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EvoLu7ioN

By EvoLu7ioN
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Posted
Posted

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=410581

STERN: SPURS TO BE HIT WITH SANCTIONS FOR SITTING STARS

MIAMI -- For nine of the San Antonio Spurs, a six-game, nine-night trip was ending in Miami on Thursday.

For four others, it ended one game and one night earlier.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green -- the core of the Spurs -- were sent home by San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich a day early to rest, and weren't with the team for its nationally televised matchup in Miami against the reigning NBA champion Heat.

Following the decision to rest his star players, NBA Commissioner David Stern released a statement addressing the situation.

"I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."

Popovich said he made the decision when he saw the schedule.

All four of those players appeared in Orlando on Wednesday, when the Spurs improved to 9-1 on the road and 5-0 on this trip. The team plane went to Miami, but that group went back home on Thursday instead.

"Everybody has to make decisions about their schedule, about players playing and back-to-backs and trips and that sort of thing," Popovich said. "In our case, this month we've had 11 away games, after (Thursday). We've had an eight-day trip and a 10-day trip, and we're ending it with four (games) in five nights here. I think it'd be unwise to be playing our guys in that kind of a situation, given their history."

Duncan is in his 16th NBA season, Parker his 12th and Ginobili his 11th. Green is a kid compared to those guys -- 25 years old and a veteran of only 110 NBA games -- but Popovich said he chose to rest him as well because of his high minute count.

Green leads the Spurs with 496 minutes played this season, which was 44th-most in the NBA entering Thursday's games. The Spurs aren't expected to practice Friday, then face Memphis on Saturday in San Antonio.

"Perhaps it'll give us an opportunity to stay on the court with Memphis on Saturday night," Popovich said. "Historically, when you're on a long road trip, that first game when you come home is really tough. And Memphis is one of the best teams in the league. They're of much more concern to us than playing four games in five nights. It's pretty logical."

Popovich has made similar moves in the past to rest his older players, such as Duncan. He also said he knows that making decisions like this aren't exactly popular with fans, such as those in Miami who will only see the Spurs once. (All four did appear in San Antonio's preseason trip to Miami in October, though that hardly counts.)

Popovich also said facing the Heat had nothing to do with his decision.

"I've gotten letters from those people before when I've done it and I understand their perspective totally," Popovich said. "If I was taking my 6-year-old son or daughter to the game, I'd want him or her to see everybody. And if they weren't there, I'd be disappointed. So I understand that perspective. Hopefully, people in that position will understand my perspective, what my priority is -- the basketball team and what's best for it."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Popovich's move didn't affect Miami's preparation.

"Each organization has a big-picture view of what they are trying to get accomplished and I think the league respects that," Spoelstra said.

Popovich listed Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, Nando De Colo and Patty Mills in his starting lineup. Besides the four players sent home, Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard are injured, meaning the Spurs had only four substitutes available.

"Obviously," Bonner said, "we're a little short-handed."

The Heat had one lineup move as well. With Shane Battier out with a sprained right knee, Spoelstra moved Rashard Lewis into Miami's starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers.

I say Stern is out of line. It is up to the Spurs how they manage their team.

This just fuels my long held feeling that the NBA has always been bigger on circus entertainment than real competition.

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Pears Canucks Hall-of-Famer

Pears

Posted
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http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=410581

STERN: SPURS TO BE HIT WITH SANCTIONS FOR SITTING STARS

MIAMI -- For nine of the San Antonio Spurs, a six-game, nine-night trip was ending in Miami on Thursday.

For four others, it ended one game and one night earlier.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green -- the core of the Spurs -- were sent home by San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich a day early to rest, and weren't with the team for its nationally televised matchup in Miami against the reigning NBA champion Heat.

Following the decision to rest his star players, NBA Commissioner David Stern released a statement addressing the situation.

"I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."

Popovich said he made the decision when he saw the schedule.

All four of those players appeared in Orlando on Wednesday, when the Spurs improved to 9-1 on the road and 5-0 on this trip. The team plane went to Miami, but that group went back home on Thursday instead.

