Gregg Popovich: Cheating the NBA

[crc21209]

Pretty funny/interesting article I came across....

Gregg Popovich: Cheating the NBA
Posted by Berry Tramel on February 22, 2012M at 3:30 pm

The San Antonio Spurs tanked a game Tuesday night. There is no better way to say it. The Spurs played a game and didn’t try to win.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich rested his stars, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, in a game at Portland. San Antonio already was missing injured starters Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter. So the Spurs started Danny Green, Cory Joseph, DeJuan Blair, Kawhi Leonard and Richard Jefferson. Popovich still had a couple of handy guys off the bench, Gary Neal and Matt Bonner. Neal played 18 minutes, Bonner six. James Anderson played 35 minutes; Eric Dawson played 32.

Portland led 41-23 after one quarter, 66-43 at halftime and 103-63 after three periods. The Blazers eventually won 137-97. No way could San Antonio win in Portland without Duncan, Parker, Splitter and Ginobili.

Popovich had justifiable reasons for tossing a game. In this high-density season, 66 games played over 132 days, fatigue sets in. Wear and tear affects even the hearty, much less ancients like Duncan. Coaches have to watch the minutes of their players. Coaches have to be careful with nagging injuries. Popovich, one of the NBA’s greatest coaches ever, long has compromised regular-season results to make sure his team is playoff-ready.

But Popovich cheated the game Tuesday night. Not cheated as in rigged the game clock or bugged the Blazer locker room. Cheated the game as in didn’t give a variety of elements their money’s worth. Cheated the game as in didn’t respect the competitive side of a league that long has battled the perception that regular-season games don’t matter much.

* The Spurs cheated the ticket-buyers. Portland’s ticket prices are like Oklahoma City’s and everyone else’s. Unbelievably high. A mid-court ticket, 11 rows up, for the Thursday Portland-Miami game: $866. You pay $866, or $466, or $166, or $66, and you deserve the best show the teams can provide.

* The Spurs cheated the national fans. San Antonio-Portland was the back end of an NBATV doubleheader. Spurs-Blazers isn’t like Knicks-Heat, or Celtics-Lakers. NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Portland much. And yet, here on a reasonably-high stage, we get a total mismatch, totally blown off by one of the teams.

* The Spurs cheated the networks. I know, NBATV isn’t quite like TNT or ESPN. But these networks pay huge money for these television rights, and when we have a bogus game like Portland-San Antonio, it lessens the quality of the overall product. The viewer is sufficiently told that the regular season has its hole. The regular season can be shaky. The regular season, feeding the stereotype, can be irrelevant. And that hurts the ratings. Not to mention the eventual rights fees.

* The Spurs cheated the Blazers’ chief competitors. San Antonio played at Utah on Monday night, at Portland on Tuesday night and goes to Denver on Thursday night. The Jazz, Nuggets and Blazers are all wrangling for playoff positioning, perhaps even the eighth spot in the West, which is the last seat on the lifeboat. Popovich made the decision to play his stars against Utah on Monday, and the Spurs won. We assume the stars will play Thursday night at Denver. But Pop gave Portland a game. If the Blazers reach the playoffs by a game over Denver and/or Utah, Portland should send Popovich a bottle of wine.

http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/02/22/gregg-popovich-cheating-the-nba/

[jjktkk]

:wakeup

[biskvito]

:pop: Even wine needs a rest.

[jeebus]

People are still bitching about it, eh?

[jason1301]

Can anyone explain to me, why the NBA can't force a team to play it's stars players, again?

[manufan10]

Can anyone explain to me, why the NBA can't force a team to play it's stars players, again?

How do you enforce it?

[manufan10]

Cue the "+1" " :tu " Pop hating crew..

[justinandimcool]

* The Spurs cheated the ticket-buyers. Portland’s ticket prices are like Oklahoma City’s and everyone else’s. Unbelievably high. A mid-court ticket, 11 rows up, for the Thursday Portland-Miami game: $866. You pay $866, or $466, or $166, or $66, and you deserve the best show the teams can provide.

* The Spurs cheated the national fans. San Antonio-Portland was the back end of an NBATV doubleheader. Spurs-Blazers isn’t like Knicks-Heat, or Celtics-Lakers. NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Portland much. And yet, here on a reasonably-high stage, we get a total mismatch, totally blown off by one of the teams.

* The Spurs cheated the networks. I know, NBATV isn’t quite like TNT or ESPN. But these networks pay huge money for these television rights, and when we have a bogus game like Portland-San Antonio, it lessens the quality of the overall product. The viewer is sufficiently told that the regular season has its hole. The regular season can be shaky. The regular season, feeding the stereotype, can be irrelevant. And that hurts the ratings. Not to mention the eventual rights fees.

