So then why didn't the spurs announce "we're gonna rest all of our guys simultaneously on the back end of 4 in 5's where the last game is really tough" before yesterday? Had they done so we likely wouldn't be discussing this. Perhaps they knew there was something unseemly about tanking games in November rather than in April after playoff seedings are more solidified.
http://www.poundingtherock.com/2012/11/30/3713236/stern-fine-popovich-declaration-spurs-independence Absolutely brilliant hahaahahahahahah
So then the rest of the implications should be obvious to you . As you previously observed- this wouldn't fly in a Christmas day game, so you acknowledge the reality of the Spurs having duties to other stakeholders in certain instances. Then it just becomes a matter of degree as to when they kick in.
Exiled glorious comrade, Jvg just went on 15 minute rant supporting Pop after being baited by mike tirico. A bush league move by Tirico to leave van gundy out to dry, as if to say, " I'm not getting into this one." A lot of dead air and awkwardness. Hopefully, one of you guys captured it on real time.
The man's a hero. I remember him taking one for the team for corrupt referee-ing during the Dallas-Houston series in 05 before Referee-gate even broke out.
The Spurs informed the media that those players didnt travel to Miami. http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2012/11/29/spurs-will-face-heat-without-big-three-green/ That info was posted at 2:47pm, way before the tip. Is that soon enough or the NBA wants more time?
I don't know why people are mad at Stern. Phil Jackson was asked this same thing about Pop sometime ago and he said he goes against the integrity of the game. The game is built around stars. The NBA is where it is b/c of its stars period. It's not about the coach, or the no-names, or the teams (let's be honest here). And people pay big money to watch two of the top teams play. Pop sent his players HOME. They weren't even in the arena/venue, and they aren't injured. That's straight up disrespectful. If rest is key, rest ALL your players then. Send the entire team home and forfeit for god sakes. I wish Stern went at them harder. They want rest and rest AT HOME??? Stern should have suspended them and let them rest for a week. Then they can get all the rest they need in San Antonio.
Integrity of the game? Miami Heat is the definition of ruining the integrity of the game. The LA Lakers and what they did this season is ruining the integrity of the game. The game is not built around stars, the profits are. Was the game any less competitive because the Spurs weren't playing? Absolutely not. Could the profits have suffered as a consequence? Sure, that's possible, but that has nothing to do with the integrity of the game nor the spirit of competition (which would be ironic anyways to discuss spirit of competition with the Heat). Winning =/= Profits.
Its not complicated. The decision on who plays and how much they play and what role they will be given in a particular game is NOT up to David Stern. Otherwise, where has he been all these years when teams are clearly tanking games at the end of the season -- games that could very well have playoff implications? Giving him that power is a slippery slope and it would be impossible for him to enforce it consistently. The league should not be making personnel decisions on behalf of teams, ever.
How are what the Heat/Lakers did ruin the integrity of the game? Just b/c they can sign the best stars mean they are ruining the integrity of the game? Are the Yankees ruining the integrity of the game for baseball b/c they have big pockets? Chris Bosh admitted after the game that the level of intensity wasn't the same when the Heat found out the Spurs' stars aren't playing. The score didn't matter. So yes, the competitiveness of the game was compromised. The Heat didn't try as hard, but you can check how close the game was to delude yourself into believing the game was competitive. From the Miami Herald: Stern's tough pregame words seemed to have a little less bite after the first quarter, when the Spurs unexpectedly were ahead by four points. Still, the Heat's players even seemed a little perturbed by Popovich's maverick decision. "There's a part of you that's disappointed," said Bosh, who had 18 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. "And I'm sure there were a lot of people that were disappointed in not being able to watch two of the best teams in the league play. But besides that point, Pop sent his players HOME. That's the bigger point. They weren't even at the freaking arena. Now that is absolutely disrespecting the game AND the fans. Look, coaches rest players all the time, with made-up injuries or whatever. But at least the players stay on the bench either with their jerseys on or in their expensive suits. But they are still there to publicly cheer on their team for simply the competitive spirit. But Manu/Parker/TD were no-shows. Pop is basically saying, "My guys are tired, so they don't even need to show up at all. Just stay home and chillax." You going to feel the same way whenever every coach who rests his players just have them stay at home and not even come? Pathetic. I think Stern was more angry that the players were sent HOME. They were not even in the arena. That has never happened before to players who are perfectly healthy. Stern has criticized several coaches who rest players down the stretch, and claim it isn't the right way to do things (I remember the Cavs being one of the culprits with LBJ). And he hasn't fined them. But here is Pop basically sending his players home, and not even being present on the bench.
This is completely irrelevant, and its weird that you feel this is the important issue in all of this. It makes no difference for the fans or the viewers if the DNP Spurs players are sitting on the bench versus not at the game.
