Would have been so sweet to see Stern's face if the Spurs actually managed to win. The fact that he has a need to fine Pop, 250 k nonetheless, for a coaching decision, is a testament to how much of a joke he can be at times.
Lost in all this is how Duncan, Manu and Parker agreed to not play in a November game. Kinda turd-ish IMO. At least dress or travel with the team.
It's November.
It's ignorant comments like this that give Stern the mandate to make such an ill advised and stupid decision. This is the Spurs schedule in just the final third of November:
11/19 in San Antonio
11/21 @ Boston
11/23 @ Indiana
11/25 @ Toronto
11/26 @ Washington DC
11/28 @ Orlando
11/29 @ Miami
Say what??? Next time king Stern doesn't like a coach making good coaching decisions, he should act like a responsible league manager and veto dumb punishing schedules like this.
Lost in all this is how Duncan, Manu and Parker agreed to not play in a November game. Kinda turd-ish IMO. At least dress or travel with the team.
It's November.
Nothing is lost at all and if you're going to insult someone by calling them names, maybe you should get the right person. They were traveling with the team, however, Pop sent them home. They didn't make the decision themselves. Pop says jump, they ask how high or else he wouldn't still have a job.
I don't have a problem with what Pop did and I disagree with Stern punishing the Spurs but lets not pretend like they're the only ones with a tough road schedule in November. If you're going to post the Spurs' schedule, then post some of the others as well. Other teams have had to go through a similar road stretch with little rest.
Pau can't get going in this offense. Minimal low post opportunities and four guys have to be able to penetrate and stretch the floor in this offense, just not going to work for him.
If you're going to post the Spurs' schedule, then post some of the others as well. Other teams have had to go through a similar road stretch with little rest.
Same problem as the NHL, greedy owners looking to maximize revenues over the quality of the play by cramming in way too many games in the given amount of time. There's no point to post other schedules, because other coaches don't have the balls to make the right long term decision for their teams like Popovich. Other coaches also don't have 4 championships and 2 coach of the year awards
It's ignorant comments like this that give Stern the mandate to make such an ill advised and stupid decision. This is the Spurs schedule in just the final third of November:
11/19 in San Antonio
11/21 @ Boston
11/23 @ Indiana
11/25 @ Toronto
11/26 @ Washington DC
11/28 @ Orlando
11/29 @ Miami
Say what??? Next time king Stern doesn't like a coach making good coaching decisions, he should act like a responsible league manager and veto dumb punishing schedules like this.
It's called a road trip. Not a new concept.
All those tough games yet the Spurs won every one of them.
Again, the Spurs play three home games in eight days after the Miami game. Plenty of time to rest.
And I dont agree with Stern. The only way I agree with him is that he already set the precedent with the lakers, and the rule was already in place. As commissioner, he's enforcing a rule. It's a vague rule, but still a rule.
I also agree that Popovic or any coach for that matter, shouldnt be punished for strategic roster moves.
Again, read what i wrote. I think all three -- Duncan, manu and Parker -- deserve criticism. The rest of the roster had to suit up and grind out all that travelling...why couldnt Duncan?
^They're gonna get Crawford to ref sooooo many Spurs games from here on out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GWOW
I also agree that Popovic or any coach for that matter, shouldnt be punished for strategic roster moves.
Again, read what i wrote. I think all three -- Duncan, manu and Parker -- deserve criticism. The rest of the roster had to suit up and grind out all that travelling...why couldnt Duncan?
A road trip isn't a new concept, neither is sitting players on that road trip for Pop.
Also its 3 home games in 7 days, and another right after that, i.e. 4 games in 8 days (which starts a 4 game road trip in 6 days. They don't get another 3 days off til late January).
You don't think Pop should face any punishment, but you'll criticize the players even though it was the coach's decision?
And for what it is worth Gary Neal who did suit up last night had no problem with it and said Pop's decision was best for the team.
Nothing is lost at all and if you're going to insult someone by calling them names, maybe you should get the right person. They were traveling with the team, however, Pop sent them home. They didn't make the decision themselves. Pop says jump, they ask how high or else he wouldn't still have a job.
You're telling me if any of them really wanted to play, Pop would have told them no?
Again, it's a November game. The night prior was a blowout. Duncan, Blair and Manu all played under 27 mins.
The game before that was a massive blowout. Duncan played 23 mins...Blair 16...Ginobili played 20...Parker 22.
I stand by my name-calling. I don't care how critical a game anybody thinks the Memphis game is. You fight tooth and nail to dress and play against the defending champs. Period.
Three starters in a November game? When has he done that?
Resting guys for the playoffs is one thing...Sending four stars home for 24 hours extra rest less than 30 days into the season in a sad joke.
No one had a problem last yr vs Portland when Manu was already sitting and Pop also sat Manu & Duncan. So it'll be OK in February for him to do it or will it still be too soon? When it resting your team for the playoffs (esp for teams who will have spots a month or more before) be acceptable? Also, don't you think it may be a bit different to coach the players this season considering the Olympics were this past summer? There were some people who didn't want Manu to play much until November or December because of his summer.
And yes, Pop does make the decisions for the Spurs. Manu & Tony have both said before that they would've been ready for certain games and Pop said no, rest.
Also, where exactly did Pop "admit" that he forfeited last night's game?
The commissioner has no business telling GM's what trades they can make, telling coaches how to play their players, or telling players that they aren't playing hard enough. End of story.
You can say that Pop is wrong to rest his guys in November, that's fine, but it's his call, nobody else's. If Stern wants a say in it, buy the Spurs. Otherwise he should zip it and rescind the fine.
17 of the Spurs last 24 games of the season are at home. There's a stretch within that stretch where they play 13 of 15 at home.
So, when everyone is resting their starters for the playoffs the Spurs should be forced to play their guys cause their schedule will be better by then?
No one had a problem last yr vs Portland when Manu was already sitting and Pop also sat Manu & Duncan. So it'll be OK in February for him to do it or will it still be too soon? When it resting your team for the playoffs (esp for teams who will have spots a month or more before) be acceptable? Also, don't you think it may be a bit different to coach the players this season considering the Olympics were this past summer? There were some people who didn't want Manu to play much until November or December because of his summer.
And yes, Pop does make the decisions for the Spurs. Manu & Tony have both said before that they would've been ready for certain games and Pop said no, rest.
Also, where exactly did Pop "admit" that he forfeited last night's game?
I said essentially forfeit.
Quote:
Before Thursday’s Heat-Spurs game, Popovich told news reporters, ” We’re making a wiser decision and not a macho decision. It’ll give us an opportunity to stay on floor with Memphis Saturday.”
Doesn't look like he ever said anything close to forfeiting the game. And considering the way the Spurs players did play, I have a hard time thinking he wasn't going in there to do anything else but play hard.
The commissioner has no business telling GM's what trades they can make, telling coaches how to play their players, or telling players that they aren't playing hard enough. End of story.
You can say that Pop is wrong to rest his guys in November, that's fine, but it's his call, nobody else's. If Stern wants a say in it, buy the Spurs. Otherwise he should zip it and rescind the fine.
I don't agree with Stern at all.
I'm just surprised and a little disappointed Pop's four best players agreed to sit out.
So, when everyone is resting their starters for the playoffs the Spurs should be forced to play their guys cause their schedule will be better by then?
The point was the the Spurs' schedule gets much easier for his veterans at the most critical time of the year, and that a strategic move surrounding fatigue in November is highly, highly odd.
The jury's out on whether this recent tactic of his will work.
