Thursday, November 29th, 2012 at 8:25 pm  |  97 responses

NBA to Punish the San Antonio Spurs for Sitting Out Their Star Players


Most people had a good laugh earlier today when Gregg Popovich elected to rest Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green for tonight’s nationally-televised game against the Miami Heat. The NBA office wasn’t amused, however, and issued a statement that they plan to heavily punish the Spurs for their act. Here are League commissioner David Stern’s acidic words: “I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming.”

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  • ripslam

    Stern being Stern.

  • 23

    As a basketball fan it was very disappointing to hear that pop was benching everybody. BUT I would not ever question the methods of a basketball genius like Pop. And if Pop is indeed punished, it will be extremely wrong and immoral. So now is the nba gonna punish every team when they bench a non injured player? Or is it only going to be a fine when its against Miami on national tv?

  • NinjaByNight

    Sounds like greed to me. I bet if it wasn’t a nationally televised game stern would not care. Coaches have control of when to play or rest players.

  • KevinWarren

    If I had paid for tickets to the game, I’d be looking for a refund. Pop didn’t just rest a player or two, he turned an NBA game into a glorified scrimmage. Hardly worth the high price of admission. Sure glad I’m not a betting man. Pop just handed the win to all those betting on the Heat. He’s as guilty of fixing the outcome as that ref, Tim Donaghy,was. Shame on him.

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    San Antonio’s up 5 after the first quarter. Would be funny if the Spurs get punished despite a win…

  • Perry the PlatyPteranodon

    Pop looking out for his older players….how disgusting and worthy of reprimand…

  • Redd

    That’s incredibly stupid.

  • Redd

    Good for him for doing his job, not doing what the league wants. He was hired by the team, not the league.

  • ash

    Its stern and nba fault for making such a crappy schedule…10 games on the road since last tuesday

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    Reggie Miller: As a competitor, I wanna play against the Heat if I’m Tony Parker

    Barkley: Of course Parker wanna play against the Heat, he’d be going up against Mario Chalmers!

    Chuck’s making the game worth watching by his damn self!!!

  • Bored

    this is ludicrous!

  • KevinWarren

    And you are incredibly rude. Don’t agree? Fine. Post your alternative view. Wow.

  • Dymez

    I’d like to see Stern try. There’s nothing in the rulebook for this. Pop has been doing this for years. And let’s be real, the Spurs aren’t box office, 90% of the people who are watching and attending this game are doing so solely for the Heat. Spurs fans aren’t even mad because they’re used to this and understand why.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Maybe Stern should just retire today. No need to wait until February.

  • tom

    Pop could manage Sterns Minutes too

  • Mike Mihalow

    This is the Spurs 17th game of the season, 4th in 5 days.
    This is the Heats 14th game of the season, 1st in 5 days.
    Stern should be punished for allowing such a crappy schedule.

  • 23

    And Miami hasn’t played in 5 days.

  • 23

    It’s a close game! The game was not handed over you idiot.

  • Vince

    Stern: “I’m sorry to all NBA fans, I’m going to sanction a team for resting their players and making a good coaching decision, this isn’t NBA Basketball, this is a business.”

  • KevinWarren

    And another rude person. Close or not, the game was changed when Pop pulled his stunt.

  • Redd

    How is that rude? I said the idea of throwing dirt on Pop is stupid, because it is. Pop is doing his job. Apparently his job is to entertain fans, sadly it really isn’t.

    And by your theory NFL coaches who sit players when they feel they’re banged up are guilty of fixing? That’s idiotic.

  • Ash

    Yeap after 7 games in 10 nights with 6 on the road

  • Caboose

    Ahem, let me sum it up. F*ck David Stern.

  • Conor

    You can’t suddenly disallow a managerial decision. So Stern is saying that it would be alright if S.A.S. started everyone, called a timeout immediately upon possession, and sat them anyway? What right does the League have to do this now?

  • Junkie

    How is this different from resting the starting lineup during a blow out? Fans don’t get to see the stars play either way but no one complains in that case.

  • thesage

    Retirement can’t come early enough for Stern.

  • Bored

    if this goes through, he is going to have a riot on his hands!

  • K_HOLIDAY

    They’re gonna punish the Spurs for embarrassing Miami with 9 dudes not named Parker, Ginobli, or Duncan.

  • SpursGal0718

    whoo hooo! Good job pop for not succumbing to greed and being a COACH not a puppet for the NBA

  • Bored

    yeah he is senile.

  • The Mauve Avenger
  • Caboose

    Cosign.

  • Caboose

    If he does…is that a reason to get him out? If so….do it Stern.

  • Dacre

    Unacceptable that Miami didn’t flog this lineup????!!!

  • pposse

    THANK YOU!

  • Bored

    lol, YES!….he had his chance to make some reasonable decisions before he left but he cant help but be his predictable self it seems.

  • Ron

    Blame the schedule makers as much as I hate pops decision it is the right thing to do although unfortunately it may set a precedent for this type of shenanigans in the future

  • Moose

    Let’s be real. This is bull.

  • Caboose

    If he left when Jordan retired, he’d be seen as a great commissioner, one of the best sportsmasters of all time.

  • Caboose

    They only lost by 5… LOOK AT THEIR STARTING LINEUP. Pop is a genius.

  • Bored

    no doubt. he has done a lot of important things for the league. its just a shame that his methods are so business driven.

  • The Fury

    Yeah, they almost won the game. The whole game was exciting, Nando with the costly turnovers (bad pass and giving space to Ray Allen after the inbound and then fouling him), but he’ll learn. This is part of Pop’s training the young ones on the court.

  • pposse

    the league could care less..its about the people! Pop needs to take a lesson from the Rock!

  • Caboose

    Agreed.

  • The Fury

    So did you get one??

  • Caboose

    Under the guise of “for the fans.”

  • 23

    Ok first you said the spurs handed the game to Miami, now you’re just saying they changed the game? Ok yeah you’re more than an idiot. You’re a stupid idiot.

  • Bored

    “for the fan$”

  • Bored

    harsh but true.

  • pposse

    stop!..refer back to last year and your argument is null and void. Grown professional athletes can handle 4 games in 5 days.

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