***2012-13 NBA THREAD!!! New Season/New Thread - LET'S GO!!!!!***

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

Stern is a clown. Fining/sanctioning the Spurs? What a joke.

Guess what? Popovich has NO OBLIGATION to ANYONE except his own team. He has to do what's in the best interests of his team. If that means resting his vets, then so be it. The guy has four rings, he knows what he's doing.

First Stern played GM, now he's playing coach. What's next, is he gonna step on the court and start shooting Js?

he is right tho

the problem was his tact, not the actual argument. The NBA is built around its stars, they sell games on TV because of stars. This was about the Spurs' Big 3 vs. Miami's Big 3 on TNT. We didnt get that as fans, and that does suck.

But in typical Stern fashion, he felt the need to be in the cameras first, instead of sitting back and waiting.

[fullnelson9999]

It may be true that the NBA is based on its star players, but if resting people because they've played 4 games in 5 nights is wrong then I think the NBA needs to rethink how it promotes itself.

[Destino]

It may be true that the NBA is based on its star players, but if resting people because they've played 4 games in 5 nights is wrong then I think the NBA needs to rethink how it promotes itself.

Kenny on TNT made a good point. Teams rest players after they've secured playoff spots and no one cares. Those games aren't free.

San Antonio is an old team and they have a history of injury to key players. Plus thy rested Duncan a lot last season and may have liked the results and extended the concept to other players.

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

It may be true that the NBA is based on its star players, but if resting people because they've played 4 games in 5 nights is wrong then I think the NBA needs to rethink how it promotes itself.

100% true

in fact, they should have done that years ago. But every NBA team has to go through this and not every NBA team does what the Spurs have done.

Kenny on TNT made a good point. Teams rest players after they've secured playoff spots and no one cares. Those games aren't free.

San Antonio is an old team and they have a history of injury to key players. Plus thy rested Duncan a lot last season and may have liked the results and extended the concept to other players.

Its November.

[Monk4thaHALL]

The bandaid on George Karl's head is just ridiculous

[fullnelson9999]

Kenny on TNT made a good point. Teams rest players after they've secured playoff spots and no one cares. Those games aren't free.

San Antonio is an old team and they have a history of injury to key players. Plus thy rested Duncan a lot last season and may have liked the results and extended the concept to other players.

Tomorrow we'll see that the ratings for the game were good and Stern will just happen to announce that no penalty will be levied on the Spurs.

[Destino]

Its November.

Strategies evolve. Resting players for the playoffs wasnt a concept born with basketball. Someone thought it up (or borrowed it from amother sport), it yielded results, and became normal. Teams have to be free to manage themselves as they see fit. The spirit of the sport has to be more important than the spectacle at some point. They've already sold out the rule book for more offense. What's next, allstars have to pay 30 minutes and hand out beers at halftime?

[Bubble Screen]

My thoughts:

When I first heard about Popovich doing this, I thought he was a douche. But after learning of the 4 games in 5 nights thing (on the road, no less), I can't really fault him. I think the point some people are missing is, the Spurs are a very old team. If Pop doesn't do this, then they are gonna be on fumes as the season winds down.

And yeah, I get it's only November. But maybe Stern, or whoever comes up with the schedule, should have given it more thought. Pretty sure teams don't play 4 games in 5 nights all that often. If Stern were so worried about this marquee matchup, then he should have given both teams comparable rest, leading up to the game. It is bull**** that the Heat were off since Saturday.

**** Stern. I think he should re-think this. I don't think any fines or anything should be forthcoming. Maybe a warning or something.

I remember one of Bonds' last years (maybe his last), I drove down to Atlanta to watch the Giants play my Braves. Maddux was pitching that day, too. I was really excited. Then the Giants decided that was the day they wanted to rest Bonds. I was bummed out. But I got over it. And to the few guys saying what about the Spurs fans in Miami that bought tickets. lol Yeah, like I'm sure there were thousands of those. They aren't owed a dime. No where does it say all the stars are guaranteed to play on any given day. Like one poster stated, I don't think Stern would have even been that pissed, had this game not been on TNT.

