the game was over.

The Spurs were obviously very competitive in the game despite the sit outs.

If they got blown away he'd have had a stronger argument.

 

[mightymouse007]

It's all Greg Popovich! He can turn crap players into good. Put our players with him, we be as good as well.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Adrian Wojnarowski destroys David Stern:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--d...-culture-war-against-the-spurs-194828970.html

 

[ahlungjai]

i love pops this just shows me what a coach he is...he really cares about his players thats why these guys come back to play for him and play their hearts out when they out there

stern mad cause it was on national tv and against the champs which might of upset some fans.

would of been funny if the spurs actually won...only lost by 3 :O

 

[JamesDouglas]

Adrian Wojnarowski destroys David Stern:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--d...-culture-war-against-the-spurs-194828970.html

That was a bit harsh, it seems like Wojnarowski has a personal vendetta against Stern, just like how Stern supposedly has a personal vendetta against Popovich.

My opinion is that Popovich did what's best for his team, it was a long road trip, and Duncan and Ginobili are old and need the rest. Yes it's true that he could have just played them 5 minutes each, but a lot of the grind is travelling, so going home and resting was the best thing for his stars.

On the other hand, you have to look at it from a fan's perspective, maybe not so much a Heat fan, but other fans. This was a nationally televised game, I was actually looking forward to this matchup and when I found out Duncan, Parker and Ginobili weren't playing I turned it off, I'm sure I wasn't alone. Another thing is that if I were a paying fan and I went to see the Raps vs. Spurs last Sunday at the ACC and Popovich pulled that stunt I'd be pissed and would have demanded a refund. The Raps suck and they have tiered ticketing prices based on opponent. You don't pay to see the Raps, you pay to see their opponent, just like how I'm paying $300+ to see the Lakers and Heat, when the same seats cost about $100 against a team like the T-Wolves.

With all that said, I think the fine was fair to send a message to other teams so that it doesn't happen again. For the Spurs, $250,000 is not pocket change, but it's not that much either. In comparison, it's about getting a $250 speeding ticket for the average person, it stings, but it's very manageable.

 

[JamesDouglas]

What would have happened if Miami would have "rested" James, Wade and Bosh during that game too?
It would be like watching a preseason game.
I think there would have been a riot, especially from the people in the courtside seats.

Popovich should have maybe given them reduced minutes but not sent them back to San Antonio.
It's cheating the fans who came to see these guys.

It's true, and TNT and advertisers paid a lot to have broadcast rights and to have commercial slots so when Popovich pulls a stunt like that and the fans change the channel everyone loses money, and the NBA loses future earning potential. I can see why the Spurs got fined. Popovich did what's best for his team, but not what's best for the NBA and the fans. As a coach should he have ther right to do what's best for his team and the expense of the NBA and fans? It's up for debate, but I think the fine was fair.

 

[Dawgger]

It's true, and TNT and advertisers paid a lot to have broadcast rights and to have commercial slots so when Popovich pulls a stunt like that and the fans change the channel everyone loses money, and the NBA loses future earning potential. I can see why the Spurs got fined. Popovich did what's best for his team, but not what's best for the NBA and the fans. As a coach should he have ther right to do what's best for his team and the expense of the NBA and fans? It's up for debate, but I think the fine was fair.

If the players dress but don't play would the team still be fined?

 

[JamesDouglas]

If the players dress but don't play would the team still be fined?

Possibly, although it's the coaches decision who plays and who doesn't. If they each played a few minutes I can't see how any fine could be given out.