"Everybody has to make decisions about their schedule, about players playing and back-to-backs and trips and that sort of thing," Popovich said. "In our case, this month we've had 11 away games, after (Thursday). We've had an eight-day trip and a 10-day trip, and we're ending it with four (games) in five nights here. I think it'd be unwise to be playing our guys in that kind of a situation, given their history."

Duncan is in his 16th NBA season, Parker his 12th and Ginobili his 11th. Green is a kid compared to those guys -- 25 years old and a veteran of only 110 NBA games -- but Popovich said he chose to rest him as well because of his high minute count.

Green leads the Spurs with 496 minutes played this season, which was 44th-most in the NBA entering Thursday's games. The Spurs aren't expected to practice Friday, then face Memphis on Saturday in San Antonio.

"Perhaps it'll give us an opportunity to stay on the court with Memphis on Saturday night," Popovich said. "Historically, when you're on a long road trip, that first game when you come home is really tough. And Memphis is one of the best teams in the league. They're of much more concern to us than playing four games in five nights. It's pretty logical."

Popovich has made similar moves in the past to rest his older players, such as Duncan. He also said he knows that making decisions like this aren't exactly popular with fans, such as those in Miami who will only see the Spurs once. (All four did appear in San Antonio's preseason trip to Miami in October, though that hardly counts.)

Popovich also said facing the Heat had nothing to do with his decision.

"I've gotten letters from those people before when I've done it and I understand their perspective totally," Popovich said. "If I was taking my 6-year-old son or daughter to the game, I'd want him or her to see everybody. And if they weren't there, I'd be disappointed. So I understand that perspective. Hopefully, people in that position will understand my perspective, what my priority is -- the basketball team and what's best for it."

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Popovich's move didn't affect Miami's preparation.

"Each organization has a big-picture view of what they are trying to get accomplished and I think the league respects that," Spoelstra said.

Popovich listed Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, Nando De Colo and Patty Mills in his starting lineup. Besides the four players sent home, Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard are injured, meaning the Spurs had only four substitutes available.

"Obviously," Bonner said, "we're a little short-handed."

The Heat had one lineup move as well. With Shane Battier out with a sprained right knee, Spoelstra moved Rashard Lewis into Miami's starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers.

I say Stern is out of line. It is up to the Spurs how they manage their team.

This just fuels my long held feeling that the NBA has always been bigger on circus entertainment than real competition.

What Stern did was just stupid. Players like Tim Duncan could use a game off every now and then due to their age.

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Phil_314 Canucks Star

Phil_314

Posted
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wow team gets fined for not playing their best players its not like the spurs rolled over and got beat down seems like it was still a close game 105-100 for the heat

oh yeah it was close! The Spurs' bench was actually ahead of the Heat several times and Miami only clawed back ahead when Ray Allen hit a clutch 3... boy that team should bench their Big 3 more often esp. against shoddy teams

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250Integra Canucks Star

250Integra

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ESPN reporting that Raptors and Timberwolves are looking to trade for Pau Gasol.

Players made available (Raptors): Calderon, Bargnani, and Kleiza.

I think if the Raptors were to trade away Bargnani for an aging Gasol, that'd be a mistake. However, Bargnani has been the centerpiece of the Raptors for the past 3-4 years and they've down absolutely nothing, especially with his consistency, defense, and injury issues.

I'd rather them look for other options, or trade Valanciunus instead to have a Bargnani-Gasol tandem upfront.

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Phil_314 Canucks Star

Phil_314

Posted
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wow, Rubio and Pekovic should make quite the strong play-maker - big combo for Minny (nope, I didn't forget about Love but Nikola's looking really strong physically to be able to battle down low; the way Rubio drops dimes makes him look almost Rondo-esque style-wise though of course he's more built than Rajon)

also liking what I'm seeing from DeMarcus and DeAndre as bigs; after seeing JaVale's :lol: "misplay" it's good to see someone like DMC who's actually got some handles, while DeAndre's also quite the monster!

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