Spurs Rest 4, Stern Threatens "Substantial Sanctions"

[mac4lyfe]

It also looks like the commish in waiting already ruled on this practice last season...

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/0...ay-their-game/

With his Spurs facing three games in three nights on a West Coast road trip this week — at Golden State, at the L.A. Lakers, at Sacramento — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has an opportunity to get creative again with his roster deployment. However he decides to play it — or whoever he decides not to play — is evidently perfectly acceptable to the league.

NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver said Friday that the Spurs would face no fines, suspensions or other reprisals for Popovich’s decision last week to withhold the services of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker from San Antonio’s game at Utah.

“I think this is a unique season,” Silver said. “And the fans understand that competitive strategy is part of what goes into coaching this year. It’s unique and teams like the San Antonio Spurs are playing to win a championship, and I think fans understand that.”

Popovich said he picked that game “pretty much when the schedule came out” and didn’t even have them travel with the club to Salt Lake City. The league was fine with that, Silver said.

“The strategic resting of particular players on particular nights is within the discretion of the teams. And Gregg Popovich in particular is probably the last coach that I would second-guess.”

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

pretty funny tweets here...

http://inagist.com/all/274364785305468929/

Usual drivel posted by a bunch of smartasses. Stern is doing a great job. Some people paid through the nose to go watch superstars and instead got to watch benchwarmers.

[mac4lyfe]

How can Stern tell an organization who and how to play basketball games? The Spurs were playing their 17th game of the season already while most teams have only played 13. The Spurs have played 11 games on the road, so they have played almost as many games on the road as the majority of the league has played in total.

Popovich isn't a dummy. He saw his small market team playing 4 road games in 5 nights culminating in a nationally televised game with the NBA champs Heat and face of the league Lebron. Stern and the NBA was deliberately taking a shot at the Spurs by setting them up for failure early in the season to send a message on a team that has smaller market ratings.

Stern is just pissed that Pops showed him the finger...

Originally Posted by GatorAvatar

Usual drivel posted by a bunch of smartasses. Stern is doing a great job. Some people paid through the nose to go watch superstars and instead got to watch benchwarmers.

[MiracleMax]

Stern is being a jackass here. He should impose substantial sanctions on himself for such incompetent scheduling.

[channingcrowderhungry]

Originally Posted by GatorAvatar

Usual drivel posted by a bunch of smartasses. Stern is doing a great job. Some people paid through the nose to go watch superstars and instead got to watch benchwarmers.

Again, arguing people paid a bunch of money is the wrong argument to make. If the tickets had only been $6 you would of been okay with sitting them? What about at $10? $20? What's the line?

You're arguing against the price of the ticket, not the principle of a coach sitting his players.

[gator_glory]

And now Stern wonders why fans continue to believe in conspiracy theories with the refs......the message is not a good one.

[GatrHeel]

I agree that he's over the line here, but Stern certainly can't back down now. It'll be interesting to see what the "substantial sanctions" turn out to be.

[PSGator66]

I can appreciate everyone's take on but I think it is time for Stern to pack it in.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by PSGator66

I can appreciate everyone's take on but I think it is time for Stern to pack it in.

He has already said he is walking away next year.

[your_perfect_enemy]

2 points, the Spurs have all these road games because the rodeo is being held in their building for like 2-3 weeks, so that's not all the NBA's fault (similar to the Bulls' 'circus trip'). Now they definitely could have spaced the games out more.

You can't make any argument in regards to screwing over Vegas. They are completely separate from the NBA and if that plays any ounce of part of the reasoning then you're just begging for conspiracy theories. If that screws up the casinos/lines, oh well.

I know it's apples to oranges but it's somewhat ironic that he's bitching about a team resting their stars after he just suspended one of the Celtics best players for 2 games. What about the fans that paid tickets to see Rondo play?

I absolutley agree with Popovich on this one, I would love to see what rule he broke.

I think my favorite part of the story is that the 4 players flew home on a regular southwest flight, which doesnt even have first class. I wonder if they were able to checkin early enough to get into a good boarding group

[mac4lyfe]

^^^ Perfect enemy - The Spurs rodeo trip where they usually have to play 9 or 8 straight games on the road means they have to have more HOME games sprinkled in during the season. It makes no sense for them to have played 11 road games already when they will have another 2 week stretch of all road games as well.

It seems as if the NBA are lumping a lot of road games consecutively for all the teams. In the past, teams would usually play 3 or 4 straight games on the road. This year for some reason teams are playing 5 or 6 consecutive road games. I'm not sure why they did this? Maybe they want players to have more time with families when they are home? Heck maybe they're trying to disrupt some betting systems that focused on 3/4 road games?