* The Spurs cheated the Blazers’ chief competitors. San Antonio played at Utah on Monday night, at Portland on Tuesday night and goes to Denver on Thursday night. The Jazz, Nuggets and Blazers are all wrangling for playoff positioning, perhaps even the eighth spot in the West, which is the last seat on the lifeboat. Popovich made the decision to play his stars against Utah on Monday, and the Spurs won. We assume the stars will play Thursday night at Denver. But Pop gave Portland a game. If the Blazers reach the playoffs by a game over Denver and/or Utah, Portland should send Popovich a bottle of wine.

http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/02/22/gregg-popovich-cheating-the-nba/


-Make the ticket buyers have their money's worth (even when their team won by 40)? Not Pop's job. Plus if you don't get your money's worth watching your team win by 40, there's something wrong with you


-Entertain the TV viewers? Not Pop's job. Watch Glee if you have a problem with it. Don't see enough Spurs/Blazers? Get League Pass

-Make sure channels get ratings? Not Pop's job. Schedule better games

-Make sure Denver/Portland/Utah all have a "fair" shot at making the playoffs? Not Pop's job...none of those teams pay him

Article fails.

[Mel_13]

Can anyone explain to me, why the NBA can't force a team to play it's stars players, again?

They used to try. It didn't work.

Until a few years ago, teams had to justify who went on the injured list. Now they just put players on an inactive.

Why?

Lots of guys with flu-like symptoms and back spasms. Or other maladies that can't be disproved with any test.

[Robz4000]

lol so much butthurt

[Dex]

:baby

[K-State Spur]

Dingle-Berry Tramel is just still pissed that OU didn't go to the Pac 12 as he was consistently predicting.

[Mel_13]

Oh, and where's the article about how the NBA cheated the fans by cramming 66 games into 4 months. Quality product with all the b2b, b2b2b, 4 games in 5 nights, 8 games in 11 nights, etc. If the NBA actually created a schedule that gave the fans a decent chance of seeing two reasonably rested teams every game, there would be some rationale for condemning teams for what Pop did.

[Leetonidas]

What's that I taste? Is that peanut butthurt?

[Russ]

Pretty funny/interesting article I came across....

* The Spurs cheated the ticket-buyers. Portland’s ticket prices are like Oklahoma City’s and everyone else’s. Unbelievably high. A mid-court ticket, 11 rows up, for the Thursday Portland-Miami game: $866. You pay $866, or $466, or $166, or $66, and you deserve the best show the teams can provide.

* The Spurs cheated the national fans. San Antonio-Portland was the back end of an NBATV doubleheader. Spurs-Blazers isn’t like Knicks-Heat, or Celtics-Lakers. NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Portland much. And yet, here on a reasonably-high stage, we get a total mismatch, totally blown off by one of the teams.

* The Spurs cheated the networks. I know, NBATV isn’t quite like TNT or ESPN. But these networks pay huge money for these television rights, and when we have a bogus game like Portland-San Antonio, it lessens the quality of the overall product. The viewer is sufficiently told that the regular season has its hole. The regular season can be shaky. The regular season, feeding the stereotype, can be irrelevant. And that hurts the ratings. Not to mention the eventual rights fees.

* The Spurs cheated the Blazers’ chief competitors. San Antonio played at Utah on Monday night, at Portland on Tuesday night and goes to Denver on Thursday night. The Jazz, Nuggets and Blazers are all wrangling for playoff positioning, perhaps even the eighth spot in the West, which is the last seat on the lifeboat. Popovich made the decision to play his stars against Utah on Monday, and the Spurs won. We assume the stars will play Thursday night at Denver. But Pop gave Portland a game. If the Blazers reach the playoffs by a game over Denver and/or Utah, Portland should send Popovich a bottle of wine.

http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/02/22/gregg-popovich-cheating-the-nba/

So in other words Pop cheated everyone he (and we) don't care about.

The Blazers' ticket buyers.

The national fans.

The networks.

The Blazers' chief competitors (including the Spurs, presumably).

Pop could have played Duncan less than 38 minutes in the OT game the previous night. And the Spurs would have lost a close game.

And if Pop did that, then Pop could have played Duncan the next night. And the Spurs would have lost a clos[er] game.

So Pop maximized the outcome for only one interested party -- the (oh, yuck, who cares) Spurs.

And the rest be damned (well, at least according to Pop).

