Popovich should be fined by the NBA

[Keepin' it real]

So Popovich should be fined for trying to protect the health of his players?

WoW.

That completely misses the point. We're not all looking at this from the same perspective. Based on your comment, you're looking at this issue from the same perspective as many fans on this forum -- a.k.a. not paying customers.

But some of us (who actually go to the games) are looking at this from the perspective of paying customers. You know, the people without whom the NBA would not exist.

I imagine that 90+ percent of fans, if they paid $200-400 for 2 lower-level tickets to a Spurs game, but the day of the game, they found out that two of the Big 3 were DNP-CD, they'd be PISSED.

I've attended 10-15 Spurs games each of the past three seasons, and luckily, that only happened once. And guess what, I WAS PISSED.

As I said earlier, if Pop must do that, fine, but gimme my money back or give me a date with:

[Reck]

Despite what David Stern and ESPN tries to tell you, every coach and team only cares about one thing: winning a championship. And they will do whatever they feel is necessary to achieve that goal.

They are not obligated one bit to "entertain", and could care less if people get what they paid for. Sure they want butts in seats....but only because it gives them an edge in homecourt advantage.

This is what you get when misinformed.

While I'll agree wih you to some extent etertartaining is not one of the coach's job it is however their job to win games. It just so happens that winning a game technically takes care of the "entertaining" part. As long as you're a Spurs fan anyway.

Let me tell you, they do care about the fans. Saying they dont is stupid and bigoted. I want to see the day when a coach says he doesn't care what the fans want and still expect them to fill the arena.

The fans aren't only there to give the team homecourt advantage. They're there to A, support their team. B, see their favorite players and C, to see them being compe ive and be entertained. (even in a loss) And D, to see them win.

[manufan10]

A 12 hour work week hardly seems like work at all.

Their boss gave them the day off. It was his idea.

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

, I work out for nearly 2 hours a day without days off. I must be some sort of super hero.

Suckin and taking it in the ass is hardly a work out.

[JR3]

I know pop does this stuff every season. I try not to buy tickets for games that are the second of a back to back. But I went ahead and crossed my fingers for the Jazz game in April.

[Hoops Czar]

Suckin and taking it in the ass is hardly a work out.

Is that your best shot at a heckler's retort or are you as thick as a bull's walt?

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Fans have every right to be upset. I won't deny them their anger over not getting to see their favorite players play. Unfortunately the system is such that the best they can do is vote with their future dollars.

However I can't think of a worse possible idea than opening up the can of worms of fines and disciplinary measures for teams sitting players. For starters most coaches will find a way around it. All of a sudden seasoned pros like Tim will get suspended for "missing a team meeting" or the like. Think resting starters hurts the integrity of the game? You'll suddenly have teams hurting the integrity of the game AND thumbing their nose at league policy.

What happens if they somehow could enforce that policy and make it that guys have to get their asses out there if their only problem is that they're kinda tired and someone gets injured? Those fans that showed up that night got to see their favorite player, how about the guys that bought tickets to see that guy next month? How about all the tickets that go unsold down the line because a player is gone for 10 games instead of 1? Is the league going to compensate a team in that situation?

It's frustrating for a fan. I get that. I guarantee the league hates seeing it happen too. Solving it's too big of a nightmare to ponder though.

[Blake]

That completely misses the point. We're not all looking at this from the same perspective. Based on your comment, you're looking at this issue from the same perspective as many fans on this forum -- a.k.a. not paying customers.

But some of us (who actually go to the games) are looking at this from the perspective of paying customers. You know, the people without whom the NBA would not exist.

I imagine that 90+ percent of fans, if they paid $200-400 for 2 lower-level tickets to a Spurs game, but the day of the game, they found out that two of the Big 3 were DNP-CD, they'd be PISSED.

I've attended 10-15 Spurs games each of the past three seasons, and luckily, that only happened once. And guess what, I WAS PISSED.

As I said earlier, if Pop must do that, fine, but gimme my money back or give me a date with:

Tough

[SpursNextRomanEmpire]

Is that your best shot at a heckler's retort or are you as thick as a bull's walt?

You would know a little something about thickness wouldn't you Czar?

It's all I needed to trash a like you for complaining about how much effort you believe Spurs players should show for you.

[Keepin' it real]

Tough

Gee thanks.

[Brazil]

They play ball for the same organization.

OP is about fining Pop for not playing Tim and Tony. I'm saying fine stern or whoever is responsible for this craziness of 66 compressed games with btobtob instead and you're saying they play ball for the same organization. Focus a little.

[Blake]

Gee thanks.

Sorry you're not rich enough to buy your own team in order to dictate minutes played.

[phxspurfan]

If I went to this game and Kobe didn't play, I wouldn't be elated, but I wouldn't be devastated. And look at the price of our tickets (this is per ticket, on the very top row of the stadium).

[Keepin' it real]

Sorry you're not rich enough to buy your own team in order to dictate minutes played.

Yet another miscreant to add to my ignore list. Thanks.

