Duncan, Ginobili and Parker are not playing tonight

[FreeMason]

Mason's got this handled.

No biggie.

[Galileo]

Big Three a Big Zero tonight
By Jeff McDonald

No Tim Duncan. No Tony Parker. No Manu Ginobili. That's all that will be missing from the Spurs' lineup tonight at Denver.

A night after the Spurs expended so much energy to get past Golden State in overtime, coach Gregg Popovich just informed the gathered media that he plans to rest each and every member of his Big Three.

The decision on Ginobili comes with a bit of an injury concern. He suffered a left hip contusion taking a fall against the Warriors. With three days off after tonight, Popovich felt it was best to give him the night off.

As for Duncan and Parker, the Spurs' top two scorers? They're just getting the night off "for a variety of reasons," Popovich said.

"Parker makes the All-Star team, becomes hard to deal with, so we're going to sit him and teach him a lesson," Popovich joked. "Duncan says he wants to renegotiate his contract, so I said, 'Sit, I'm not talking to you.' "

Though Popovich wouldn't say so, it's worth wondering if this new and not-so-improved rotation is meant to send a message to the league scheduling wizards, who sent the Spurs to Denver by way of Oakland.

After Monday's overtime win, the Spurs did not lay their heads on their pillows in Denver until close to 4 a.m. Ragged and facing an uphill battle against the Nuggets anyway, Popovich has apparently opted to steal an extra day of rest for his most important players.

yet more evidence that Pop reads Spurstalk.

[completely deck]

This is the stupidest I've ever heard. They have a week until the next game. This is ridiculous.

[Josepatches_]

Pop is by far the best coach in the NBA, there's nobody on his level..there's no other coach in the NBA that would even think about doing this..not only does this help us avoid injuries, but he's playing mind games with the rest of the NBA..

Pop without TD = Fired long time ago.Who was him before Duncan? And he had 47 .

[Ditty]

unless they play like the hornets

unless george hill plays like chris paul

unless roger mason hit 3 pointers like peja stockavic

unless matt bonner hits outside shots like david west

and kurt thomas is defensive presence like tyson chandeler

then we have no chance

[exstatic]

[B]Though Popovich wouldn't say so, it's worth wondering if this new and not-so-improved rotation is meant to send a message to the league scheduling wizards, who sent the Spurs to Denver by way of Oakland.

Bravo. It was pretty ed up that even on a B2B, there were only 22.5 hours between tip offs. When you factor in the OT, there were less than 20 hours (and a trip) between the end of the GS game and tip off for this one. Having tired players leads to injuries.

[Spurs1234]

when was the last time atleast one of the big three was not out there...i guess if duncan missed a game in the 2000-2001 season, that would be it.

[SpursFan0728]

feel so sorry for NBA TV
suppose to be a great game

[SPURS21]

Wow this isn't a joke. What a terrible move.

They are basketball players, they get paid to play basketball. If I have to work late, commute home and be up early for work the next day than that is what I do because it is my job. Duncan barely broke 40 minutes yesterday. Same with Parker.

This is one of the worst decisions coach Pop has ever made. Especially when we will likely be battling the Nuggets for playoff positioning and this game likely could cost us the tie breaker.

FYI NBATV is reporting TP/TD will play just aren't starting

[DPG21920]

As a fan, this is the gayest move of all time. As a team, probably smart. But it does shaft the fans over.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

As a fan, this sucks!

It's just basketball. Let us enjoy the game, live a littleee!!!!

It's taking things a little too seriously for my tastes. This is bull !

We get it, the regular season is pre-season....I'm already tired of him waving the white flag in regular season games, but he is reaching new levels, with that mentality.

[DynastyBuilder]

no Finley either... wow. This is a surprise.

[FreeMason]

Everyone calm the down.

I GOT THIS.

[Andy25]

I told you guys Pop is a spurstalk troll.... I agree with his decision today and it will help a lot in building the confidence of these guys.. but I wish he didn't kill my stats for my fantasy team this week by doing so..

[wijayas]

Is Pop a genius or what? I like the move!

[Jayem]

pop knows the refs handed us the win last night so he decided to tank this game

[superbigtime]

As a fan I don't like this at all. How are we supposed to come together on the RRT when 3 starters and Manu are sitting? I would be pissed if I was in Denver and bought tickets for this game! We shouldn't throw a game because our players have some "bumps and bruises." Wins are too important. By losing to Denever tonight, Spurs will have lost the season series 1-2 and that has obvious implications.

[SpursFan0728]

lol oberto penetrating

[ECZ]

Bold move.

But this should be a good test for the bench

[DPG21920]

Question? Why not rest the guys against an inferior team in the Warriors and play the real team tonight? Why help Denver who is right behind us? Wouldn't the bench stand a better chance against the Warriors to steal a win than the Nuggets?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

pop knows the refs handed us the win last night so he decided to tank this game

Good thinking, gayem.

[ManuTastic]

These old men can't handle a back-to-back before AS break yet they will last the 2nd half of the season and be ready deep in the playoffs?

And waving the white flag on a conference game because one of the lowest teams in the conference took too much out of them. Especially when this game could easily cost them in seedings with any tiebreakers with Denver.

And what's the difference between 4 days off and 5 days off? Is that really going to make a difference vs Boston on Sunday?

Bad sign.

I agree completely. They don't play again until SUNDAY. F this.

The only reason I might agree with is that he's protesting the crappy scheduling. And don't forget this is NBA tv fan night; wonder if people would have voted for this game if they knew our big 3 would be sitting out!

[ploto]

I think this move is a psychological one as well as a physical one.

I think it is almost entirely psychological, and that disappoints me. Providing an excuse for the loss in advance.

I am so sick of these writers acting as if the Spurs are the only team with schedules like this. They all have to do it.

I have a friend who operates for 12 hours and is up at 5:00 AM the next morning to round and operate again, but these guys can not play basketball?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I think it is almost entirely psychological, and that disappoints me. Providing an excuse for the loss in advance.

I am so sick of these writers acting as if the Spurs are the only team with schedules like this. They all have to do it.

Sadly, I do agree with this.

Kinda like the Orlando game was coached with the "L" already on the team's minds

[MarHill]

I think it is almost entirely psychological, and that disappoints me. Providing an excuse for the loss in advance.

I am so sick of these writers acting as if the Spurs are the only team with schedules like this. They all have to do it.

Obviously, Pop knows what's best for his team. I would agree I was surprised by the decision. But, if it helps them in long run...then some short-term pain is sometimes needed.