Did San Antonio do the fans a disservice last night?
Here’s how I ended up with 22 e-mails titled “Re: This is Bullshit” in my inbox last night…
Sometime before Tuesday’s Spurs/Nuggets game, “The Jed” sent out a news item to the rest of the Dime crew about Gregg Popovich giving Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili the night off. (Manu reportedly had a bruised hip, but he looked fine scoring 32 points in 34 minutes of Monday’s game in Oakland.)
Jed’s take on it: “Honestly, the league should fine the Spurs for this. I know they can’t and I get why they did it, but people pay a lot of money to go to an NBA game (ESPECIALLY with the economy the way it is), and you get to the game and the Spurs rest their three best players? That stinks. I think it’s fine to rest a guy for a day or two, but to do their three best players for the same game blows.”
Dime’s Pat Cassidy later added: “Watching the Spurs might be the equivalent of watching paint dry, but that’s still not right. There are probably lots of kids in Denver who for whatever reason love Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and their parents swallowed the $500 or so it costs to take a family to an NBA game and when they get there, Popovich decides he’s sitting all of his stars? Not cool. The NBA is an entertainment product. People pay exorbitant amounts of money to watch that product. Unless those guys are physically unable to perform, they have to play.”
Apparently I was the only one who didn’t seem to have a problem with Pop’s move. To be real, I think it’s just another case of Spurs-induced haterism, and if this was any other team, nobody would have made an issue of it. Here’s how I see it: When you buy a ticket you’re paying to see two teams, and while you obviously prefer to see the best talent, you’re not guaranteed to see certain players. No one seems to have a problem with Major League Baseball teams routinely giving stars nights off. In the NBA, no one complains when Phoenix gives Shaq a night off. I’m sure Rockets fans wouldn’t mind if T-Mac and Yao were given some nights off. And from what I recall, the Wizards occasionally rested Michael Jordan (or at least they wanted to, and Mike wouldn’t let them). Think about what the Spurs are looking at: Duncan is 32 years old, he’s got a ton of mileage on him, and before last night he’d played every single game this season while covering for Parker and Manu’s injuries. In fact, TD’s 35-plus minutes a night is the most he’s played since the ‘03-04 season. Why wouldn’t you give him a night off here and there? The West is close, but you don’t win any awards for playing all 82 games.
The argument went on like that all night. After a while, we decided to take it to DimeMag.com and get the readers’ opinion.
Do you think the Spurs did the fans a disservice by sitting Duncan, Parker and Ginobili last night?
February 4th, 2009 at 9:07 am
fallinup says:
Hell no they didn’t. It’s all in the master plan.
Look at all of the stories recapping that game last night. It was all about how Denver almost blew it against the Spurs bench….classic head game. And not surprising considering Denver seems to meet up with SA in the playoffs alot.
Not only that, Pop just said to the rest of the league…look, I just rested my big 3 and took an L. Which means that I’m not too worried about the stretch run…because we all know what happens in that stretch run.
SA has a big game with Boston on Sun. Then a pretty easy road schedule. They could possibly be in the midst of a 3 game W streak before the break, and finish the month on a 6 game streak.
It’s Pop’s choice to sit his stars. And I see what he’s doing. Teams do it all the time around the last few games of the season. Why is it any different now???
February 4th, 2009 at 9:10 am
matthew says:
I get resting Manu. But if Duncan is playing too many minutes, then the answer is to play him few minutes.
But Parker? Isn’t he like 25 years old? Hasn’t he had enough time off this year?
There’s not caring what fans think when it comes to roster moves and play calling and that’s expected (fans are idiots), but if the Spurs wanted to do this they should have just forfeited the game and given back peoples money.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:15 am
fallinup says:
Haha…I was so excited to see PHX@DET back when Detroit was the champs and PHX was in year 1 of the D’Antoni revolution (Nash’s first MVP).
I get there and find out that Nash didn’t play. And the game was a blowout. I didn’t demand a refund there. Am I justified to?
CD/DNP was the case that they gave me.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:17 am
the_don_mega says:
we better get rangerjohn’s take on this…
February 4th, 2009 at 9:18 am
the_don_mega says:
where you at, man?
February 4th, 2009 at 9:25 am
vinny says:
they did a disservice to all the people who took them getting 6 and a half points!!!!
February 4th, 2009 at 9:25 am
E$ says:
How many Spurs fans live in Denver? Glad I didn’t waste time recoding this game
February 4th, 2009 at 9:29 am
fallinup says:
“ESPECIALLY with the economy the way it is”
Is this the go to excuse now (economy is bad)? Really, the economy is so bad that I deserve top billing for these NBA tickets I just purchased. Really?