[Brazil]

If you play fantasy bb you will see that there is a lot teams shutting down players by cautiousness, Idk why we should focus on the spurs. This game was anyway a loss even with tp and tim. and for christ sake blame the crazy schedule. There are shitty games because of the shortened season every night

[timtonymanu]

The Spurs are too "boring" and old to be watched on tv anyway. Pop's just doing the spoiled NBA fan a favor.

[gospursgojas]

So people bitch when the boring Spurs are on, then bitch when they are not.

[SequSpur]

I agree with this article. fo.

[SA210]

Great article! :tu :tu

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

For the last time:

A head coach has the right to play, bench and sit whichever players he wants!

Regardless of how much money the fans are paying for tickets!

[tlongII]

The author clearly read the thread I started here.

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

This is hilarious.

[Reck]

-Make the ticket buyers have their money's worth (even when their team won by 40)? Not Pop's job. Plus if you don't get your money's worth watching your team win by 40, there's something wrong with you


-Entertain the TV viewers? Not Pop's job. Watch Glee if you have a problem with it. Don't see enough Spurs/Blazers? Get League Pass

-Make sure channels get ratings? Not Pop's job. Schedule better games

-Make sure Denver/Portland/Utah all have a "fair" shot at making the playoffs? Not Pop's job...none of those teams pay him

Article fails.

Can you say, queer for pop?

[ElNono]

What's that I taste? Is that peanut butthurt?

You do butt tasting? Ewwwww

[Hoops Czar]

Oh, and where's the article about how the NBA cheated the fans by cramming 66 games into 4 months. Quality product with all the b2b, b2b2b, 4 games in 5 nights, 8 games in 11 nights, etc. If the NBA actually created a schedule that gave the fans a decent chance of seeing two reasonably rested teams every game, there would be some rationale for condemning teams for what Pop did.

That would have included cancelling the season because Stern and the owners were the majority responsible for dragging this lockout on into December. They didn't have any alternative but to cram 66 games into 4 months and call it a season. They weren't about to extend the season into July.

[therealtruth]

-Make the ticket buyers have their money's worth (even when their team won by 40)? Not Pop's job. Plus if you don't get your money's worth watching your team win by 40, there's something wrong with you


-Entertain the TV viewers? Not Pop's job. Watch Glee if you have a problem with it. Don't see enough Spurs/Blazers? Get League Pass

-Make sure channels get ratings? Not Pop's job. Schedule better games

-Make sure Denver/Portland/Utah all have a "fair" shot at making the playoffs? Not Pop's job...none of those teams pay him

Article fails.

Let's say the Spurs get by the injury bug and lose games and find them on the outside of the playoffs struggling to get in. Every game becomes crucial. Let's say they're about to face another team like the Blazers that is struggling to get in the playoffs. The Spurs really need this win to make the playoffs. However the game before the other team, let's say the Mavs, decided they were going to rest players and the Blazers win by 40. Now imagine the Spurs are coming of a b2b and the Blazers just got a free win and are waiting for them. Would you really consider that fair?

[Mel_13]

That would have included cancelling the season because Stern and the owners were the majority responsible for dragging this lockout on into December. They didn't have any alternative but to cram 66 games into 4 months and call it a season. They weren't about to extend the season into July.

So you agree that the resulting schedule was a poor deal for the fans.

Thanks.

[Mel_13]

Let's say the Spurs get by the injury bug and lose games and find them on the outside of the playoffs struggling to get in. Every game becomes crucial. Let's say they're about to face another team like the Blazers that is struggling to get in the playoffs. The Spurs really need this win to make the playoffs. However the game before the other team, let's say the Mavs, decided they were going to rest players and the Blazers win by 40. Now imagine the Spurs are coming of a b2b and the Blazers just got a free win and are waiting for them. Would you really consider that fair?

There are unfair situations every night in the NBA.

[SenorSpur]

Pop's only responsibility is toward his own team - not the insignificant prinicipals listed in this article. He did what he felt was in the best interest for his team and that all anyone needs to know. I'd like one of these journalists to ask Pop to explain his rationale and tell him how much he cheated everyone.

[Hoops Czar]

So you agree that the resulting schedule was a poor deal for the fans.

Thanks.

Poor for who? OKC, Miami, Chicago.... no. They can handle a compressed schedule. Its bad for older teams like the Spurs and Celtics so I only half agree and your welcome.

From a fans standpoint. I love a compressed schedule. I see tons of games on the schedule every single night and I'm lovin' it.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't remember the last time Pop did this for a game that wasn't nationally televised. At least he didn't do it for a team that could be a big playoff matchup like the Lakers or the Suns.

[Mel_13]

Poor for who?

As previously stated. The fans.