[SiCkSoULjA]

I would fine the hell out the spurs, suspend Pop and take there 1st round pick which will be a garbage pick. Giving your starting line up the night off like that is a smack in the face too the fans period, I don't care if the Spurs won the game with the bench players. Sending them home on a commercial flight? A month into the season. He said he made this decision when the schedule was released he should have announced it then at least the fans wouldnt purchased them absurd tickets too see the Heat play a bad game vs the Spurs bench. If he get away with this it could start a trend and that can't be nothing but bad for the NBA.

[renaissance]

Wow David Stern. What a *****. What kind of precedent does it set if you start punishing teams for making certain roster choices? Has this been done before?

[stevemcqueen1]

If Comrade Stern follows throuh with the penalties, I smell a lawsuit.

He's going to have to. He said he'd do it and now he has to even though this is a horrible position he put himself in.

What an ass he is. I wish the Spurs had won the game. How much of a moron would he have looked like then?

---------- Post added November-30th-2012 at 08:24 AM ----------

Strategies evolve. Resting players for the playoffs wasnt a concept born with basketball. Someone thought it up (or borrowed it from amother sport), it yielded results, and became normal. Teams have to be free to manage themselves as they see fit. The spirit of the sport has to be more important than the spectacle at some point. They've already sold out the rule book for more offense. What's next, allstars have to pay 30 minutes and hand out beers at halftime?

Yeah this is just more proof Stern is a goddamn WWE style ringmaster. All he cares about is the spectacle.

It's simultaneously one of the best and worst things about the NBA. Highly entertaining and melodramatic. Steeped in delightful unintentional comedy. But a farce of a league nonetheless. I don't want to feel like I'm watching a staged, uncompetitive circus freak show when I sit down to games.

---------- Post added November-30th-2012 at 08:31 AM ----------

Pop only needs to say two words in defense against any sanctions:

"Basketball Reasons."

[ixcuincle]

I don't see what the big deal is about the Spurs resting their starters. I mean, the Wizards have been resting their starters for 13 games now

[MLSKINS]

I don't see what the big deal is about the Spurs resting their starters. I mean, the Wizards have rested their starters for 13 games now

Hey-oh

What starters?

People complain about anything nowadays. It was a good game last night and the fans got to see Lebron in his prime. People need to STHU....

[RonArtest15]

Pop even said that he made this decision in July when the schedule was released. He was going to rest his guys regardless of their record. He said he understood why people would be upset if they paid hard earned money to see star players...however, they need to understand his POV in that he's doing what's right for HIS team.

I agree w/ Pop 100%. There is ZERO obligation to appease fans here. He needs to do whats in the best interest of the Spurs. Stern can try to flex all he wants, but if he hands out a sanction for this, then he needs to do the same when teams tank or rest starters later on in the season.

[DM72]

I would fine the hell out the spurs, suspend Pop and take there 1st round pick which will be a garbage pick. Giving your starting line up the night off like that is a smack in the face too the fans period, I don't care if the Spurs won the game with the bench players. Sending them home on a commercial flight? A month into the season. He said he made this decision when the schedule was released he should have announced it then at least the fans wouldnt purchased them absurd tickets too see the Heat play a bad game vs the Spurs bench. If he get away with this it could start a trend and that can't be nothing but bad for the NBA.

We've had our battles in the boxing thread, but I agree with everything you said in this post. Well said.

---------- Post added November-30th-2012 at 10:28 AM ----------

What starters?

People complain about anything nowadays. It was a good game last night and the fans got to see Lebron in his prime. People need to STHU....

Oh please. If you were a Spurs fan and you paid those ridiculous prices, you'd be pissed. Plus, they only come to Miami once a year.

---------- Post added November-30th-2012 at 10:30 AM ----------

Pop even said that he made this decision in July when the schedule was released. He was going to rest his guys regardless of their record. He said he understood why people would be upset if they paid hard earned money to see star players...however, they need to understand his POV in that he's doing what's right for HIS team.

I agree w/ Pop 100%. There is ZERO obligation to appease fans here. He needs to do whats in the best interest of the Spurs. Stern can try to flex all he wants, but if he hands out a sanction for this, then he needs to do the same when teams tank or rest starters later on in the season.

Did he make it known that he was gonna rest starters before tix went on sale?