Gregg Popovich: Cheating the NBA

[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 - 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 Cons utional Amendment banning Gregg Popovich from coaching basketball ever again. If not, we'll just have to start a pe ion 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, for pop?

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

[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, I was upset last night. But 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 quan y. It's money.

Pop simply took a 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 ins uted 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 compe ive 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 compe ors. 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/2...ating-the-nba/

You think Pop gives a 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 in about 30 x 15 = 450 B2B every damn season?

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

How about in 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 tiest 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 ins uted 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 subs ute. Lose the tip, foul immediately and have a subs ution. There will be ways around it.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

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