We've had four very fun victories this year. We beat the Lakers at full strength, we beat our hated rival Timberwolves, and we won two classic OT games against Houston. Games against Spurs and Wizards had exciting 4th quarters but we lost.
Apparently after that Portland game a fan wrote a complaining letter to Pops and he wrote back! He said: "If I was in your position, I would write the same letter. I agree with you totally... You're right. But my priorities are different than yours.'" Telling the story later he said: "In the general sense, frankly, everything doesn't go our way in life."
...whelp, it sounds like Pop might have to start giving a fuck -- NBA vows to sanction Spurs for resting regulars: Welcome to the SterNBA -- what a fucking asshole!
I fully support Stern on this. I also think the coach should have to sit himself one game for each healthy player he sent home.
Had he sat one p[layer each game rather than play all 3 then sit all 3 there would have been no problem at all. Pop is deliberately grandstanding to gain attention either for the Spurs or himself. It's true the Spurs don't really get much press for such a successful team. Maybe Pops is campaigning for Sterm's job.
Or as we already know Stern loves the Lakers but I'm surprised he was part of the sanctions then? (down below). I can understand the playoffs but before regular season games especially when the Spurs just finished their 17th game? Plus this is the 82 game schedule not the 66 game season that we had last year. So don't players have longer periods of rest besides long road trips? Why didn't Pop just play his 4 best players for 5 minutes each and then bench them?
Good point. Next time TNT negotiates the NBA contract, it will discount for decreased ratings from national audience fatigue from the occasional bait and switch. Unless Stern puts a stop to it.
the next time Joey Crawford gets my star player into early foul trouble I'm going to complain!! I paid good money to see healthy players play the game!!
Random thoughts: My first instinct is that Pop's the fucking coach and he knows what's good for his players (and Tim Duncan's incredible play this season is evidence for the success of his policies). BUT: there is something to the idea that he could rest the starters incrementally. BUT BUT: why not get it over with and not disrupt the chemistry? And it's not like he didn't care about the game - they nearly won, for fuck's sake. And the other team can't really complain - they WANT to win. They get rewards for wins. Where are the fines for teams that tank for the lottery? The analogy with a rock band (thank you Brian Schmitz) is totally asinine. Bands aren't teams - they don't have a bench. And bands don't have to tour - they can take years out if they want. And, apart from the singer with his or her voice, there's not much wear-and-tear. Bands don't have a biologically determined window on their ability to earn money doing what they do (although, looking at the Stones, it would be better if they did). If the analogy WAS a good one, and bands were FORCED to tour by their record company then I would be on the side of any manager that canceled dates for the good of the health of the band and to extend their careers.
I don't like Stern's take on this one. As long as someone has to pay regular season prices for a preseason game, I don't want to hear anyone say "oh, I was expecting to see stars for my hard-earned money. That's not fair!" IF, maybe, this was Pop doing this in San Antonio for the home crowd, I'd have a small problem with it. Pop doesn't owe a thing to the MIA ticket-holders. He owes it to the ownership of the team (and, tangentially, to the fans of the team) to try to win a championship. If he chooses to keep his older players away from injury by not playing a good team on the last night of a 4-in-5 road trip that they have a poor chance of winning anyway, that's his call (or, his GM's and owner's call). And if they're not playing, why NOT send them home early for a night with the wife and kiddos? And if Stern doesn't want this happening, don't schedule 4 road games in 5 nights. Problem solved.
I'm curious to see what the sanctions will be. They can't take away draft picks, right? Maybe some fines, but anything more would be stupid on Stern's part.
Well for all of you that do not like David Stern including myself I do have to say this, If it was not for Stern the NBA most likely would not be where it is today if at all. Before Stern came the NBA was really really struggling.
Then he'd be coaching 3 games slightly undermanned, and have three games with greater chances of losing, instead of one game while significantly undermanned.