[Hoops Czar]

As previously stated. The fans.

Fixed.

[GSH]

Pop has been cheating the NBA and it's fans ever since he became a head coach. All that defense shit - it's boring. In fact, a recent study has found that Spurs basketball is the leading cause of sleep apnea in this country, and could actually bankrupt our entire medical system.

There's a reason why, as the article states, "NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Portland much". It's because nobody anywhere ever likes to watch the Spurs, and only 1 in 13 U.S. citizens can even find Oregon on a map. (It's true - look it up.) So when Pop cheats the few insomniacs who didn't turn the channel after the early game, it really hurts.

I, for one, would support a Constitutional Amendment banning Gregg Popovich from coaching basketball ever again. If not, we'll just have to start a petition to get Obama to sign an executive order. Something must be done.

[spectator]

let me pose this question to my fellow spurs fans: how many games should the spurs actually play to win in mid-late april? IIRC, the spurs have a horrific 13 games in 19 nights to finish the regular season. this is absolutely ridiculous. i would be perfectly fine with resting all our best players for 2-3 games - especially the middle of a b2b2b2 at fakers on tnt.

[justinandimcool]

Can you say, queer for pop?


Knicks fan on a random NBA team's board making trolling comments without making any decent arguments? :toast

[justinandimcool]

Let's say the Spurs get by the injury bug and lose games and find them on the outside of the playoffs struggling to get in. Every game becomes crucial. Let's say they're about to face another team like the Blazers that is struggling to get in the playoffs. The Spurs really need this win to make the playoffs. However the game before the other team, let's say the Mavs, decided they were going to rest players and the Blazers win by 40. Now imagine the Spurs are coming of a b2b and the Blazers just got a free win and are waiting for them. Would you really consider that fair?

First of all, your scenario doesn't make sense (probably because of editing mistakes) but I see what you're saying. I'd be upset, hell I was upset last night. But hell yes it's fair. Is Carlisle being paid by the Spurs?

If the Spurs play that poorly the next 35 games and fall out of the playoffs that is their own fault. What Pop did last night was to help PREVENT that by PREVENTING injury and gastank emptiness. They have the LUXURY to throw games like this because of their record. In fact the record shouldn't even dictate it----the Suns rested Steve Nash last week, and they suck. If you know your guy needs a rest, give him a rest. Sure he's a millionaire and in theory should bust his ass, but he didn't become a millionaire by getting fractured wrists and torn ACL's.

[UnWantedTheory]

And the rest be damned.

[Borosai]

Quality isn't the NBA's priority. It's quantity. It's money.

Pop simply took a shit in Portland, and the Blazers had a great time playing in it. Next.

[mountainballer]

lol. cheating the fans. so the Bobcats and Wizards don't cheat the fans for one game but for a whole season for playing bad and not try hard?
and Blazers fans shouldn't get the money back, they should pay an extra price for getting the chance to watch their team score 137.

[SpurNation]

If not for the league and players unable to quickly resolve their issues, the fans wouldn't have been cheated out of anything.

People have got to expect this this year. Pop's not the only coach to have "held back" players this season. But give it time...a rule will probably be instituted saying teams (unless officially noted of medical excuse) will have to play starters in all games. This just to satisfy the complaints of the few who "say" they're getting cheated by not seeing a top star play when most are going to a game to root for their favorite team and not really concerned of who is playing on the opponents team.

I would venture to say the majority of the fans in Portland were loving the outcome of that game.

[letmk]

The Spurs and Pip are NOT cheating unless:
(1) The decision was not intended for the benefit of the long-term interest of the Spurs.
(2) The decision was "arranged" to hurt one team and favor another team.

Whether the decision will help the Spurs is up to debate. Is it a wise/smart/useful decision? But there's nothing about cheating.

Actually teams do this all the times, but normally at the end of regular reason. When their team positions are settled, they rest their star players preparing for the playoffs. This happens in NBA, NFL, and MLB, and almost all the other pro sports.

What's the difference between Pop's decision and what every team does every year? If anything, Pop's decision might be a smarter one. It's like you go on a 15-hour road trip, do you want to have a rest once a while, or only rest at the 14th hour?

Of course injuries happen all the time, Tim or Tony might get injured in next game (God forbid), you never know. But as a coach, you do whatever you can do between the balance of good regular reason standing and star players' health.

[pgardn]

Fine him for being a mean old man with reporters.


Imo Popovich does not care what any fan thinks. It seems he thinks we have much better things to do (which most of us do) than worry about some athletic contest. I seriously believe he thinks anyone who spends 70 bucks on a ticket has something wrong with him. He has hinted about this before via his military background and thinking about our troops around the world instead of a stupid game.