February 4th, 2009 at 9:30 am
rangerjohn says:
oh im here
IMO pop did exactly what THE FANS wanted. sure i would like to watch those guys play BUT i would rather see them rested and ready for the big show. if missing a game in denver is what it calls for to get some rest to make a run and work towards a title or a long playoff run then so be it. myself as a FAN of the spurs dont have a problem. i mean how many spurs fans are there REALLY in denver? all we hear is how people hate watching them then they bitch because they dont play? all this hate on tony and tim and manu is just that HATE.
the fans in denver would have liked to see them play im sure BUT that game would not have even been close, the spurs would have destoyed the nugs from what i saw last night so the fans at the game would have left before the end anyway, and would have bitched about how the spurs big 3 beat their ass. its a lose lose if your a spurs fan in that case. pop knows this and he did what is best for the team and for his teams fans!
February 4th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Mamba says:
Considering they got voted in for fan night on NBA TV – that blows I would guess, Ahmad and the guys were kind of talking about that
But I completely understand wanting to rest those 3 guys, its looking like San Antonio will be the ones to challenge LA down the stretch, Denver might have something for them as well,
But on a personal note I know how frustrating it is to shell out good jack to go see your fave player only to see him on the pine rocking a suit
February 4th, 2009 at 9:31 am
NL says:
As a huge spurs/tim duncan fan, I admit I’d be disappointed; in fact, I live in DC and thought about not buying good seats because they’re going to piece the Wizards. Regardless, I’ll still go.
In any event, that’s only part of the reason they play the game. The real reason is to win a championship and Popp thought this would be in the best interest in doing so, and I tend to agree. It’s like a mom complaining when her senior son doesn’t play in the varsity soccer game. Sure, she’s paid a lot of money and invested a lot of her time going to games, practices, etc, but that’s just not what it’s all about.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Dime Magazine says:
I don’t anyone thinks it’s a bad thing to occasionally rest a player. That’s not the point of the argument. The point is that he rested all three on the same night which is just inexcusable. Fans in Denver bought those tickets to see one of the best teams in the NBA – not Matt Bonner.
- PC
February 4th, 2009 at 9:41 am
mules says:
Nothing wrong with resting your players, but to rest your “big 3″ all at once, when they’re healthy, is a bit of an eff you to the fans. Imagine buying tickets to see and finding out when you get there that the lead singer, lead guitar and drummer have all been replaced for the night. I do understand that analogies not perfect (the bands end goal isn’t to win a championship) but, as Pat put it, the NBA is an entertainment product and when teams purposefully don’t put their best product on the floor it sends a message that they don’t appreciate their fans. Smart coaching move…maybe. Bad business move…definitely. It probably won’t hurt San Antonio’s business too much since they have a fairly rabid fan-base but if a team like Memphis, Philly, Atlanta or Charlotte tried this it would probably hurt their already low attendance numbers.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:41 am
fallinup says:
@ 12
But when fans wanna see Shaq, it’s hit or miss, game by game.
Where’s the outrage?
February 4th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Dime Magazine says:
@ fallinup
It’s not the same thing.
a) The Suns have made it known that he’s basically a game-by-game decision and that he will rarely play in back-to-back games. Your not shocked if you show up to the arena and he isn’t playing.
b) Last night’s game is the equivalent of getting to your seat and then finding out that Shaq, Steve Nash AND Amare are all out for no reason.
– PC
February 4th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Murakami says:
there’s 182 games in baseball season. teams play 4 games in 5 days against the same team, besides
BASEBALL TICKETS ARE CHEAPER!!!
February 4th, 2009 at 9:47 am
calvin brodus says:
ranger jack say:
“the fans in denver would have liked to see them play im sure BUT that game would not have even been close, the spurs would have destoyed the nugs from what i saw last night”
you dont fucking know that. bring your real squad, win a game, and then talk shit. Den just took the season series from SA last night (2-1, first time since 87-88) and the standings are awfully close between those two teams. that tie breaker could be factor.
Keep sleeping on the nuggets. Keep it up. I’m hoping we see SA in the playoff sooooo badly. Nobody deserves a beating like those cocky pricks (especially Pop) and the nuggs are the perfect team to administer said beating. The spurs can be had this year, regardless of how delusional they are too it. But keep sleeping on the nuggs.