Vegas makes money regardless who plays or sits. They had action on both sides prior to the announcement. They probably got much more action after it was known the 4 weren't going to play after they adjusted the line. If you research you will see that teams will cover the spread at a very high rate when 1 or more star players are left out.

[Ahab]

Pop could have sat his players in any other game during this 5 game stretch and it wouldn't have been a problem. But you don't do it when your game is in primetime. It's bad for the league. I know I would have watched that game if all of the starters had been playing but instead I skipped it.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by your_perfect_enemy

2 points, the Spurs have all these road games because the rodeo is being held in their building for like 2-3 weeks, so that's not all the NBA's fault (similar to the Bulls' 'circus trip'). Now they definitely could have spaced the games out more.

You can't make any argument in regards to screwing over Vegas. They are completely separate from the NBA and if that plays any ounce of part of the reasoning then you're just begging for conspiracy theories. If that screws up the casinos/lines, oh well.

I know it's apples to oranges but it's somewhat ironic that he's bitching about a team resting their stars after he just suspended one of the Celtics best players for 2 games. What about the fans that paid tickets to see Rondo play?

I absolutley agree with Popovich on this one, I would love to see what rule he broke.

I think my favorite part of the story is that the 4 players flew home on a regular southwest flight, which doesnt even have first class. I wonder if they were able to checkin early enough to get into a good boarding group

I disagree with some of your points, but I thoroughly enjoyed your well-reasoned, well-written, factual and funny (the southwest bit) post.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by Ahab

Pop could have sat his players in any other game during this 5 game stretch and it wouldn't have been a problem. But you don't do it when your game is in primetime. It's bad for the league. I know I would have watched that game if all of the starters had been playing but instead I skipped it.

Very mature reasoning. I agree 100%.

[gatorlife]

Why sit 4 of the team's top 5 scorers on a nationally televised game vs. the defending champions... He could have staggered the rest throughout the road trip (one starter per in earlier games) rather than send the entire scrub team in (I know that they nearly won, but that is beside the point -- Heat may not have been up for bonner, etc.). And why send them all home rather than have them on the bench (resting and not exerting themselves there)?

[gator_glory]

Originally Posted by your_perfect_enemy

2 points, the Spurs have all these road games because the rodeo is being held in their building for like 2-3 weeks, so that's not all the NBA's fault (similar to the Bulls' 'circus trip'). Now they definitely could have spaced the games out more.

You can't make any argument in regards to screwing over Vegas. They are completely separate from the NBA and if that plays any ounce of part of the reasoning then you're just begging for conspiracy theories. If that screws up the casinos/lines, oh well.

I know it's apples to oranges but it's somewhat ironic that he's bitching about a team resting their stars after he just suspended one of the Celtics best players for 2 games. What about the fans that paid tickets to see Rondo play?

I absolutley agree with Popovich on this one, I would love to see what rule he broke.

I think my favorite part of the story is that the 4 players flew home on a regular southwest flight, which doesnt even have first class. I wonder if they were able to checkin early enough to get into a good boarding group

Spurs rodeo road trip is in February. This road swing is in addition to the rodeo road-trip.

[tilly]

Originally Posted by GatorAvatar

Usual drivel posted by a bunch of smartasses. Stern is doing a great job. Some people paid through the nose to go watch superstars and instead got to watch benchwarmers.

Nobody in Miami was paying to see aging Tim Duncan or Tony Parker.

The stars they came to see....played.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by Ahab

Pop could have sat his players in any other game during this 5 game stretch and it wouldn't have been a problem. But you don't do it when your game is in primetime. It's bad for the league. I know I would have watched that game if all of the starters had been playing but instead I skipped it.

LOL . . . I was the opposite.
I had no idea this game was on, and have no interest in the NBA. But due to the circumstances, I thought it was very compelling that the SPurs were winning much of the game.
I had not watched a single minute of NBA basketball this season.. until last night. I had Heat-Spurs on the flip during our game.

[ih8danoles]

Originally Posted by Ahab

Pop could have sat his players in any other game during this 5 game stretch and it wouldn't have been a problem. But you don't do it when your game is in primetime. It's bad for the league. I know I would have watched that game if all of the starters had been playing but instead I skipped it.

well you missed the spurs almost beating the defending champs on their home floor without their 4 best players. It was a hell of an effort by the Spurs "benchwarmers".

[gatordd]

Stern is just trying to protect their product. It's his job.