Pop's decision should raise more question about NBA rather than Pop

[Manimal]

Let's see here, the NBA gives the Spurs a schedule of 6 road games in 9 days on the east coast.

They pull off a 5-1 record in that schedule which included a double overtime game. And now they start a home stand with their best players well rested with a good chance of being 9-1 in the last 10 games if they win all three of their very winnable games at home.

Could Pop have rested Ducan, Ginobili and Parker against Orlando? He could but they would still be on the road rather than at home spending time with their families unwinding. And the reserves could very well have lost to Orlando and then the starters could have lost to Miami and then a tired team coming off a brutal road trip would go up against Memphis. So he would have gone 0-2 against Orlando and Miami and then had a tired team against Memphis. Would there be such a hooplah had Pop rested the big three against Orlando? No one would care. He has done it before and no sanctions were handed out.

But isn't it better to take the easier win against Orlando and be well rested for Memphis. All wins count the same, don't they?

The questions Pop decision raises against the NBA:

1.) The Schedule

Let's face it, 82 games in a season is too long. Many a time have we seen teams mail-it-in on the second night of a back to back. But yeah somehow we are supposed to believe that it's better to have a tired Duncan on the floor not bringing it. If the NBA really cares about it's nationally televised game, then may be it should make sure both teams come into said televised game well rested. Spurs were handicapped for this match anyway, playing 6th game in 9 days whereas the Heat were coming off a two day rest.

Or better yet how about having fewer games in the season so there can be more rest days in between. If you are so concerned about the quality of the product, then do something productive about increasing the quality rather than handing out sanctions.

2.) Quality of competition

For all the ridiculous notions of parity, being very honest good teams like the Spurs, Heat, OKC etc have about 40 games on their schedule which they are gonna win if they really tried. The rest are against quality teams which could go either way depending on schedule and injuries.

Does it not make more sense to pick and choose among those remaining games about 15 that have ****ed by the schedule and let them go. It gives a team a better shot at the remaining games. And good teams can do this because frankly there a lot of teams out there which are just terrible,. Well coached professional teams can just show up in places like Washington, Charlotte, Orlando, Toronto, New Orleans, Phoenix, Cleveland etc and pick wins. Every win counts the same and a win against Orlando is the same as a win against at the end of the season.

Pop is just clever enough to use that to his advantage. You can't sanction coaches when 1/3 of your league puts up a poor product night in night out and you reward them with the most talented player coming through.

3. Who is Pop held responsible to? Miami fans or San Antonio fans?

NBA cuts his team a ridiculous schedule. Is he supposed to be more concerned about putting up a show in Miami and then running out a bunch of tired old geezers in San Antonio. Isn't he supposed to save his teams best for when they are at home in front of their own fans?

This isn't a decision against the spirit of the game. This wasn't tanking. This was Pop living and coaching in the reality of the situations put in front of him by the NBA. Isn't that his job? Is he a promoter or a coach? A marketing guy or a basketball guy?

They say the fans are cheated, they paid good money to see these guys play. Well ask the NBA to give it back. They created this schedule. They created a situation in which a team was playing it's 4th game in 5 days against a team coming off two days of rest. The NBA created a no-win situation for Pop. And when he surrendered to the situation they are gonna sanction him.

[LOOTERX9]

Then the spurs players should just retire if they can't handle the nba schedule. This is the pro's dude. If you can't handle the schedule well then you should not be playing in the league making millions of dollars..You make millions to entertain the fans, it's not all bout just playing a basketball game.

[futureman]

It could be possible that this decision came from ownership. The best reason this would've happened is because the owner may be involved in gambling against his own team and getting big payoffs from it.

[Manimal]

Then the spurs players should just retire if they can't handle the nba schedule. This is the pro's dude. If you can't handle the schedule well then you should not be playing in the league making millions of dollars..You make millions to entertai the fans, it's not all bout just playing a basketball game.

Way to miss the point. They can rest players on tough nights and still finish with a a great record. They finished with the best record in the Western Conference two years running even when resting players.

Now why the **** does Stern fine them?

[Manimal]

It could be possible that this decision came from ownership. The best reason this would've happened is because the owner may be involved in gambling against his own team and getting big payoffs from it.

Is that why they almost won the match while playing with their second unit?