There might even be some guilt involved as he is indirectly funded by the people he has no time for. I think he is extraordinarily bright and sees many contradictions. But he has a job to do and he will carry this out like any good trooper, even if it is not vital in his mind.

sincerely,
Dr. Phil

[703 Spurz]

Pretty funny/interesting article I came across....

Gregg Popovich: Cheating the NBA
Posted by Berry Tramel on February 22, 2012M at 3:30 pm

The San Antonio Spurs tanked a game Tuesday night. There is no better way to say it. The Spurs played a game and didn’t try to win.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich rested his stars, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, in a game at Portland. San Antonio already was missing injured starters Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter. So the Spurs started Danny Green, Cory Joseph, DeJuan Blair, Kawhi Leonard and Richard Jefferson. Popovich still had a couple of handy guys off the bench, Gary Neal and Matt Bonner. Neal played 18 minutes, Bonner six. James Anderson played 35 minutes; Eric Dawson played 32.

Portland led 41-23 after one quarter, 66-43 at halftime and 103-63 after three periods. The Blazers eventually won 137-97. No way could San Antonio win in Portland without Duncan, Parker, Splitter and Ginobili.

Popovich had justifiable reasons for tossing a game. In this high-density season, 66 games played over 132 days, fatigue sets in. Wear and tear affects even the hearty, much less ancients like Duncan. Coaches have to watch the minutes of their players. Coaches have to be careful with nagging injuries. Popovich, one of the NBA’s greatest coaches ever, long has compromised regular-season results to make sure his team is playoff-ready.

But Popovich cheated the game Tuesday night. Not cheated as in rigged the game clock or bugged the Blazer locker room. Cheated the game as in didn’t give a variety of elements their money’s worth. Cheated the game as in didn’t respect the competitive side of a league that long has battled the perception that regular-season games don’t matter much.

* The Spurs cheated the ticket-buyers. Portland’s ticket prices are like Oklahoma City’s and everyone else’s. Unbelievably high. A mid-court ticket, 11 rows up, for the Thursday Portland-Miami game: $866. You pay $866, or $466, or $166, or $66, and you deserve the best show the teams can provide.

* The Spurs cheated the national fans. San Antonio-Portland was the back end of an NBATV doubleheader. Spurs-Blazers isn’t like Knicks-Heat, or Celtics-Lakers. NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Portland much. And yet, here on a reasonably-high stage, we get a total mismatch, totally blown off by one of the teams.

* The Spurs cheated the networks. I know, NBATV isn’t quite like TNT or ESPN. But these networks pay huge money for these television rights, and when we have a bogus game like Portland-San Antonio, it lessens the quality of the overall product. The viewer is sufficiently told that the regular season has its hole. The regular season can be shaky. The regular season, feeding the stereotype, can be irrelevant. And that hurts the ratings. Not to mention the eventual rights fees.

* The Spurs cheated the Blazers’ chief competitors. San Antonio played at Utah on Monday night, at Portland on Tuesday night and goes to Denver on Thursday night. The Jazz, Nuggets and Blazers are all wrangling for playoff positioning, perhaps even the eighth spot in the West, which is the last seat on the lifeboat. Popovich made the decision to play his stars against Utah on Monday, and the Spurs won. We assume the stars will play Thursday night at Denver. But Pop gave Portland a game. If the Blazers reach the playoffs by a game over Denver and/or Utah, Portland should send Popovich a bottle of wine.

http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/02/22/gregg-popovich-cheating-the-nba/

You think Pop gives a shit what some idiot named Berry has to say about anything? I mean a sports writer has to find something to write about since they get paid to do so.

[ManuTastic]

Oh, and where's the article about how the NBA cheated the fans by cramming 66 games into 4 months. Quality product with all the b2b, b2b2b, 4 games in 5 nights, 8 games in 11 nights, etc. If the NBA actually created a schedule that gave the fans a decent chance of seeing two reasonably rested teams every game, there would be some rationale for condemning teams for what Pop did.

Excellent post. This schedule is itself "cheating the game" by attempting to squeeze every last cent out of the players without regard to injuries, fatigue, quality play, etc.

[boutons_deux]

how about bitchin about 30 x 15 = 450 B2B every damn season?

Cheating the ticket-gouged fans out of games with rested players?

How about bitchin about an over-expanded NBA that dilutes talent so that the quality of 2000 of 2500 games/year is yawningly silly.

Like any large corporation, the NBA (owners and their league commissioner tool) delivers the shittiest possible product for the highest possible price.

