David Stern Goes Off on Pop, Promises "Substantial Sanctions"

[DPG21920]

how is this ANY different than the numerous teams that sit their players before the playoffs? Like Kenny said, how is it any different than bringing the players and playing them 8 mins?

This is 100% about the money, and not the sport. He's pissed because this is a "big tv game" and now ratings / money / investors will be "cheated". Bunch of bull if you ask me. Thank you David Stern for making it clear that you don't give two s about the sport of basketball, just the NBA as a business/entertainment medium.

Well, that is his job. Just like Pop has his.

[DJ Mbenga]

I'm curious as to what Pop's counter-move to such a sanction would be. Do you think if Stern created some sort of rule against this kind of thing then Pop would just start playing the big three for 1 minute in rest games or something like that?

thats actually the better way to handle it. like a nfl preseason game. play guys 1 series, first 5 minutes then goodbye

[Sisk]

Tbh I'm very surprised The big 3 let it happen.

Huh?

[ElNono]

[DesignatedT]

I guess the only argument is all teams will likely face a stretch like this, no?

Not really that upset about the stretch (Even though its pretty bad this month) but knowing its a TNT thursday game and then giving Miami 4 full days of rest on top of it. It's like they were begging Pop to do this. You could point out this game in the beginning of the year and predict this was going to happen.

[Hoops Czar]

Exactly. The NBA did this to themselves. The schedule is ing re ed.

Spurs SOS .479 (19th)

Miami SOS .587 (2nd)

Yeah, brutal.

[Boomersgold]

off, Stern.

[ace3g]

Thank you for those, will be either a sig and or avatar for me in a bit, lol

[ElNono]

Pop can always argue that the "product" turns to with such a schedule... but that's something you discuss with ownership and bring to the table with the other owners first...

[wut]

My first thought: WTF?!?! Now coaches aren't allowed to coach their own teams as they see fit.

Sternie, it's your own damn fault for a schedule that made no sense. The Spurs play four games on the road in five days. The Heat sit at home until the Spurs arrive.

Fix yo' schedule-making software, bro.

Exactly....they knew exactly what they were doing when they created this schedule, and it's why Pop didn't even bring his players and why Stern is basically saying 'you'll take it and you'll like it.' ....screw Stern, guy has made a mockery of a sport.

[timvp]

Yeah, the "substantial sanctions" better be a bluff. You can't invent rules as you go. Pop was well within the rules; it wasn't even a grey area.

Stern is trying to flex his muscle but on what grounds? Is he going to go around checking to make sure that every player who doesn't play is actually injured?

[Fenix]

lost of first round picks for the rest of eternity?

[Mel_13]

There used to be an injured list where teams would have justify each player's absence. That led to lots of cases of "back spasms" and "flu-like symptoms". Now they have an inactive list that leaves these decisions to the discretion of the coach.

The Spurs broke no rules, but dictators don't need to follow their own laws.

[DesignatedT]

Spurs SOS .479 (19th)

Miami SOS .587 (2nd)

Yeah, brutal.

Being on the road 19? days out of the month is what is crazy. Not the opponents we've played. SOS doesn't factor that in.

[DPG21920]

Yeah, the "substantial sanctions" better be a bluff. You can't invent rules as you go. Pop was well within the rules; it wasn't even a grey area.

Stern is trying to flex his muscle but on what grounds? Is he going to go around checking to make sure that every player who doesn't play is actually injured?

Exactly - but we dont know how far he will go to make a point. It potentially could get messy and drawn out, but I doubt it.

[ElNono]

Luckily, the Spurs have Matt Bonner who can get on the case with the union immediately if there are any sanctions, tbh

[Mugen]

If the Spurs end up winning this game....

[ElNono]

You could make the argument the league could sanction the players for being unwilling to play... even if it was Pop's decision...

[Dex]

You could make the argument the league could sanction the players for being unwilling to play... even if it was Pop's decision...

I would love to see them come up with some kind of sanction that could truly be enforced.

David Stern.

[Libri]

Yeah, the "substantial sanctions" better be a bluff. You can't invent rules as you go. Pop was well within the rules; it wasn't even a grey area.

Stern is trying to flex his muscle but on what grounds? Is he going to go around checking to make sure that every player who doesn't play is actually injured?

Is there a rule against purposely throwing a game?

[Paranoid Pop]

If Stern ask the organisation to refund the tickets I wouldn't mind tbh because you know some Spurs fans spent big money to attend.

[timvp]

Tbh, as long as Stern doesn't mess with trying to take around draft picks or anything like that, he can go to town fining the Spurs some token amount.

[LakerHater]

"Substantial sanctions forthcoming"

...WTF?? So Spurs would get rewarded more rest?

[Capt Bringdown]

Doesn't Stern have a point? Fans need to have a reasonable expectation that there's going to be a good-faith effort by both teams to compete to the best of their ability.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

hope its nothing big