Spurs: LOL Spurs

[DMC]

Meh...same different smell to me. Same effect as them sitting on the bench in a suit.

It's not the same. You can sit them on the bench, they are still part of the game. They can be seen by fans and they are part of shoot around. Consider how franchises work. You cannot just yank the product from under your buyers after they've paid.

[Spursfan092120]

I see both sides. Stern is in charge of the league and his job is to ensure that the product being paid for is what is being advertised. Fans should get what they pay for. No one would be playing pro ball without fans. For example, a McDonald's franchise cannot just selectively decide to not sell the Big Mac and instead subs ute a regular burger even if that's on their menu. Now if they are out of patties, that's another thing, but corporations that sell off franchises are very specific about how their product must be delivered. It wouldn't have mattered if it wasn't televised (to Stern) but it wasn't just the people who were at the game but the sponsors as well. They paid good money to have air time during a game featuring the best teams in the league. That's a black eye for the league and a huge loophole if a coach can randomly decide to switch up the product after the sale.

I see where you're coming from on this, but Pop has been doing this for years..and other coaches have as well. You can't just decide out of nowhere that you're going to punish someone for doing something you've allowed everyone to do for years, unless there's a precedent, or something in the rulebook. As far as I know, there's neither. The only precedent set is that it's ok to do it. Now, you decide to punish them because all of a sudden it's the media darling and a nationally televised game on a station that pretty much owns Stern and the league? Too obvious.

[DMC]

that just shows that Stern only cares about making money instead of the players

Sorry, but HS grads making 20m a year aren't that philanthropic either. It's all about the money.

[Spursfan092120]

It's not the same. You can sit them on the bench, they are still part of the game. They can be seen by fans and they are part of shoot around. Consider how franchises work. You cannot just yank the product from under your buyers after they've paid.

He's sent the Big 3 home before with no punishment or sanctions. , he went home once and let Coach Bud coach the game also. No sanctions.

[DMC]

I see where you're coming from on this, but Pop has been doing this for years..and other coaches have as well. You can't just decide out of nowhere that you're going to punish someone for doing something you've allowed everyone to do for years, unless there's a precedent, or something in the rulebook. As far as I know, there's neither. The only precedent set is that it's ok to do it. Now, you decide to punish them because all of a sudden it's the media darling and a nationally televised game on a station that pretty much owns Stern and the league? Too obvious.

Your argument based on how long it's been happening is a flawed one. The league has to assess their damages. No damages no problem, but when your actions affect the world view of the NBA, the NBA has a right to act. You have to understand that the NBA is a business, and rules that govern the game do not govern the corporation. Forget about it being a game, think of it as a provider, customer relationship. Stern wouldn't issue a statement like that if someone like Ted Turner wasn't breathing down his neck with lawsuits.

[Clipper Nation]

I'm pretty sure Spo did the same exact thing Pop did tonight last year, resting all his starters in a national game against the Celtics, and Stern didn't do .... "worldview" my ass...

[Spursfan092120]

Your argument based on how long it's been happening is a flawed one. The league has to assess their damages. No damages no problem, but when your actions affect the world view of the NBA, the NBA has a right to act.

Guaran-damn-tee this game got good ratings. Especially because the Spurs bench almost beat Superman and the rest of the Justice League.

[NRHector]

I see both sides. Stern is in charge of the league and his job is to ensure that the product being paid for is what is being advertised. Fans should get what they pay for. No one would be playing pro ball without fans. For example, a McDonald's franchise cannot just selectively decide to not sell the Big Mac and instead subs ute a regular burger even if that's on their menu. Now if they are out of patties, that's another thing, but corporations that sell off franchises are very specific about how their product must be delivered. It wouldn't have mattered if it wasn't televised (to Stern) but it wasn't just the people who were at the game but the sponsors as well. They paid good money to have air time during a game featuring the best teams in the league. That's a black eye for the league and a huge loophole if a coach can randomly decide to switch up the product after the sale.

Stern was just trying showcase his Heat team on national TV knowing the Spurs were going to be tired after a b2b

[DMC]

Guaran-damn-tee this game got good ratings. Especially because the Spurs bench almost beat Superman and the rest of the Justice League.

No. People who found out the Spurs starters weren't playing probably didn't watch. People who were watching anyhow don't change the ratings just because they liked the game.

Most of you are speaking from your homer position. Pop has always pushed the envelope and has willingly paid the fees in the past (like when he and the team skipped media day). A nationally televised game is very important to the league. To on TNT (a huge customer of the NBA) is not going to go unaddressed.

[DMC]

Stern was just trying showcase his Heat team on national TV knowing the Spurs were going to be tired after a b2b

What makes you think Stern favors the Heat? The Spurs have 4 rings and are a model franchise.

There's too much irrational hyperbole going on to even have a real conversation about it.

[DMC]

I'm pretty sure Spo did the same exact thing Pop did tonight last year, resting all his starters in a national game against the Celtics, and Stern didn't do .... "worldview" my ass...

You're a clipper fan, why do you care?

[NRHector]

No. People who found out the Spurs starters weren't playing probably didn't watch. People who were watching anyhow don't change the ratings just because they liked the game.

