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Nutting Buckeye · 11-30-2012, 08:37 PM

Love the Decision! Coach Pop Rocks!!! Pop got his "NASTY" on and showed out Mr. Stern. Go SPURS Go!!!!

Viking6910 · 12-01-2012, 12:03 AM

Pop made the right decision for the team, Stern needs to get over it, also time for Stern to let go and retire now. Spurs should fight the fine, wasn't Mr. Holt one of the owners instrumental in settling the lockout last year, Stern should kiss Holt's feet for getting the league back on track. The league needs to take a serious look at how the scheduling is done, how about cutting some off days during the first round of the playoffs(which seem to take forever) and adding those to the season for time off. Imagine what Stern had done if he as MLB comish when the Nationals shut Steven Starsburg down. Never cared for Stern, lost a lot of respect for him with his response to Jim Rome during an interview a few months ago and lost more with his handling of this.

Rakhir · 12-01-2012, 01:07 AM

Ok I've now had time to catch up and process the situation at hand and quote frankly this is the best interpretation of the issue I have seen to date. Furthermore the writing is superb!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--da...194828970.html

I welcome comments on this assessment!

Mokoa · 12-01-2012, 01:58 AM

Now that was just Awesome!!

Nailed It!

Daracus · 12-01-2012, 04:49 AM

I am a diehard Spurs fan who watch them every time they are on TV. I totally disagree with Pops decision to leave the big 3 at home. If Pop would have had them just sit on the bench and suck their thumbs that would have been acceptable. My issue, these fans did not pay their green to see the reserves play... Though it was exciting watching them almost pull the upset of the season. Fans are entitled to see super stars play and entertain them.The Spurs should have been fined double the penalty that was handed down. I hope they have learn their lesson. Don't f@*# with the enjoyment of the fans. Now lets bring home a championship. Go Spurs Go!

spaceman181 · 12-01-2012, 07:49 AM

The NBA has no authority to question a coach's decision not to play his starters. Whats the point of forcing them to suit up? David Stern's just having a little temper tantrum over a team he has shown outright hostility to for years.

nissanjay · 12-01-2012, 10:49 AM

Pop broke no law but that's not the point Stern is driving home.

Integrity, for one. How about the fans in Miami who bought their tickets expecting to see the Spurs stars play? How do you explain it to them? What if it were reversed? What would the Spurs fans who paid their hard-earned money to buy tickets say when Miami comes to town and their coach decides not to bring Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Allen, just because they are tired? They would be pissed off!

People don't pay to see Bonner, Blair, and all those 2nd and 3rd tier players play major minutes of a game.

The fact that the game was close is more indicative of the Heat just going through the motions because Pop's decision had to affect their competitiviness, as well. The Heat were royally disinterested in playing once they found out. They are only human.

You can get away with that crap in April once the playoff seedings are set, and the playoffs are near -- not 20 games into the season.

FootLong · 12-01-2012, 11:06 AM

I don't think any fan should want the NBA commissioner deciding who starts and who plays for a team. I don't think any coach or owner would want that either.

The Spurs led that game down to the last minute. The fans got a good game. There is no guarantee when you buy a ticket that you will see a particular player. It happens all the time, usually closer to the playoffs is all.

You are watching a basketball game, not a movie.

I support Pop's decision to make that call. The league cannot get rid of Stern fast enough.

Yes, the Wojnarowski article nails it, and other sportswriters have opined likewise.

Laz · 12-01-2012, 01:16 PM

If there is no rule dictating that a team must play certain players the NBA has no basis to levy a fine. If they want to control that they need to create and get a rule passed that sets the guidelines of what players they must play. I would be amazed if they could ever do that. The teams self interest will do more for that than any rule.

Likinikki · 12-02-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Integrity, for one. How about the fans in Miami who bought their tickets expecting to see the Spurs stars play? How do you explain it to them? What if it were reversed? What would the Spurs fans who paid their hard-earned money to buy tickets say when Miami comes to town and their coach decides not to bring Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and Allen, just because they are tired? They would be pissed off!