[Old School 44]

If not for the league and players unable to quickly resolve their issues, the fans wouldn't have been cheated out of anything.

People have got to expect this this year. Pop's not the only coach to have "held back" players this season. But give it time...a rule will probably be instituted saying teams (unless officially noted of medical excuse) will have to play starters in all games. This just to satisfy the complaints of the few who "say" they're getting cheated by not seeing a top star play when most are going to a game to root for their favorite team and not really concerned of who is playing on the opponents team.

I would venture to say the majority of the fans in Portland were loving the outcome of that game.

Yeah and it will look even worse, when Pop pulls Tim, Tony and Manu after a token minute on the floor.

[manufan10]

Yeah and it will look even worse, when Pop pulls Tim, Tony and Manu after a token minute on the floor.

Or less than that. Win the tip, call a timeout and substitute. Lose the tip, foul immediately and have a substitution. There will be ways around it. :lol

[YoMamaIsCallin]

Anyone who pays $866 for a regular season game has more money than they need. That's just stupid.

[Mr. Body]

best show the teams can provide.

* The Spurs cheated the national fans. San Antonio-Portland was the back end of an NBATV doubleheader. Spurs-Blazers isn’t like Knicks-Heat, or Celtics-Lakers. NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Portland much. And yet, here on a reasonably-high stage, we get a total mismatch, totally blown off by one of the teams.


This is me. I don't get to see the team play too much, and when they're on national TV? Pop throws the game. FUUUUUUUUUUUUU.

This (and the fans in the arena), and cheating other teams by tossing a victory to Portland, are the two biggest to me.

[Blake]

This is me. I don't get to see the team play too much, and when they're on national TV? Pop throws the game. FUUUUUUUUUUUUU.

This (and the fans in the arena), and cheating other teams by tossing a victory to Portland, are the two biggest to me.

This is you:

WAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

[Reck]

Knicks fan on a random NBA team's board making trolling comments without making any decent arguments? :toast

:lol Newbie that dont know what he's talking about. Love these misinformed puppies.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

Gregg Popovich: Cheating the NBA, Part Two


Pretty funny/interesting article I came across....



The San Antonio Spurs owneed a game Thursday night. There is no better way to say it. The Spurs played a game and made sure they won.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich played his stars, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, in a game at Denver. San Antonio already was missing injured starters Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter, and Kawhi Leonard left early on. Didn't matter. Popovich still had a couple of handy guys off the bench, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner and Danny Green.

San Antonio led 31-15 after one quarter, 65-39 at halftime and 92-72 after three periods. The Spurs eventually won 114-99. No way could the Nuggets win, even in Denver with Duncan and Parker playing.

Popovich had justifiable reasons for winning the game in such a fashion. In this high-density season, 66 games played over 132 days, fatigue sets in. Popovich, one of the NBA’s greatest coaches ever, long has compromised regular-season results to make sure his team is playoff-ready. You have to take results where you can get them.

But Popovich cheated the game Thursday night. Not cheated as in rigged the game clock or bugged the Nuggets locker room. Cheated the game as in didn’t give a variety of elements their money’s worth. Cheated the game as in didn’t respect the competitive side of a league that long has battled the perception that regular-season games don’t matter much.

* The Spurs cheated the ticket-buyers. Denver’s ticket prices are like Oklahoma City’s and everyone else’s. Unbelievably high. You pay $866, or $466, or $166, or $66, and you deserve the best show the teams can provide. This one SUCKED for the Denver fans. Like, really sucked.

* The Spurs cheated the national fans. Spurs-Nuggets isn’t like Knicks-Heat, or Celtics-Lakers. NBA fans across the nation don’t get to see San Antonio a ton and don’t get to see Denver much. And yet, here on a reasonably-high stage, we get a total mismatch, totally blown off by one of the teams.

* The Spurs cheated the networks. These networks pay huge money for these television rights, and when we have a bogus game like Denver-San Antonio, it lessens the quality of the overall product. The viewer is sufficiently told that the regular season has its hole. The regular season can be shaky. The regular season, feeding the stereotype, can be irrelevant. And that hurts the ratings. Not to mention the eventual rights fees.

* The Spurs cheated Denver, who are the Blazers’ chief competitors. San Antonio played at Portland on Tuesday night and at Denver on Thursday night. The Jazz, Nuggets and Blazers are all wrangling for playoff positioning, perhaps even the eighth spot in the West, which is the last seat on the lifeboat. Popovich made the decision to rest his stars against Portland on Tuesday, and the Blazers won. But Pop heartlessly denied Denver a game. If the Blazers reach the playoffs by a game over Denver, the Nuggets should send Popovich a bucket of shit.