[Yanks All Day]

I'm sure the Spurs fans would be much happier with a rested team making a deep run into the playoffs than exhausting themselves during the regular season. Yeah, the fans who paid to see the game might have been disappointed, but Pop's job is to win championships, not to entertain people. There is no issue with what Pop did, nor should Stern reprimand the Spurs.

[djohn2oo8]

He shouldn't have sent them straight home. At least have them show up at the game and rest.

[Hellcrooner]

I disagree that 82 games is too long.

BUT i do think the season is TOO SHORT.

It should start in mid september ( first half of september for preseason), and thus less back to backs, more time out between games, more time to rest, less injurys, more time for training and tactical learning = Better Product.

I mean, come on a lottery teams plaeyrs would rest may, june, july , agust, four ****ing months, the champions? two months and a half.

Thats friggin enough.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Then the spurs players should just retire if they can't handle the nba schedule. This is the pro's dude. If you can't handle the schedule well then you should not be playing in the league making millions of dollars..You make millions to entertai the fans, it's not all bout just playing a basketball game.

You're an idiot. They should retire yet they have had the best record in the league 2 years in a row? Oh yeah they made the WCF as well. Maybe Pop and the Spurs know what they are doing?

Why non Spurs fans are upset doesn't make any sense to me. If anything I should be mad i didn't get to see my favorite players. However i know that to make a strong playoff run the Spurs need to rest and manage the minutes of the big three so they are healthy when it really matters!

[LOOTERX9]

I'm sure the Spurs fans would be much happier with a rested team making a deep run into the playoffs than exhausting themselves during the regular season. Yeah, the fans who paid to see the game might have been disappointed, but Pop's job is to win championships, not to entertain people. There is no issue with what Pop did, nor should Stern reprimand the Spurs.

The problem is more of the fact that other teams will start doing what pop did this early in the season. That will destroy the NBA's brand...Can't have marquee games such as last night and christmas day be destroyed by having players rested. Come on now, pop could have rested these players in a different way than he did here.

[torocan]

Then the spurs players should just retire if they can't handle the nba schedule. This is the pro's dude. If you can't handle the schedule well then you should not be playing in the league making millions of dollars..You make millions to entertain the fans, it's not all bout just playing a basketball game.

The Spurs players will retire when they stop kicking everyone's butts.

Most games won last year? Spurs.
Most consecutive games won last year? Spurs.

3rd highest win percentage this year? Spurs.
Most road games this year? Spurs.

If the Spurs "can't handle the schedule" and they STILL keep kicking the butts of most of the League, maybe Stern should be looking for a Different team to fine...

Here's another interesting tidbit...

Chairman of the Owner's Association of the NBA? Holtman (Spurs)

Expect a lot of hand wringing by Stern, some minor slap on the wrist, and Pops to go on his merry way into the playoffs....

[Manimal]

The problem is more of the fact that other teams will start doing what pop did this early in the season. That will destroy the NBA's brand...Can't have marquee games such as last night and christmas day be destroyed by having players rested. Come on now, pop could have rested these players in a different way than he did here.

May be it will make the NBA understand that more rest for players equals better performances from them and also leads to longer careers. May be it won't destroy the NBA brand rather force the NBA to improve it's product.

6 road game is 9 days is a stupid schedule. Most teams play like **** when they are playing they're fourth game in five days.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

He shouldn't have sent them straight home. At least have them show up at the game and rest.

Why? If they aren't going to play then what's the point of having them fly to an away game when they would just have to fly right back after the game?

[Il Mago50]

It's Pop's team and he's the best coach in the NBA from the past 20-30 years so let him do what he wants to.

Stern doing what he did was the stupidest thing I've ever seen, it's not like NBA fans have to be glued to the TV screen, if they don't wanna watch cuz the big 3 aren't playing for the Spurs then go out and get some fresh air, no one is holding a gun to your head.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

The problem is more of the fact that other teams will start doing what pop did this early in the season. That will destroy the NBA's brand...Can't have marquee games such as last night and christmas day be destroyed by having players rested. Come on now, pop could have rested these players in a different way than he did here.

Interesting, because this isn't the first time the Spurs have done this, and other NBA teams haven't followed the trend yet. What makes this game different? Your argument sucks..


Please explain how Pop should have rested his players.