NissanJ...makes no sense. You can't force a coach to play any player! Had Pop made our guys fly into Miami...they would have just sat there anyway! So, what's the point? And, if Miami came to SA...I could care less who starts on their team. I pay to see our TEAM play and hope for a WIN!

nissanjay · 12-03-2012, 06:02 AM

Liki,

What in the world are you reading? I never said a coach could be forced to play any player ! In fact, I even said no law was broken! Read again, kind lady, and please don't twist my words around.

You miss my entire point of integrity. It's ok to be a loyal diehard Spurs fan and if you don't care who plays on the other team early in the season, that's cool but I believe you're in a minority.

The NBA is a Stars' league. People pay to see the Stars, not the 2nd and 3rd stringers...

Don't believe me? Look at NBA commercials around the league or look and see how many Matt Bonner or Dejuan Blair or Gary Neal jerseys you see people wearing. That's not a knock on them === people want to see the Stars! I know my 12 year old does!

If Miami had done the same thing with their stars here in SA, you would have had thousands of disappointed people at the AT&T center because Miami just makes 1 trip to SA annually and vice versa.

Again, not questioning a coach's right to do whatever he wants --- I'm looking at it strictly from a fan's point of view.

Likinikki · 12-04-2012, 08:59 PM

NissanJ, I'm not twisting your words...I was simply responding to what you stated. Go back and read your own post. I could care less if I'm in the minority with what I posted, and I never said the vast majority agrees with me!

What I said is...I could care less which Miami starter plays or doesn't play, and even less...whether they show up or not! I attend the Spurs games to watch MY TEAM play, period! Yes, it's always nice to see a SUPER STAR play...but, it's not the determining factor whether I watch a game or not!

My seats are floor level...right next to the visiting team's bench, and guess what? I don't strain my eyes to see who's suited up nor who's sitting on the visiting team's bench!

Read this little excerpt from Adrian Wojnarowski's article...that Rakhir posted:

" Suddenly, Stern had to issue an apology to NBA fans because Popovich sent his stars home to San Antonio at the end of a long road trip. No one in Miami bought a ticket to watch Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, because those players are relevant to no one in Miami. Mostly, they come to watch LeBron and D-Wade, or they don't come at all. Few people watch the Spurs on national television – unless they're playing the Heat or the Los Angeles Lakers – and that's because the Spurs never deliver the dysfunction and self-destructive bents that fuel the sport's storylines.

txrancher1 · 12-07-2012, 08:15 AM

Pop's call as a coach on whether to play or not, however, I thought it a poor call to send them home. It wasn't going to tire them out to sit on the bench in dress clothes. Don't think it will happen with these three players, but whose to say Stephen Jackson (he's been an attitude player in the past) or some other player decides he warrants "special" treatment and causes disruption on the team. We have had those types of players in the past; Rodman, Jackson (past history) to name a few. I think it reasonable that Stern fine the Spurs, but he shouldn't be allowed to force Pop in deciding which players to play on a given night...and he didn't.

FootLong · 12-07-2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txrancher1

I think it reasonable that Stern fine the Spurs, but he shouldn't be allowed to force Pop in deciding which players to play on a given night...and he didn't.

But he did - by way of the fine. It's the method for "forcing". Duh. What did you think? That Stern would go down, sit on the bench, and coach himself?

If it happens again, fine will go up - until Pop has no choice but to play them. Sheesh.

I'd say that is "forcing".

k1ngofny · 12-07-2012, 08:10 PM

I am not in any way a Spurs fan (go Knicks!) but the league has NO right stating who should play and who should not play. If someone like Timmy (future HOF and arguably the best PF to ever play the game), who is up there in age, got hurt to please the NBA (aka David Stern) - the Spurs would not be reimbursed financially for the loss.

I understand the business aspect of it (fans come to see the stars play) but this is not the right way to justify the leagues position. The leauge ought to think about less back to back games and a shorter season. I, for one, thought the shortened season last year was one of the best seasons in a long time.