[pjjrfan]

Mainly he cheated the fans who pay for everyone's salaries. Of course most Spurs fans won't mind, but if the Portland fans were told a week ago what the starting line up was going to be many wouldn't have bought tickets for that game.

[SpurNation]

Gregg Popovich: Cheating the NBA, Part Two


Pretty funny/interesting article I came across....

:lol Can't "win" for losing?

[TJastal]

Mainly he cheated the fans who pay for everyone's salaries. Of course most Spurs fans won't mind, but if the Portland fans were told a week ago what the starting line up was going to be many wouldn't have bought tickets for that game.

Well, the blazer fans at least got to see James Anderson go 2-12 missing easy dunks and airballing 20 footers. That has to at least have some comedic value if nothing else.

[Giuseppe]

Mainly he cheated the fans who pay for everyone's salaries. Of course most Spurs fans won't mind, but if the Portland fans were told a week ago what the starting line up was going to be many wouldn't have bought tickets for that game.

pj

[spursfan1000]

Hes playing by the rules...

[GSH]

So who cheated the NBA fans last night, by keeping Kawhi Leonard out of the game? Was it Pop still? Or was it Kawhi himelf, since we all know he only played 43 minutes, and he's way younger than Tim and Tony?

I spent my hard-earned money to buy tickets and charter an airplane to that game, but when I found out Kawhi wouldn't be playing I decided to stay home and watch TV instead. Kawhi is just too young and healthy to sit out of a game like that. I'm starting to think there's a big conspiracy to cheat people like me.

[shraediggz]

You know who's really cheating the NBA..... these guys....

Charlotte Bobcats
Dasagana Diop; Started 9 games. Shooting 29% from the field and 16% from the line for the season. Avg 3.3 rebounds per game
Corey Maggette; Started 12 games. 2nd leading scorer for the cats. Shooting 34% from the field and 24% from the 3pt line.
Tyrus Thomas; Started 18 games. averaging 6pts and 4.5 reb / games. shooting 34% from the field.


N.O. Hornets
Who, this year, have featured a starting lineup of
Jarett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Dejuan Summers, Jason Smith, Emeka Okafor
and
Greivis Vasquez, Trevor Ariza, Dejuan Summers, Jason Smith, Emeka Okafor
and
Greivis Vasquez, Marco Belinelli, Trevor Ariza, Gustavo Ayon, Emeka Okafor
and
Greivis Vasquez, Marco Belinelli, Trevor Ariza, Gustavo Ayon, Chris Kaman

Sacto Kings
Who have started John Salmons 28 times, shooting 36-fg%, 27-3pt% and 65-ft% on the season, averaging 7pts, 3reb and 2 ast in 28mpg

Toronto Raptors
Aaron Gray started 13 games (It's Aaron Gray)
Rasual Butler started 14 games shooting 30-fg%, 27% 3pt, and 58-ft% on the season.

New Jersey Nets... Relying on players like
Johan Petro, 6 starts, Shelden Williams, 16 starts
Shawne Williams 6 starts, 20mpg, shooting 28 FG%, and 24% 3pt
Deshawn Stevenson, 16 starts 19mpg, shooting 26 fg% and 26-3pt%


Honestly, how could someone from the media say Gregg Popovich cheated the NBA and its fans when his team rides an 11 game win streak (longest in the NBA this season) and the first time you hear about it is when he decides to punt it in.

I just see this criticism as a tad hypocritical and unwarranted.
It's like saying, we're bored with these guys, it's the same-old-same-old thing they've done for ages, lets not cover them or give them any media attention... and then, when it's all over, these same people are complaining they didn't get a chance to see the very act they deemed old and tired a week ago. Make up your mind people. One way or another. Are the Spurs news worthy, or not! Are they interesting or dismissible. Fun to watch, or dull.

[TJastal]

You know who's really cheating the NBA..... these guys....

Charlotte Bobcats
Dasagana Diop; Started 9 games. Shooting 29% from the field and 16% from the line for the season. Avg 3.3 rebounds per game
Corey Maggette; Started 12 games. 2nd leading scorer for the cats. Shooting 34% from the field and 24% from the 3pt line.
Tyrus Thomas; Started 18 games. averaging 6pts and 4.5 reb / games. shooting 34% from the field.


