Comments on: David Stern Fined the San Antonio Spurs $250,000 For Gregg Popovich Coaching His Team On National Television

By: Remember the Bibliomaine

Remember the Bibliomaine — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 13:41:12 +0000

Stern ought to thank Popovich for playing his big 3 in those games in Toronto, Washington and Orlando. Those teams can’t draw flies to a game unless an A List team is in town. Miami gets a crowd with or without Duncan on the floor.

This was a TV issue. Someone give me the head to head ratings on the Thursday night Falcons-Saints vs Heat-Spurs.

By: RexCarlos

RexCarlos — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:16:56 +0000

4 games in 5 days. The teams are Toronto, Washington, Orlando and Miami. Guaranteed win, guaranteed win, guaranteed win, not a guarantee even with the starters. Miami also happened to be the final game. Move makes total sense, and the spurs are serially underappreciated from a casual fan’s perspective so who cares that the starters aren’t playing? All the spurs play fundamentally sound and is an awesome watch for anybody who wants to see an offense run extremely well with each player knowing his role.

By: resolutedefense

resolutedefense — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:46:17 +0000

I was watching an old Law & Order from I think 2003 or 2004 earlier today and one of the lines was about how Knicks fans were still talking about the ’97 series against the Heat. But in all seriousness Stern is a joke.

By: Ty_Webb

Ty_Webb — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:42:00 +0000

Stern looked like a dumbass when he released that statement before the game last night. Instead of backing away from his irrational statement he chose to hide behind the vague “best interest of the game” argument. As if Pop’s reasoning of best interest of his team wasn’t valid enough. He should have thought about the best interest of the game back in 97 when he suspended half of the Knicks squad over games 6-7, and decided the outcome of the series against the Heat.~~Napoleon~~ Stern Complex

By: Chief

Chief — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:39:03 +0000

He should have thought about the best interest of the game back in 97 when he suspended half of the Knicks squad over games 6-7, and decided the outcome of the series against the Heat.

Nobody ever said Darrell isn’t one to hold a grudge.

By: Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah!

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:20:52 +0000

By: Chief

Chief — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:11:37 +0000

I’m curious how much pressure Stern was under from other owners to take this action.

Stern said there would be sanctions just hours after it was found out. I doubt owners from other teams had already heard about this, got upset, and put pressure on Stern in that short of time when they’re busy with their own teams.

By: A.P.

A.P. — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 03:37:13 +0000

Stern is just grasping at straws. Last year, miami and boston played the last week of the season and the following players didnt play: LBJ, wade, bosh, garnett, pierce, rondo, allen. Thats just as big a joke/ripoff

By: resolutedefense

resolutedefense — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:35:10 +0000

All this really confirms is the NBA season is at least 10 games too long.

By: MeandWillieMcGee

MeandWillieMcGee — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:56:41 +0000

Schedule is set almost year in advance.

Not sure what that has to do with it. Teams and nets run promos, PR, etc. in weeks/days leading up to game. Makes them look stupid if it centers on great Spurs team, then Spurs pull the rug out the day of game.

By: sctrojans

sctrojans — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:55:33 +0000

Why does he not do anything about teams intentionally tanking then?

I’d like to see this of course, but how could he? The crux of tanking is teams sitting players with exaggerated/fake injuries. This would incite a whinefest from the player’s association and coaches alike.

By: sctrojans

sctrojans — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:51:26 +0000

Disagree. If he cared about the quality on TNT, he would decompress the schedule so coaches wouldn’t have to do this.
Have to? Pop could have put a couple of them in dress clothes, or played them less minutes. He didn’t HAVE to send them to Club Med.

All rationale short of money, the only thing that matters, points to a 75ish game season.

By: sctrojans

sctrojans — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:49:58 +0000

if stern had his way, there wouldn’t be an NBA team in San Antonio

The NBA has been incredibly pro-small market. It really doesn’t make all that much sense for San Antonio to have a team.

By: jdeeser5

jdeeser5 — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:46:47 +0000

Pop is getting paid to coach and make these decisions. The owner had no problem. GM had no problem. Stern needs to be bent over and feel what spur is really like. Dickhead.

By: ol' scrappy grinder

ol' scrappy grinder — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:38:07 +0000

Disagree. If he cared about the quality on TNT, he would decompress the schedule so coaches wouldn’t have to do this.

Have to? Pop could have put a couple of them in dress clothes, or played them less minutes. He didn’t HAVE to send them to Club Med.

By: Stephen Douglas

Stephen Douglas — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:37:22 +0000

If Pop had said he was planning this weeks ago, he doesn’t make the Heat, the league, etc. look stupid for marketing a game featuring the Spurs stars.

Schedule is set almost year in advance.

By: Eric T0upal aka BrawnyTom

Eric T0upal aka BrawnyTom — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:30:54 +0000

The fine isn’t just about the one game, its purpose is to prevent other teams from pulling this stunt in the future. Read between the lines.

Disagree. If he cared about the quality on TNT, he would decompress the schedule so coaches wouldn’t have to do this. This fine is all about Stern’s delicate ego getting offended and the resulting tantrum.

By: VladimirCrouton

VladimirCrouton — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:23:42 +0000

The fine isn’t just about the one game, its purpose is to prevent other teams from pulling this stunt in the future. Read between the lines.

Why does he not do anything about teams intentionally tanking then?

By: Niger, Please.

Niger, Please. — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:22:11 +0000

1) Hill plays for the Pacers

Woops, yeah Gary Neal. Same player basically.

Pop could have benched the players against the shitty Wizards in a game no one wanted to watch. Instead he did it for a nationally televised game against the defending Champs. The NBA is in the entertainment business, and David Stern is sending the message to coaches that the people will be entertained by Superstard, not scrubs.

The fine isn’t just about the one game, its purpose is to prevent other teams from pulling this stunt in the future. Read between the lines.

By: knifeyspoony

knifeyspoony — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:18:54 +0000

if stern had his way, there wouldn’t be an NBA team in San Antonio

you just know he was shitting bricks when they went up 2-0 on OKC last year.