Commish: Sanctions for Spurs

[zbikowski88]

San Antonio Spurs to sit 4 of top 5 scorers vs. Miami Heat - ESPN

MIAMI -- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sent stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, plus key role player Danny Green, home for Thursday night's game against the Miami Heat, choosing rest instead of playing them in an early-season showdown.

NBA commissioner David Stern promised repercussions for the move, saying the Spurs will face "substantial sanctions" for their approach to the game.

"I apologize to all NBA fans," Stern said in a statement. "This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."

 

[Ironman8]

Pretty dangerous precedent to set IMO. What does he do when teams sit out players down the stretch now, either to get ready for the playoffs or tank for draft picks?

 

[SaltyND24]

Maaaaaaan F*CK DAVID STERN!!! Not only for this, but for other reasons, being a Lakers fan...

 

[4irishnation]

Stern can sit and spin!!!!!!

 

[Grahambo]

He has no business disciplining the Spurs for doing what is the best interest for their team. One game in late November is nothing but rest is everything. He better change his course because there is absolutely nothing wrong with what the Spurs are doing.

 

[Emcee77]

Pretty dangerous precedent to set IMO. What does he do when teams sit out players down the stretch now, either to get ready for the playoffs or tank for draft picks?

Absolutely ... what, will guys have to play hurt now? It's a long season and he's trying to manage his team so they stay healthy. I don't see anything wrong with that.

 

[Downinthebend]

Also the Spurs almost won.

 

[CTIDANDREW]

Commissioner of a sports league is a very thankless job. I personally feel David Stern has done a great job of growing the sport throughout his tenure. Although, if he follows through with this it will come out looking just as bad as the Chris Paul No trade for "basketball reasons" fiasco. It is good he is retiring, it seems as if he has lost sense of reality lately.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I wouldn't put it past Popp to have sat these guys tonight, specifically, out of spite. He's an ornery dude like that. But so what? It's his team. He has to be permitted to manage it the way that he thinks will give him the best chance to win a championship. If that means giving his vets a day off, so be it. It isn't the league's business. I cannot wait to be rid of Stern as a basketball fan. He is the absolute worst.

 

[Opus]

I really haven't followed professional basketball since the days of Magic/Bird. Decisions like this aren't going to change my mind anytime soon. Stern has no business telling teams how to manage their players. What's next, Stern has input as to who teams draft based on his perception of what each team needs?

 

[ohara831]

Commish overreacted and now his threat looks stupid. Spurs played a heck of a game and almost won. Teams rest players all through the season. Just because this was against the Heat, he had a hissy fit. Hope he is man enough to say he overreacted and let this go.

 

[Woneone]

Commish overreacted and now his threat looks stupid. Spurs played a heck of a game and almost won. Teams rest players all through the season. Just because this was against the Heat, he had a hissy fit. Hope he is man enough to say he overreacted and let this go.

You know there wasn't a single person in the NBA office that was rooting for the Spurs last night.

If they would have pulled it off, Stern would have looked like an epic moron.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I wouldn't put it past Popp to have sat these guys tonight, specifically, out of spite. He's an ornery dude like that. But so what? It's his team. He has to be permitted to manage it the way that he thinks will give him the best chance to win a championship. If that means giving his vets a day off, so be it. It isn't the league's business. I cannot wait to be rid of Stern as a basketball fan. He is the absolute worst.

Not when ratings are on the line.

 

[KPENN]

Pathetic

NBA fines San Antonio Spurs $250,000 for sitting players - ESPN

 

[ChiRish]

Pathetic

NBA fines San Antonio Spurs $250,000 for sitting players - ESPN

Just utterly ridiculous. I understand the need to ensure that fans' interests are at the forefront, but what the Spurs were doing was strategy. They're trying to make sure their best players are ready for the playoffs at the end of the year, which hmmm, idk, might be good for fans as well?

The past couple years, Stern has taken to meddling with intrateam affairs too much, and this is just a perfect example of that. Unreal.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

He thought that sitting these players would give them a better chance to win more games later. That's exactly what Stern should want. Silly.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I hate the NBA. I think its completely unwatchable. College is much more fun to watch, like football.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I hate the NBA. I think its completely unwatchable. College is much more fun to watch, like football.

The NBA should only play the 4th quarter and the playoffs. The first three quarters of every regular season game is garbage.

 

[GowerND11]

I cannot believe he actually followed through. I hate the NBA, total garbage. Stern needs to go and the Spurs need to appeal this. This is boarderline dictator-like action. Too bad for the fans if the Spurs didn't play their best players. I understand they spent the money, but the reason to play/sit players shouldn't be based on the fans, but on what is best for the teams.

 

[ohara831]

I hope the Spurs refuse to pay the fine. Appeal or sue. What is the Commish going to do? They need to make him back down or make him look bad. That fine is ridiculous.

 

[Black Irish]

So people complain that the NBA is too driven by big name individual stars, so the Spurs rest their big name stars and give the back-ups a chance to get game time, and the Spurs are the villains? And Stern's justification is that the fans are getting screwed? Nice to see him looking out for the little guy.

 

[Woneone]

The NBA should only play the 4th quarter and the playoffs. The first three quarters of every regular season game is garbage.

Buddy of mine does some pretty hefty online sports betting. He said that the most sure bets are usually 2nd half prop lines in the NBA. It's amazing how little defense a team plays when their up 20 at the half. Teams always make a run.