N.O. Hornets
Who, this year, have featured a starting lineup of
Jarett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Dejuan Summers, Jason Smith, Emeka Okafor
and
Greivis Vasquez, Trevor Ariza, Dejuan Summers, Jason Smith, Emeka Okafor
and
Greivis Vasquez, Marco Belinelli, Trevor Ariza, Gustavo Ayon, Emeka Okafor
and
Greivis Vasquez, Marco Belinelli, Trevor Ariza, Gustavo Ayon, Chris Kaman

Sacto Kings
Who have started John Salmons 28 times, shooting 36-fg%, 27-3pt% and 65-ft% on the season, averaging 7pts, 3reb and 2 ast in 28mpg

Toronto Raptors
Aaron Gray started 13 games (It's Aaron Gray)
Rasual Butler started 14 games shooting 30-fg%, 27% 3pt, and 58-ft% on the season.

New Jersey Nets... Relying on players like
Johan Petro, 6 starts, Shelden Williams, 16 starts
Shawne Williams 6 starts, 20mpg, shooting 28 FG%, and 24% 3pt
Deshawn Stevenson, 16 starts 19mpg, shooting 26 fg% and 26-3pt%


Honestly, how could someone from the media say Gregg Popovich cheated the NBA and its fans when his team rides an 11 game win streak (longest in the NBA this season) and the first time you hear about it is when he decides to punt it in.

I just see this criticism as a tad hypocritical and unwarranted.
It's like saying, we're bored with these guys, it's the same-old-same-old thing they've done for ages, lets not cover them or give them any media attention... and then, when it's all over, these same people are complaining they didn't get a chance to see the very act they deemed old and tired a week ago. Make up your mind people. One way or another. Are the Spurs news worthy, or not! Are they interesting or dismissible. Fun to watch, or dull.

Valid point about the bobcats especially. It appears Jordan deliberately destroyed that team in short order so he will have the best chances to get the next few year's #1 picks. The bobcats are essentially tanking all 82 games. Put into perspective, that makes tanking 1 game look very trivial.
If the nba was to fine Pop 100k for this 1 game then I think Jordan should be fined 6.6 million for the 66 games he tanked this year.

[Anonymous Cowherd]

^ now you put it like that, I'm all FOR fining Pop.....

[pgardn]

Valid point about the bobcats especially. It appears Jordan deliberately destroyed that team in short order so he will have the best chances to get the next few year's #1 picks. The bobcats are essentially tanking all 82 games. Put into perspective, that makes tanking 1 game look very trivial.
If the nba was to fine Pop 100k for this 1 game then I think Jordan should be fined 6.6 million for the 66 games he tanked this year.

And that is a key point. Chance. We dont know who if any players coming out will be superstars. Charlotte may not even get a shot at them. So his gamble could fall flat on its face and get Charlotte moved out of his beloved North Carolina.Jordan could end up losing as much money as he does on the Golf course getting hustled due to his ego.

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

*Yawn* One of the most pointless articles I've ever read. Apparently the writer of it can't stop bitching about that blowout.

[100%duncan]

:lol

[Nathan Explosion]

You know, I didn't see the outrage when Dirk sat out an entire week because, as he put it in his own words, he was out of shape and not ready for the season. So.....where are the columns and blogs blasting Dirk and Carlise for depriving opposing fans the chance to see Dirk play? It's stupid. And the Spurs kicked ass then next night, so who cares.

Pop is regarded as the top coach (or near the top) by all the national media.

[The Reckoning]

who honestly would think pop would play all of his starters at the end of the rodeo road trip? youre an idiot for buying a ticket to that game in the first place.

[The Reckoning]

*Yawn* One of the most pointless articles I've ever read. Apparently the writer of it can't stop bitching about that blowout.


lol at coyote boner

[dude1394]

Oh, and where's the article about how the NBA cheated the fans by cramming 66 games into 4 months. Quality product with all the b2b, b2b2b, 4 games in 5 nights, 8 games in 11 nights, etc. If the NBA actually created a schedule that gave the fans a decent chance of seeing two reasonably rested teams every game, there would be some rationale for condemning teams for what Pop did.

I love pop for doing this. All of the teams in the western conf. Should get together,and tank a game a week or every two weeks. The only person to blame for this rotten basketball is the nba owners and players who agreed to this crappymschedule. If anyone is cheating the paying fan, it's the nba, not pop.

[Agloco]

:cry

[Jimcs50]

And I lost $220 on Spurs +7.5 points, because I did not know that Pop was going to tank game.

:bang:ihit

[purist]

If the Spurs are so boring, even when all the stars are healthy, then who outside of SA would care to watch them anyway? Nationally, the Spurs have never drawn the attention of big market teams, so who really cares?

If perception is that the Spurs gave the finger to everyone else, so be it. Fits right in with Pop's mentality, and it's a good mentatlity to have as a team.