Way to kill the team's streak, Pop

[VBM]

Actually, I think it's good to see the bench play extended minutes! If one game is important to the health of Duncan and Parker then great move Pop!

Duncan's getting the whole weekend off, and Parker won't play much in the allstar game. They could have gotten their rest without tanking a game.

[Caeman]

Actually, I think it's good to see the bench play extended minutes! If one game is important to the health of Duncan and Parker then great move Pop!

How the do we know if it makes a differences unless the Spurs win the le this year?

That is the point tonight. Sitting the starters out in this fashion does nothing good for the team. The scrubs go out and get beat down by 30+. That is not a learning experience. Learning experience comes in when you play in a compe ive environment. Getting beat down by 30 is not condusive to learning. You honestly think that the Spurs or the Blazers are going to review/watch this game again? This is a trash, throw away game.

Trash, throw away games have not been shown to make or break a championship seaon.

[Kindergarten Cop]

For those of you against this move, imagine how different last season could have ended had Pop chosen to do this in game 82 of last season. While I understand that the two aren't exactly the same - it puts some perspective on how much more important games in the Playoffs are compared to a single game in the regular season. Just my two cents.

[SequSpur]

Chumpdumper.

[ChumpDumper]

Chumpdumper.

[TampaDude]

For those of you against this move, imagine how different last season could have ended had Pop chosen to do this in game 82 of last season. While I understand that the two aren't exactly the same - it puts some perspective on how much more important games in the Playoffs are compared to a single game in the regular season. Just my two cents.

^ this

[VBM]

For those of you against this move, imagine how different last season could have ended had Pop chosen to do this in game 82 of last season. While I understand that the two aren't exactly the same - it puts some perspective on how much more important games in the Playoffs are compared to a single game in the regular season. Just my two cents.

If you rest players the last game of the season, they're guaranteed to be healthy for the playoff opener. No such guarantee here...

[SA210]

This is one of my least favorite habits of Pop. It shows that he's either a pussy or a f@gget.

He's either to pussy to have his team play a tough opponent on the road and actually see them lose. Or he's a got that psychologically likes watching his team get bent over.

Either one, it sucks and can be embarrassing (even if it's just one night of the season).

P.S. If anyone thinks that a one game rest in the last week of February of a compressed schedule is going to make the difference in winning the le or not, you're re ed.

I would not be surprised if we see an injury the next game (just like last year). Then all this about Pop being a genius goes out the window.

Duncan's getting the whole weekend off, and Parker won't play much in the allstar game. They could have gotten their rest without tanking a game.

This

[Caeman]

For those of you against this move, imagine how different last season could have ended had Pop chosen to do this in game 82 of last season. While I understand that the two aren't exactly the same - it puts some perspective on how much more important games in the Playoffs are compared to a single game in the regular season. Just my two cents.

What are you talking about? Pop did do this last season and more than once if I remember correctly. Pop sat the starters against the Lakers, the second last game. The team lost and Pop started everyone the next (last) game of the season. In that game Manu injuried himself, and the rest accrued from the game before went out the ing window, and with it the season.

[bresilhac]

I'm feeling the same thing. Check out my post above.

I surely don't believe Pop's a f@gget. An alcoholic maybe but not a f@g. My point is I cannot conceive how tonight's strategy makes the Spurs a better team. They've got a game Thursday night in Denver and if they would have tried to win tonight's game with Tim and Tony playing and then playing again on Thursday they still will have had six days off before the Chicago game. Which they do. I just cannot understand any coach's MO who purposefully throws a game in the middle of a hotly contested playoff race.

[SequSpur]

[Caeman]

This

There is nothing to show this decision will be the decisive factor in bringing home the le this year.

If anything, this decision could trigger a string of losses. No one really knows. It's better not to with the streak and keep rolling the dices.

If Pop did not care about the streak and really cared about rest, then he would have rested his players sometime before. However, this decision comes when the team faces a difficult opponent on the road. Pop is a pussy. He doesn't like seeing his team lose. Or, he's a got and likes to see his team get raped.

Either one, it sucks.

[Kindergarten Cop]

What are you talking about? Pop did do this last season and more than once if I remember correctly. Pop sat the starters against the Lakers, the second last game. The team lost and Pop started everyone the next (last) game of the season. In that game Manu injuried himself, and the rest accrued from the game before went out the ing window, and with it the season.

I didn't say that Pop didn't do it last season. I'm fully aware that he did it - which he has done numerous times over the past few years. Go back and read what I said. I stated that had he done it "in game 82" things would have turned out so much different (at least IMO). As you stated, he did not do it in game 82.

Again, my point being that one single game in the regular season can completely change the outcome of a team's fortune in the Playoffs. Had Pop rested the Big 3 in game 82 last season, Manu would not have gotten hurt - do you disagree?

[Caeman]

I surely don't believe Pop's a f@gget. An alcoholic maybe but not a f@g. My point is I cannot conceive how tonight's strategy makes the Spurs a better team. They've got a game Thursday night in Denver and if they would have tried to win tonight's game with Tim and Tony playing and then playing again on Thursday they still will have had six days off before the Chicago game. Which they do. I just cannot understand any coach's MO who purposefully throws a game in the middle of a hotly contested playoff race.

