Duncan, Ginobili and Parker are not playing tonight

[Bambililos]

I generally like Pop's idea but I have one question: should Pop not have included Tim and TP and/or Fin when the game was close?


One of the points of playing the scrubs only is to make them feel they're an important part of the team and they have responsabilities. How would they have felt if they played all game only to see the stars get the win in the end?
"It's OK, you played well, but now it's serious, we don't want you to blow it, let the men play now".

[m33p0]

a few years ago, whenever the Spurs enter the 4th with a big lead and sit the starters, he would never put Tim, Tony and Manu back in even if they were in danger of losing the game. he wants his scrubs to find a way to win games on their own.

[temujin]

The regular season is essentially over.

The team has successfully incorporated Mason, the rookie Hill, recovered a decent Finley and vastly improved the production of Bonner.
Most importantly, Ginobili is almost completely back.
Additional players could contribute more (Thomas, Oberto). Watch their minutes increase.

Spurs reached a certain cruising standard to guarantee another 23-25 wins, and won't get the #1 seed nor drop any lower than #3, unless something really serious happens.
They have enough experience not to become complacent and to know where they will be in April.

From now on, it will be a long practice untill the playoffs, with occasional relevant games (Boston, Cleveland and Lakers).

Popovich just made it clear before usual, that is, the end of the rodeo trip.
There is an additional reason: fly under the radar.

I would have done exactly the same.

There will be more of this in the future, I am sure.

[romain.star]

if you look at the big picture, you have to agree with pop.

He avoided injuries and reduced injury risks.

He gave some needed rest to his key players.

He gave the scrubs playing time against a winning team and therefore boosted their confidence.

Since the home court advantage against the Lakers is probably out of reach, it was a good strategy.

[SenorSpur]

LOL all the spoiled ass Spurs fans on this thread.

Let me break it down for you...Pop does not care about ratings. Pop does not care about tiebreakers. Pop does not care about seeding. He cares about his players and about winning when it counts...which is the playoffs. We just played a fast-paced, overtime game and now we have to play against a good team on their court less than 24hrs later. Sitting our starters does two things...it allows them to get rest and it allows our role players that have not been playing well to log more minutes, which can help the ones that have been struggling re-establish some rhythm.

I'll say this. There was a time that Pop did care about such things. We all know the Spurs pride themselves for being able to win anywhere (home or road). As for HCA, I maybe wrong on this, but I can't help but think HCA would've helped versus the Fakers - despite Manu's injury.

[Admidave50]

I fully agreed with Pop, this enabled the big 3 to rest and avoid injuries, role players to get more playing time and get some confidence (RMJ & Hill) and take an interesting look at Hairston.

It was almost a difficult task to beat the Nuggets at home in a back to back game. If Billups didn't get hurt, it wouldn't have been a close game!

[1Parker1]

It would have been awesome if this was a nationally televised game or on TNT/ESPN and Pop did this! :lol

[urunobili]

He was trying to showcase and also examine what he has in the roster before trade deadline... the ultimate goal goes far beyond this game...

[SenorSpur]

After watching the game and remembering how the starters labored during the GS game, I would say Pop made the right decision. Now if the Spurs go into Boston on Sunday and upset the Celtics, everyone will proclaim Pop as a genius. Despite the team having 4 days of rest in between.

[tlongII]

To see how a combination of fatigue and travel can make players more susceptible to injury, all you have to do is look at the difference in the regular season and the playoffs. In the playoffs, there are no back-to-backs and far less travel. The result? Less injuries.

Do you have any evidence to support that conclusion? I haven't seen any.

[tlongII]

I certainly hope the Spurs get fined for this. There is precedent and they deserve it. It obviously pissed me off since it eliminated a chance for us to pick up a half-game on the Nuggets. After thinking about it I'm okay though. With the Spurs giving away games it will make it easier for us to pass San Antonio in the standings.

[ForeignFan]

One of the points of playing the scrubs only is to make them feel they're an important part of the team and they have responsabilities. How would they have felt if they played all game only to see the stars get the win in the end?
"It's OK, you played well, but now it's serious, we don't want you to blow it, let the men play now".

As you said, it depends on whether the "scrubs" were playing well or not. Apparenly it was not the case for all of them. But of course if Pop told them "you are in for the whole game", it would have been a bad move to have TP, TD and al play for the last quarter (and they may not have been ready).

[HarlemHeat37]

I completely disagree with people thinking Tony and Tim should have played in the 4th..

our bench players definitely gained confidence from being able to keep up with the Nuggets..it wouldn't have made sense to ruin their confidence by re-inserting our stars..the bench kept the game close, they deserved to finish it..it's a sign of confidence from Pop...

[mexicanjunior]

Now if the Spurs go into Boston on Sunday and upset the Celtics, everyone will proclaim Pop as a genius. Despite the team having 4 days of rest in between.

I don't see why, beating Boston does nothing for conference standings or tiebreaker scenarios (unless they meet in the Finals). If there was a game the starters should have rested, it was that one. Instead, they gave away the tiebreaker to the current #3 seed that is only a few games behind you in the standings. Just a dumb move all around...

[DPG21920]

I think most of us were in agreement that Manu should sit. I was just wondering if this was pre-determined or not. Apparently not.

[to21]

Who knew there was gonna be a Rocky Mountain Revue game last night?

[Hook Dem]

I certainly hope the Spurs get fined for this. There is precedent and they deserve it. It obviously pissed me off since it eliminated a chance for us to pick up a half-game on the Nuggets. After thinking about it I'm okay though. With the Spurs giving away games it will make it easier for us to pass San Antonio in the standings.

Ah, the truth finally comes out. You're concerned about gaining on the Nuggets.

[ploto]

but you forgot on little thing, the time zones, it changes if you go from west to east so that gives you less time to rest

Do people even read?

Lakers from LA to Denver; Golden State from Oakland to Denver; New Orleans from Portland to Denver; and OKC from Sacramento to Denver. Of the 8 teams I checked, 4 have the exact same circumstance the Spurs did-- playing in the Western time zone one night and flying to Denver to play the next night.

[TampaDude]

CIA Pop in full effect... :hat

[ploto]

I love how this decision maddens non-spurs fans more than the spurs fans, especially the laker trolls and ploto, thoroughly enjoyable!

I am a Spurs fan. Just because I do not agree with everything they do does not make me not a fan. They have tens of thousands of my dollars, and I have a right as a customer to voice my opinon that this move was unprofessional.