Most of you are speaking from your homer position. Pop has always pushed the envelope and has willingly paid the fees in the past (like when he and the team skipped media day). A nationally televised game is very important to the league. To on TNT (a huge customer of the NBA) is not going to go unaddressed.

but this game was not about the Spurs, it was about the Heat.

[Trainwreck2100]

What makes you think Stern favors the Heat? The Spurs have 4 rings and are a model franchise.

There's too much irrational hyperbole going on to even have a real conversation about it.

This game favored the Heat by a wide margin due to the schedule cir stances.

[NRHector]

What makes you think Stern favors the Heat? The Spurs have 4 rings and are a model franchise.

There's too much irrational hyperbole going on to even have a real conversation about it.

because the Spurs don't have superstars and are small market

[Spursfan092120]

No. People who found out the Spurs starters weren't playing probably didn't watch. People who were watching anyhow don't change the ratings just because they liked the game.

Most of you are speaking from your homer position. Pop has always pushed the envelope and has willingly paid the fees in the past (like when he and the team skipped media day). A nationally televised game is very important to the league. To on TNT (a huge customer of the NBA) is not going to go unaddressed.

This is not a homer point of view. I've never been a Spurs homer. I'm a Spurs fan. As a fan, if my best players (who are also the oldest players on the team) have played substantial minutes in the last 4 games, which happen to be in 5 nights, they're going to need rest. This is the way the schedule works out. If people want to call it a middle finger to the league, so be it, but Pop didn't call it that. You can't punish off an assumption. He was doing what was best for his team. This league is supposed to be about the players, not the money...that comes from Stern himself.

[DMC]

but this game was not about the Spurs, it was about the Heat.

It was on TNT because of the Heat, but that's not the point. The sponsors paid for a matchup and you can bet your ass that the quality of the teams affects the prices. Pop could have sat them all game and would still have drawn the ire of Stern, but him sending all of them home was enough to cause Stern to find a way to punish them. I mean really, why not just sit them?

[DMC]

This is not a homer point of view. I've never been a Spurs homer. I'm a Spurs fan. As a fan, if my best players (who are also the oldest players on the team) have played substantial minutes in the last 4 games, which happen to be in 5 nights, they're going to need rest. This is the way the schedule works out. If people want to call it a middle finger to the league, so be it, but Pop didn't call it that. You can't punish off an assumption. He was doing what was best for his team. This league is supposed to be about the players, not the money...that comes from Stern himself.

Funny they never seem to need that rest in SA. You can rest your starters without sending them home. I agree he was doing what he felt was good, but he knew he was also violating rules. He's President of Basketball Operations for the most successful franchise in the NBA, surely he knows the rules.

[NRHector]

It was on TNT because of the Heat, but that's not the point. The sponsors paid for a matchup and you can bet your ass that the quality of the teams affects the prices. Pop could have sat them all game and would still have drawn the ire of Stern, but him sending all of them home was enough to cause Stern to find a way to punish them. I mean really, why not just sit them?

Pop is trying to get a point to Stern but he's just to stubborn not to get it or he's getting it and doesn't give a

[DMC]

because the Spurs don't have superstars and are small market

That's conspiracy talk I don't care to entertain. There's no evidence to support it. The fact Paul didn't go to the Lakers pretty much s on that notion anyhow.

[Spursfan092120]

Funny they never seem to need that rest in SA. You can rest your starters without sending them home. I agree he was doing what he felt was good, but he knew he was also violating rules. He's President of Basketball Operations for the most successful franchise in the NBA, surely he knows the rules.

If you can show me the rule he's violating, I'll agree. I don't know of any rule stating he doesn't have the right to send players home if he deems it necessary.

[DMC]

Pop is trying to get a point to Stern but he's just to stubborn not to get it or he's getting it and doesn't give a

Pop isn't in a position to teach Stern anything. Stern is the commissioner of the NBA, Pop just leads a franchise. CEO's are much more powerful than the managers of the franchises they sell, and their rule is much more absolute.

[DMC]

If you can show me the rule he's violating, I'll agree. I don't know of any rule stating he doesn't have the right to send players home if he deems it necessary.

You'll have to show me the franchise contract first. Stern and Holt/RC will hash that out and if there's no violation there will likely be no penalty.

[NRHector]

Funny they never seem to need that rest in SA. You can rest your starters without sending them home. I agree he was doing what he felt was good, but he knew he was also violating rules. He's President of Basketball Operations for the most successful franchise in the NBA, surely he knows the rules.

if is the most successful franchise in the NBA because of him then he did the right thing

[DMC]

This game favored the Heat by a wide margin due to the schedule cir stances.

It did, but Pop didn't do it because the Spurs might lose. He wanted them to perform well in front of Spurs fans in SA. Those are the people who pay Pop's salary. Stern sees a bigger picture, all NBA fans, because that's who pays his salary.

[NRHector]

That's conspiracy talk I don't care to entertain. There's no evidence to support it. The fact Paul didn't go to the Lakers pretty much s on that notion anyhow.

what? conspiracy? what are you talking about?