You stay cocky, San Antonio.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am
calvin brodus says:
@ mules
I’ve seen wu-tang three times and not once has method man shown up. gza didn’t show up twice either. its bullship.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:50 am
fallinup says:
@15
That’s done all of the time around the end of the season. Whole starting lineups get benched on a whim. Why should teams play their starters when they have a spot clenched and are trying to save for the playoffs.
SA does it 4 days before a big game in Boston. And they did the fans a disservice? It’s the coach’s decision. And you run the risk of that happening to you with every ticket you purchase.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:54 am
karizmatic says:
Nah I can’t go with that. Ok if you rest TD one night and Parker the next and Manu another night, I can understand. But all of your stars in one night? That’s not cool. Why not just cancel the game then? Just forfeit the game then, because you’re obviously not really trying to win it. With the other examples that’s an example of one star getting rest. But resting your top 3 stars? I can’t see how that’s being competitive, and yes you are ripping off the fans, might as well cancel the game and let the fans get their money back. The fans are paying to at least see a comptetitive game, you base the price of tickets on the talent you have available and then don’t play them? It’s not being competitive and tt’s a rip off.
Now on the coaching side it’s an ingenious move for an older team that has logged a lot of minutes this season.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Dime Magazine says:
@ fallinup
For your first point, yes teams do it right before the playoffs when squads have things wrapped up – and that’s understood by everybody, teams and fans alike. This happened on Feb. 3rd, with a built-in break in AS Weekend right around the corner!
As for the second point, yes, it is ultimately the coach’s decision. But that coach and franchise also has some kind of obligation to the fans don’t they? Unless it’s an extreme circumstance, find some way to limit their minutes, cancel practice, etc.
It’s just not right.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am
aj says:
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whoa.
People now wanna watch the Spurs play ball? Kinda funny y’all finally realize what the League has in the Spurs once it’s gone.
I’d be ticked if I showed up to that game but the Spurs don’t play for the regular season. Plus who cares about Nuggets fans or any other city’s fans. Only home-team fans would have a right to complain if they did it at home.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:01 am
fallinup says:
I seriously doubt this would even be an issue if this was any other team than the Spurs. Pop does this all of the time. He makes decisions that is best for his team, not the fans, not the business, not the TV. Which is why a lot of folks don’t like those boring, cheating, whining spurs.
But in the end. They are always there. Pissing you off with every little thing they do or don’t do.
@20
You said it best. You justified why it was a shit move from an “entertainment” stand point. Then totally justified why it was an “ingenious” move from a coaching stand point.
And low and behold. Pop is a COACH. It was a coaching decision. Reading anything else into it will do nothing but make your head hurt trying to figure him out. LOL
February 4th, 2009 at 10:02 am
rangerjohn says:
last i checked CALVIN san antonio beat the nugs by 17 with a full rotation this season, and we ALMOST won last night with none of our main players except mason and bonner. and you really think your nuggets are better? the 2 wins over the spurs COMBINED is only 1 point more then the one win over the nuggets AND the 2 wins the nuggets have consisted of no tony parker OR manu ginobili and yet you are so confident? damn the spurs owne the nuggets worse then they do the suns. my prediction will be the same as the last 3 times we met in the playoffs, the spurs let you guys slide in with 1 win then sweep you out the door on the next 4, just like old times.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:08 am
rangerjohn says:
dime, yes teams do it at the end before playoff,s i seam to remember pop doing something similar last season right before the playoffs, when the standings where so close from 1-9 or 10 so dont give me the “things are pretty locked up” or what ever.
if the spurs didnt have 4 days off before the celtics then pop might have rested one at a time or even 2 but he wanted 5 days off for his guys, remember they are starting a stretch of 12 games with only 3 at home. 3 home games in the month, just the travel alone is hard. not to mention they played over time late against the warriors then had to fly right out to denver, then all over the east coast including canada. its not easy, rest rest rest is the name of the game. prep for the stretch. FUCK DENVER, while i love to visit, love the mountains, love hitting the national parks, fuck their fans lmao.
flame away
February 4th, 2009 at 10:09 am
calvin brodus says:
@rangerjack
If you think the nuggs team you’ll see in the playoff this year is the same one you’ve seen in the past, than I’m stoked. And I really hope SA views it the same way you do and makes their game plan accordingly. You speak in such absolutes, jack. But the fact remains, the nuggs are just ONE game behind you in the standings and we just took the season series from you (2-1, first time since 87-88). So stay cocky, keep bringing your excuses and bullshit stats, and we’ll see your sleepy spurs in the playoffs, jack.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:10 am
money says:
i actually enjoyed watching that game. pop is arguably the best coach in the league. nice game for real basketball fans to watch.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Gerard says:
Hahahahahahahahahaha Denver is nothing. I want to see them in the playoffs more than you want to see us, I guarantee it.
