David Stern Fines the Spurs $250,000

[Libri]

Just a fine, even if it's a very big one, isn't that of a "Substantial Sanctions". I guess Stern was trapped between his words and the reality. He couldn't really go hard after Pop because he didn't really break rules but he couldn't let it go and lost the face after his aggressive public statement. I think Stern choose a $250K fine because he estimate this is the biggest sanction Spurs would accept without fighting back. We will see if it happens. I would love to see Spurs fighting the fine but I could guess the logic behind not doing so and smothered this whole story.

So Stern arbitrarily chose that amount based on what he believes? Maybe we should we start calling him Judge Stern.

[baseline bum]

why the do the spurs have to tell their opponent their personnel decisions?

Could you imagine if Memphis had to inform everyone of their personnel decisions in 2008?

[DesignatedT]

I think we'll know what the truth is by the Spurs' response. If they say something like "we consider this an internal matter that will be handled within blah blah blah" that will be code that Holt isn't actually paying anything. But if their press release hints at any animosity, that means they're gonna fight it.

So, you're saying there is 0 chance the Spurs pussy out and just pay the fine?

[Kuestmaster]

david stern and the nba. I was thinking in buying some nba gear but them, I won't spend a cent in it as long as Stern is ruling it.

[Spursfanfromafar]

I think we'll know what the truth is by the Spurs' response. If they say something like "we consider this an internal matter that will be handled within blah blah blah" that will be code that Holt isn't actually paying anything. But if their press release hints at any animosity, that means they're gonna fight it.

Hmm..

What I like is that this adds another chip on the Spurs' team's collective shoulders.

In coming up with this fine after the Spurs nearly pulled a victory against the defending champions, the League Office and the Commissioner has undermined the Spurs' bench players and reduced them to some puppies without any agency of their own.

I suspect Pop will leverage the players' indignation to the fullest.

[mexpurs21]

Is this the Spurs lawyer?

http://www.bracewellgiuliani.com/people/tullos-wells

I thought this was the Spurs lawyer:

[024]

I wonder if Popovich will escalate. The next time he decides to sit out the starters, he might get more creative. Like claim the big 3 have become a cancer on the team and they are "benched until further notice." Or have the big 3 start the tipoff, immediately foul, and sit them for the rest of the night. Or start saying things like "fatigue" or they have "the stomach flu" because they ate bad burritos from the same restaurant. Things that can't be refuted or easily verified.

[Horse]

He has always been out to get us. Even if we did wrong, which we didn't. He should give us a pass considering he ordered the refs to screw us out of the WCF last season. What a prick!

[Bruno]

So Stern arbitrarily chose that amount based on what he believes? Maybe we should we start calling him Judge Stern.

I don't think, and I'm quite sure of it, that there isn't predetermined fines amount for that kind of "violations". Stern just picked $250K amount by himself.

[timvp]

So, you're saying there is 0 chance the Spurs pussy out and just pay the fine?

There's a chance. Holt could consider the legal fees and come to the conclusion that it's just not worth it.

But $250,000 is like $10M to a team like the Lakers. Relative chump change, yes, but the Spurs have tight-roped the luxury tax line for less money.

[MannyIsGod]

I'm gonna be PISSED if the Spurs don't fight this.

[DPG21920]

Well, this is another case of reality vs what we want. I certainly want the Spurs to muck this up as badly as possible and wage war, but reality is they probably will do everything they can to keep this private.

[DesignatedT]

When do you expect the Spurs to respond?

[Slippy]

That's huge. I was expecting a 50k fine but 250. The meeting in Holt's office would be interesting.

Safe to say , Pop wont be pulling this again.

[DesignatedT]

I don't know why this is pissing me off so much but I will be upset if we come out with the bull lines about us not doing it again and .

[LakerHater]

DAMN, so no more .75 tickets!?

[Mel_13]

I wonder if Stern provided the Spurs with timely notice of the fine or if they found out on twitter.

[MannyIsGod]

There's a chance. Holt could consider the legal fees and come to the conclusion that it's just not worth it.

But $250,000 is like $10M to a team like the Lakers. Relative chump change, yes, but the Spurs have tight-roped the luxury tax line for less money.

You have to fight it because if you don't then you pretty much set the precedent that he can do this at any time in the future that Pop rests players. And do you think the Spurs organization should take that chance?

[timvp]

The best part of all this? I think it'll wake up the city of San Antonio. Every since last June's debacle, Spurs fans had never really recovered. The crushing blow of last season had a lot of fans licking their wounds.

But now that Stern has rattled the cage, I expect home games to become a lot more lively now. There's nothing a San Antonian hates more than feeling like they are getting taken advantage of by someone in a big city.

[LakerHater]

Seattle "FANS" should fine Stern for doin them a disservice!

[Slippy]

I'm gonna be PISSED if the Spurs don't fight this.

don't see the spurs fighting unless there's a way of doing things in-house between Stern and Holt.

I'm guessing, Spurs as an organisationg don't want the attention or the distraction on the team.

[ace3g]

Gregory Popovich ‏@FakeCoachPop Funny that I never come across Kings/Lakers Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals on NBA TV.

Gregory Popovich ‏@FakeCoachPop
Fun Fact: You can't spell David Stern without the words Nerd Diva

[ajballer4]

Bet Pop does the same thing when we play Portland on TNT as someone else pointed out in a few weeks. At the very worst, he dresses them but sits them on the end of the bench

[bklynspursfan]

2 things:


-No more game time decision statuses for players- (League needs to know in advance)
-Teams that Tank should be fined substantially as well.

[LakerHater]

trey wingo
‏ To recap the day in fines: NFL fines players for fighting 26k. NBA fines coach for coaching.. 250k