[Blake]

At least you got some gorilla bucks out of it

[Dex]

[therealtruth]

Fans have every right to be upset. I won't deny them their anger over not getting to see their favorite players play. Unfortunately the system is such that the best they can do is vote with their future dollars.

However I can't think of a worse possible idea than opening up the can of worms of fines and disciplinary measures for teams sitting players. For starters most coaches will find a way around it. All of a sudden seasoned pros like Tim will get suspended for "missing a team meeting" or the like. Think resting starters hurts the integrity of the game? You'll suddenly have teams hurting the integrity of the game AND thumbing their nose at league policy.

What happens if they somehow could enforce that policy and make it that guys have to get their asses out there if their only problem is that they're kinda tired and someone gets injured? Those fans that showed up that night got to see their favorite player, how about the guys that bought tickets to see that guy next month? How about all the tickets that go unsold down the line because a player is gone for 10 games instead of 1? Is the league going to compensate a team in that situation?

It's frustrating for a fan. I get that. I guarantee the league hates seeing it happen too. Solving it's too big of a nightmare to ponder though.

Most teams don't do it. It's better to nip it in the bud before more coaches/teams start doing it.

[Blake]

Yet another miscreant to add to my ignore list. Thanks.

Yet another butthurt poster letting me know I'm going to be ignored.

This constantly happens to me. Somebody should be fined!

[Dex]

This is what you get when misinformed.

While I'll agree wih you to some extent etertartaining is not one of the coach's job it is however their job to win games. It just so happens that winning a game technically takes care of the "entertaining" part. As long as you're a Spurs fan anyway.

Let me tell you, they do care about the fans. Saying they dont is stupid and bigoted. I want to see the day when a coach says he doesn't care what the fans want and still expect them to fill the arena.

The fans aren't only there to give the team homecourt advantage. They're there to A, support their team. B, see their favorite players and C, to see them being compe ive and be entertained. (even in a loss) And D, to see them win.

Everyone knows that the Spurs aren't just trying to "win games" or "make the postseason". Their goal is the championship, and it has been since 99. Championships aren't won in the regular season, and no one was ing during the last 4 parades in San Antonio.

Do the coaches care about the fans? Sure.

Do they care if the fans feel slighted because they didn't get to see who they wanted to see? No way in .

It's about seeing the bigger picture, not the 100-400 dollars you spent on tickets. One of the coach's jobs is to manage minutes, and they'll do it as they see fit.

[Hoops Czar]

OP is about fining Pop for not playing Tim and Tony. I'm saying fine stern or whoever is responsible for this craziness of 66 compressed games with btobtob instead and you're saying they play ball for the same organization. Focus a little.

I merely siad that if your going to fine Stern, then you should be fining Holt as well. He is as much to blame for the compressed schedule as is Stern if not more. I never once said Pop should be fined for holding players out. Such a course of action would never go through because it isn't a league issue, it is a team issue.

I have a moral and ethical issue with holding players out of meaningful games without injury. If you know you have players that need rest, then you don't play them for 41 minutes followed by 38. This is common sense. Holding them out of games to minimize injury risk in the dead heat of a play-off race in the middle of season with 6 days off right around the bend is completely bogus.

[DisAsTerBot]

Yet another miscreant to add to my ignore list. Thanks.

lol 86 posts and already has an ignore list

[DisAsTerBot]

I want to see the day when a coach says he doesn't care what the fans want and still expect them to fill the arena.

im pretty sure pop has said that exact thing many times

[Cry Havoc]

Most teams don't do it. It's better to nip it in the bud before more coaches/teams start doing it.

Every team does it. Are you kidding? And even if they didn't, most teams don't have an aging big who's a top 10 player in NBA history and a bona fide first ballot unanimous HOF lock who can still produce enough to win games by himself on some nights.

But yeah, let's risk injury to Tim when we're still 2 games ahead of the Mavs for the 2 seed. Great plan.

[Hoops Czar]

You would know a little something about thickness wouldn't you Czar?

It's all I needed to trash a like you for complaining about how much effort you believe Spurs players should show for you.

A sel centered person like yourself has it ass-backwards. If it weren't for the fans, the game wouldn't exist. Who the do you think pays the bills to keep those arena's running? Who buys the merchandise to help pay for those inflated player's contract's?

Do yourself a favor and think before you post.

[Bruno]

I imagine that 90+ percent of fans, if they paid $200-400 for 2 lower-level tickets to a Spurs game, but the day of the game, they found out that two of the Big 3 were DNP-CD, they'd be PISSED.

Of course, they'd pissed. So would I, if I were in this situation.

Saying that, you had to look at the bigger picture. Let's say Tim and Tony plays heavy minutes against Blazers. As a result, they got tired or injured down the road. The fan who pay $200-$400 for this down the road game will be equally pissed to see a crappy Tim/Tony or no Tim/Tony.

Professional basketball teams around the world plays about two 40-minutes games per week. NBA teams are playing this season about four 48-minutes games per week. With that crazy amount of minutes played, some fans will be screwed and see crap games. That's unavoidable.