You are right. But, I believe this does go a bit futher. This habit (used more than once) has me convinced that Pop really is scared of watching his team lose to a good opponent on the road. When the playoffs come around, he has no choice. You go all out. But in the season, he hates watching his team lose to certain opponents and I believe that to be pussy-like in nature.

[spurtech09]

spurs were bound to lose a game...spurs can't win every game and ducan/parker need rest...plus winning streaks don't mean anything....duncan/parker probably play in denver and the spurs will bounce back

[VBM]

Again, my point being that one single game in the regular season can completely change the outcome of a team's fortune in the Playoffs. Had Pop rested the Big 3 in game 82 last season, Manu would not have gotten hurt - do you disagree?

If Pop hadn't rested players early in the year, the Spurs might have clinched the top seed and not been forced to play anyone in Game 82. Better to play them all early in the season (where an injury can heal prior to the postseason) than be forced to play the last week of the season because you're trying to make up ground.

[spurtech09]

You are right. But, I believe this does go a bit futher. This habit (used more than once) has me convinced that Pop really is scared of watching his team lose to a good opponent on the road. When the playoffs come around, he has no choice. You go all out. But in the season, he hates watching his team lose to certain opponents and I believe that to be pussy-like in nature.

this

[Caeman]

I didn't say that Pop didn't do it last season. I'm fully aware that he did it - which he has done numerous times over the past few years. Go back and read what I said. I stated that had he done it "in game 82" things would have turned out so much different (at least IMO). As you stated, he did not do it in game 82.

Again, my point being that one single game in the regular season can completely change the outcome of a team's fortune in the Playoffs. Had Pop rested the Big 3 in game 82 last season, Manu would not have gotten hurt - do you disagree?

I still do not see how resting tonight will eventually lead to a le; resting on the last game of last year's season would not have be decisive in nature because the Grizzles were prepared to defeat the Spurs). The purpose of playing the season and playoffs is to win a le. How does sitting out your best players (one who is 29, mind you) and watching your team get skull- ed, help the team? It does not.

I understand the rest is good for continuing the season. But, why does Pop always do this against good opponents? He does this because he lacks confidence and is a pussy.

[Kindergarten Cop]

This habit (used more than once) has me convinced that Pop really is scared of watching his team lose to a good opponent on the road.

Have you noticed who we have played so far on the road? Over the last 8 road games we've played the Clippers, Grizzlies (twice), and 76ers - which were all better than the Blazers. Yet THIS is the game Pop was really scared of losing to?

[spurtech09]

I still do not see how resting tonight will eventually lead to a le; resting on the last game of last year's season would not have be decisive in nature because the Grizzles were prepared to defeat the Spurs). The purpose of playing the season and playoffs is to win a le. How does sitting out your best players (one who is 29, mind you) and watching your team get skull- ed, help the team? It does not.

I understand the rest is good for continuing the season. But, why does Pop always do this against good opponents? He does this because he lacks confidence and is a pussy.

o b2b duh....

[bresilhac]

You are right. But, I believe this does go a bit futher. This habit (used more than once) has me convinced that Pop really is scared of watching his team lose to a good opponent on the road. When the playoffs come around, he has no choice. You go all out. But in the season, he hates watching his team lose to certain opponents and I believe that to be pussy-like in nature.

I guess we'll never know because Pop didn't put the team's best foot forward by playing a proper lineup tonight. But, as has been asked on here previously, how will this untimely move affect the team for the rest of the season? Hopefully it will be nothing more than some strangely derived anomaly that will be quickly forgetten as the team rolls on. If it backfires however, and let's hope it doesn't, Pop will have no one to blame but himself.

[VBM]

But, why does Pop always do this against western conference opponents? He does this because he lacks knowledge of tiebreakers

fify

[spurtech09]

Have you noticed who we have played so far on the road? Over the last 8 road games we've played the Clippers, Grizzlies (twice), and 76ers - which were all better than the Blazers. Yet THIS is the game Pop was really scared of losing to?

exactly....its all about rest and injuries

[SequSpur]

How the do we know if it makes a differences unless the Spurs win the le this year?

That is the point tonight. Sitting the starters out in this fashion does nothing good for the team. The scrubs go out and get beat down by 30+. That is not a learning experience. Learning experience comes in when you play in a compe ive environment. Getting beat down by 30 is not condusive to learning. You honestly think that the Spurs or the Blazers are going to review/watch this game again? This is a trash, throw away game.

Trash, throw away games have not been shown to make or break a championship seaon.

dude, you wrote an essay...

[Caeman]

Have you noticed who we have played so far on the road? Over the last 8 road games we've played the Clippers, Grizzlies (twice), and 76ers - which were all better than the Blazers. Yet THIS is the game Pop was really scared of losing to?

Historically we do well against those teams, save the 76ers. Everyone was pleased and surprised that the Spurs took the game in Philly this year.

The Blazers play the Spurs well, especially at home. The Rose Garden is a formidable arena and I honestly believe Pop is scared to watch his team get beat down in a playoff-like environment like Portland. I've been there (Portland), I believe Pop is scared of that . Timmy, Parker, Manu are not scared. But, Pop is, and Pop leads.