Stern vs. The Spurs

[kdspurman]

If this is really about the fans like so many people are saying it is, how there was no outcry for teams tanking is mind-boggling. Fans are still not seeing competitive ball. And at the end of the season, yes I get its later in the season but fans still pay $ right? They still don't see their favorite players play. Like Celtics/heat last year on TNT. Its the same thing just a different time of the year.

So what, at the end of the season should tickets be refundable? Cheaper? Buyer beware in fine print? A lot of the arguments are very hypocritical

[Raps08-09 Champ]

His intent was to improve the NBA. However, intent doesn't mean anything for actual results. In which case, has pissed off the majority of fans and have many fans comparing the NBA to the WWE.

You think Stern cares about the fans?

Everyone here is a puppet to Stern. We complain every single game and we see threads all the time, yet everyone here helps put money in Stern's pocket.

Stern, by doing something controversial like this, is getting money from people talking about it.

[amos1er]

The game in question was a TNT broadcast. Spurs had 4 road games in 5 nights, and Miami had 4 days off. Stern was obviously setting the stage for his boy lebron to look great in the eyes of the fans in this highly viewed match up. Pops didn't want to risk wear and tear to his aging star players in a situation that did not favor them at all.

Pops knew that even if he did play Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli, they would not be at 100% while the Heat players would. Pops, like Phil Jackson also knows Stern likes to make Lebron look good in these highly televised games. So on top of all the disadvantages that the Spurs would have had going into that game, the refs surely would have been on the Heats side as well. So basically the chances of the Spurs pulling off a win were slim to none. With all that in mind, Pops stuck it to Stern and rested his players instead of putting them into a losing situation that made his boy Lebron look good. Pops wants to do everything in his power to help his team get a ring so why would he risk possible injury or additional wear and tear on an unfair situation were they will most likely lose anyways.

Why on earth would Pops want to risk so much for no reward. Much props to Pops on this one. **** YOU STERN YOU CROOKED FASCIST ****!!!

[Guppyfighter]

Yes, when you alienate fans it will eventually hurt financially. There is a reason why basketball is still behind baseball in profits. It has alienated many fans from its previous actions.

[Raps08-09 Champ]

Yes, when you alienate fans it will eventually hurt financially. There is a reason why basketball is still behind baseball in profits. It has alienated many fans from its previous actions.

Ironically, the people he 'alienates' are still watching.

NBA is more popular than baseball...

[Sly Guy]

I'm sure people understand that. People also understand teams should at least give warning (which is what Stern wanted), considering this was a game that had great magnitude.

He made his decision for the NBA. He wasn't biased against the Spurs or he wasn't biased for anyone else in the league. He did it for the league.

So what, we then let Stern off the hook cuz he didn't issue the warning instead of the fine? No, he's made a bad call, misused his power to do it. Worse, he doesn't acknowledge it's a mistake. Who made him god? Bigger than the game?

The argument can be equally be made that the best move for the game would be to ensure Parker, Timmy, and Manu needed to be rested to help avoid injury, thus, being able to play more overall games this season, and therefore entertaining that many more fans.

Who says what he thinks is right, or even if this is the kind of thought process he had in making his decision? Are we just to accept the fact David Stern can arbitrarily step in at any time to impose what he thinks is best for the league?

[Raps08-09 Champ]

So what, we then let Stern off the hook cuz he didn't issue the warning instead of the fine? No, he's made a bad call, misused his power to do it. Worse, he doesn't acknowledge it's a mistake. Who made him god? Bigger than the game?

The argument can be equally be made that the best move for the game would be to ensure Parker, Timmy, and Manu needed to be rested to help avoid injury, thus, being able to play more overall games this season, and therefore entertaining that many more fans.

Who says what he thinks is right, or even if this is the kind of thought process he had in making his decision? Are we just to accept the fact David Stern can arbitrarily step in at any time to impose what he thinks is best for the league?

Who's letting him off the hook? We all said that he made a mistake by fining them. All I said was that his intentions were correct, but his actions to prevent it from happening in the future were wrong.

[gaughan333]

I never said he couldn't sit out his players. I understand if he wants to sit guys out to prevent injuries. But when you know this game has a large magnitude, at least warn them in advance, especially when you made your decision before the season started that they wouldn't play.

The rules don't say this. He followed the rules. You're literally asking him to do something that isn't required of him and he couldn't have for sure known.

[gaughan333]

Some dads can barely afford to take their kids to 1 game a year. When I pick a game to watch who the opponent is plays a huge role in what tickets I would buy. The star players and best teams are obviously going to be much more valued games than the Cavaliers or Wizards. It used to be near impossible to get tickets to see the Knicks play Jordan. I would feel really bad for a family that can barely afford to go to a game to show up to find out the other team decided not to play their real team. If this was 1 player late in the season or sitting players in various games it might be different but sitting 4 of your 5 starters without injury on the same night? That is going way too far. People that paid to see the Heat play the Spurs got ripped off. Stern did the right thing. If Lebron and other star players were told they would not have to make the trip to SA Peter Holt would freak out.

Why?

[gaughan333]

Doesn't help Pops win when he sits his best players against one of the best teams to begin with. He doesn't have to tell them, but clearly there's something on the line for the NBA Pops should be aware of.

Either way, Stern is changing the rules. Nothing we can do. No point of debating about it.

Except you know, in the conference game against the grizzlies.

[Sly Guy]

Who's letting him off the hook? We all said that he made a mistake by fining them. All I said was that his intentions were correct, but his actions to prevent it from happening in the future were wrong.

so is it wrong to be upset about the decision not being overturned?

[Guppyfighter]

Ironically, the people he 'alienates' are still watching.

NBA is more popular than baseball...

Except, MLB has double the amount of profit compared to the NBA.

[Raps08-09 Champ]

Except, MLB has double the amount of profit compared to the NBA.

I talked about popularity, not revenue.

[Raps08-09 Champ]

so is it wrong to be upset about the decision not being overturned?

People should complain that he fined them. But people shouldn't complain about his intentions.

[Guppyfighter]

I talked about popularity, not revenue.

MLB is more popular than the NBA. Especially recently.