OT: Popovich rests 4 starters tonight against Miami. Stern vows sanctions.
Spurs are playing their 6th game in 9 nights. They won the first five. Game tonight is against Miami. Popovich opted to send Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli home. Figured the old men needed rest. He also sent Danny Green home, as he felt he has been playing too many minutes.
Stern is pissed off, as it affects the fan experience.... and promises punishment.
I think I'm siding with Popovich here.... Yeah, it would suck to have tickets to the game expecting to see two of the best teams play, only to learn that 4 of the starters from one team are going to sit it out.... but ultimately Popovich should be able to make decisions that he feels are best for the team. Hell, if his team trips up as some point, it's his ass on the line and Stern won't run to his rescue.
FYI, the second string for SA is leading the Heat 76-73 at the end of the third. Probably won't hold up but if it does.... Wow. It would be a humiliating loss for Miami.
Edit: Damn.... so close. It's still embarassing for Miami though. They had to play their core the majority of the game to squeak by a depleted Spurs team in Miami none the less.....
November 29th, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
The only reason I'm watching the end of this game is this thread. Stern owes Mgo.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
November 29th, 2012 at 10:36 PM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 12:49 AM ^
*reductio :)
/themoreyouknow
November 30th, 2012 at 7:28 AM ^
November 29th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
I don't think it's really playing too many games, but more of the 6 games in 9 nights thing
November 29th, 2012 at 10:39 PM ^
I swear that David Stern has been NBA commissioner for the last 75 years and looked exactly the same for that entire period. In fact, I found pictures.
David Stern in 2012:
David Stern in 1937:
November 29th, 2012 at 10:51 PM ^
Wow, fashion really is cyclical. It almost looks like he is wearing the same thing.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:39 PM ^
I know the chances of it happening are slight to never, but I would love to see a team/player just refuse to pay the fine, especially if it's an absurd one (which I realize is a slipper slope in itself too).
But something like this, or the Suh fine (seriously, if they ruled it wasn't intentional so he shouldn't be suspended, why are they fining him for something accidental?), I would love to see the commissioner's reaction to being told no. It's probably something the leagues need more of anyways
November 29th, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
This isn't Russia. Is this Russia? This isn't Russia.
How exactly can a commissioner tell a team they can't rest their starters? That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:32 PM ^
November 29th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
When you let all the superstars pool in Miami, LA, Boston and the 4 or 5 other teams that can afford to pay these guys you don't have parity. You don't have parity you get 85% of the NBA teams out there with less talent than SA sits on their bench. Whats the diff?
November 29th, 2012 at 10:51 PM ^
Half the NFL is going to be fined in last week of the regular season.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
We want a good game with big names! You will suffer for your rash decision!
November 29th, 2012 at 11:12 PM ^
He makes his living as a basketball coach by winning games and ultimately hoping to win championships. He is not a circus ring leader out there to wow the crowd. If Popovich played those guys and two got injured from just being worn out you can bet all the talking heads would be asking what the heck Popovich was thinking.
I don't think Stern has any case for this. If you don't like people resting players then don't schedule teams for 6 games in 9 nights
November 29th, 2012 at 11:14 PM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 8:46 AM ^
Teams have been fined for doing this before. The Lakers were fined for sitting Worley and Magic
November 29th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
who saw "sanctions" and then shitted my pants
November 29th, 2012 at 11:43 PM ^
November 29th, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^
The coach also has a responsibility to keep the integrity of the game intact. The commissioner has that responsibility too. Popovich has the right to rest his players but to rest four starters against a good team is the same as taking a loss. He could have rested one or two guys a night and spread it out over a couple of games.
If Popovich and the Spurs get punished they will have earned the punishment. Of course, it's not the end of the work either.
November 30th, 2012 at 12:23 AM ^
They should've won the game. If they did, that would have give a big FU to Stern.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:24 PM ^
if the money the spurs were fined went back to the fans who paid inflated ticket prices for a marquee game rather than back to the league and into the owners' pockets.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:36 PM ^
The NBA becomes more like professional wrestling every single day. This sounds like a Raw vs. Smackdown storyline.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:37 PM ^
In honor of Greg Popovich, I'm going to rest tonight instead of doing homework.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:38 PM ^
I did my homework and it appears you stole that from the top comment on the espn page.
.
.
.
weak.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:39 PM ^
Got me... But really don't want to work on this crap.
November 30th, 2012 at 12:12 AM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 12:06 AM ^
This doesn't make me think of David Stern as less of a douchebag than I already did, and it gives the multitude of fans who've believed all the talk about meddling in the outcome of games, players being promoted by the league, rigged draft lotteries, approved or revoked trades, favoritism by the refs, and even rigging playoff series more credence by being so concerned about starpower in this fashion.
November 30th, 2012 at 12:15 AM ^
Let's look at this a little closer. Miami barely beat a depleted SA roster. Can you imagine how lopsided this game would have been if they played full strength? So obviously Popovich was watching out for the league here and decided to send his guys home to ensure a close game. And now Stern is going to fine them? He should just trust Pop's judgement. I mean I could get a good look at a Tbone steak by sticking my head up a butcher's ass, but wouldn't you rather take his word for it?
November 30th, 2012 at 1:48 AM ^
It was Popovich's call, but these guys make $14.5M, $12.5M, $9.5M, and $3.5M, respectively. I don't think the Spurs should be sanctioned, but these guys make too much money to have a rest day. Why isn't hockey on? Damn
November 30th, 2012 at 3:02 AM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 5:47 AM ^
What Stern could do, if his concern was really with the fan experience, is take a look at the long series of administrative decisions in the league office that led to a situation where this is the rational move for a coach to make. Why are teams forced to play four games in five days? Why is the incentive to win a regular season game so weak that an elite team can treat it like an 82-game exhibition season to prepare for the playoffs?
November 30th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^
I don't see what's wrong with this, the Wizards have been resting their starters the first 12 games of the season
November 30th, 2012 at 11:05 AM ^
Why do I feel like Stern, Bettman, and Goodell are in a competition to see who can be the most-hated commisioner in the world?
November 30th, 2012 at 11:05 AM ^
Popovich can coach the way he wants. This may be a fight Stern wants to avoid
November 30th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^
November 30th, 2012 at 12:44 PM ^
Here is an idea NBA, don't play 82 meaningless games that no one but die hards give a rats behind about, and you won't have to play 6 games in 9 nights. David Stern is such a tool anyway, it is hard to justify sanctions against a coach who is trying to win games. I don't even watch the NBA during the regular season, but the playoffs are ok.
November 30th, 2012 at 1:08 PM ^