Are the Spurs done?

I wonder what the ratings for the game were, relative to a typical TNT Thursday.

The NBA... we know drama!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pharaoh

Who the fuck does David Stern think he is?

Pop and San Antonio make choices to benefit their franchise and their players - the Spurs' owner pays their salaries! The NBA has no right to tell a franchise who it can and can't play on any given day!

All the Spurs had to do it show up with the right amount of players and play the game... they did that and lost!

Why are they going to face sanctions? Because they didn't try hard enough to win the game?

Maybe the Bobcats should be fined after losing to OKC by 45 points! Is that better or worse than what the Spurs did?

If they claim the Spurs deliberately rested players to "ensure" they would lose can't the Spurs claim the Bobcats deliberately field a sub par team in order to get ping pong balls?

Can of worms, pandora's box... this is bullshit... and I don't even care who gets fined for what!

I think it's just as much about the fans that bought tickets and the tv network partners.

I'm with P on this one... every year teams rest their players at the end of the season so they can have fresh legs for the playoffs... and what about the tanking teams... now they have to get league approval?... Indeed a slippery slope.

Just a reminder that Adrian Wojnarowski does some bang-up work with his NBA articles:

David Stern stumbles again in his failed culture war against the Spurs, fines franchise $250K

Quote:

Stern could've waited until Friday, delivered his substantial sanctions – a naval blockade on the Riverwalk, a ban on Napa Valley imports for Popovich, whatever – but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to embarrass Popovich throughout that national TV game, and wouldn't you know it: Popovich embarrassed Stern because the Spurs coach has a complete understanding of his realm, his team, his players, in a way that Stern has lost touch with that with which he lords over.

GD - I understand that fans paid money to see the Spurs... not some weaker JV team

And I understand the game was on TV

But it was an away game - surely Miami doesn't have trouble drawing a crowd at home? And surely more people don't turn up because they're playing the Spurs? Maybe the Spurs are big draws...I doubt it though, because everyone - even hardcore fans - refer to them as boring!

As far as the TV is concerned - why the fuck does the NBA care? The networks pay what they pay regardless of the ratings for this single game. And if memory serves the league has a locked in agreement worth billions for years to come... by the time the next agreement needs to be signed this single game will be a distant memory

I understand all the BS Stern and his cronies are saying - what I'm saying is this opens up all kinds of questions.

I'm not sure if anyone will ask those questions - but the fact remains the league should not have the authority to dictate which players can get rested and which ones can't. The Spurs pay their salaries and if the Spurs choose to give their employees a day off then so be it.

Would the league step in if Charlotte rested Kemba Walker? Woudl the league step in if we rested Monroe? If the league wouldn't step in for ALL cases then it shouldn't step in at all

I must say Wojo is fucking awesome! He's probably the only guy I read regularly

Cuban says fine was "absolutely ok".

Quote:

Cuban called the national television contracts "the money train" for the NBA, pointing out that those contracts are the difference in the league being profitable or not "by a long shot."

"We're still a business," said Cuban, whose fine totals from his 13-year ownership tenure are well into seven figures. "Resting the stars for the long haul one game earlier, one game later, sure. Resting when you've got our biggest customer at stake, that's a whole different animal.

DONEcan, lol!

Were the national TV ratings actually hurt by the Spurs big names not showing up??

^ I said the same thing. I tuned in to watch.