As a Spurs fan here’s the list of desirable first round matchups:
Suns
Nuggets
Jazz
Rockets
February 4th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Gerard says:
As for season series, I believe the Cavs took the season series from us in 07. Then we met them in the Finals.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:25 am
rangerjohn says:
man i was just looking at denvers schedule for the rest of the season, do they have the weakest schedule in the league or what? they have only 17 more games against good teams, that 2 1/2 months. but then i expect they will go 17-18 over the end of the season putting them at 49-33.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am
iain. says:
I think that, while $500 for a family outing to go to the game probably gives you the right to be pissed when none of the opposing teams stars are playing, most families would probably sacrifice not seeing Tim Duncans beautifully technical (but hardly exhilirating) game if Denver could get the W.
Because if the Spurs big 3 were playing there would be a few tearful kids leaving the arena still feeling the sting of their team getting 20-peiced.. This one can be looked at it both a positive and negative way.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:33 am
ian says:
while I think rangerjohn is a little blind like always, I also think this would be a non issue if it wasn’t the spurs.
pop did the right thing to rest our guys. you gotta do it every now and then. and I’m glad the nuggets liked that one win.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:40 am
mules says:
@rangerjack
What about the Spurs fans living in Denver? As a NJ native now living in Boston, 9 out of 10 times I get to see my teams play (Nets, Jets, Yankees) it’s when they’re on the road. I take enough shit wearing my teams hat/jersey/whatever at those games, I don’t need to get to my seats only to realize that my squad decided that particular game wasn’t important. I may understand it from a long-run, coaching strategy perspective, but I’d be pretty steamed watching my best players sitting on the bench when the game is on the line. There are plenty of transplants in Colorado too.
@ fallinup
Regarding sitting players right before the playoffs. That is why you can usually find cheaper tickets for the last week or 2 of the regular season. I know a lot of Celtics fans up here and I not one who would pay full price for a ticket near the end of the season. One of my best friends has Patriots season tickets and he has always sold week 17.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:42 am
mules says:
I can’t be too mad though…my fantasy squad’s going up against Timmy and Manu this week.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:45 am
LakeShow84 says:
I said it before Spurs fans and i will say it again..
You guys better hope you dont see Denver in the playoffs because i smell revenge.. Denver matches up great against SA..
February 4th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Dime Magazine says:
@ ian
I don’t think it would be a whole lot different if a team other than the Spurs did it. True, San Antonio seems to bring out the worst in a lot of people, so the anger is definitely elevated. I’m pretty sure though if the Suns simultaneously sat Nash, Amare and Shaq, or the Celtics intentionally sat Paul, KG and Ray, or the Magic sat Dwight, Rashard and Jameer all at once for no reason and with no warning, people would justifiably be pissed.
- PC
February 4th, 2009 at 10:45 am
fallinup says:
Can anyone justify why this is such a BAAAAAAD decision from a BASKETBALL standpoint.
Not a ticket sales stand point, not an entertainment standpoint, not a I have to feed my kids with what little money I have so I deserve to get the best out of these tickets I just PURCHASED standpoint.
CD/DNP – Happens all the damn time. Pop goes the extreme and does it to his 3 best players at a time that is “not usual” and it’s BAAAAAAAAD.
C’mon. Really?
February 4th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Gerard says:
Damn, I bet Pop was going up against Parker in his roto too… and you know he just reactivated Melo for his squad.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:48 am
mules says:
@fallinup
I don’t think anyone’s arguing that it’s bad from a BASKETBALL standpoint…it’s bad from a BUSINESS standpoint and the NBA is most definitely a business.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Michorizo says:
Buy Playoff tickets and Manu, Tony, and Duncan won’t be resting.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:52 am
fallinup says:
@ mules
I guess it comes down to that then huh. I for one, would rather sit my guys…and risk one L then sit a guy here, a guy there, and a guy there, and risk 3 L’s.
But it’s a business. Fuck L’s and W’s…its a bidness!
February 4th, 2009 at 11:06 am
rangerjohn says:
moles
ok so there are a 10,000 transplanted spurs fans in denver at the game last night? man maybe 50, and all i keep hearing is people who favor OTHER TEAMS bitching. not a single spurs fan has bitched about it yet. bottom line this entire htread is nothing but hate for the spurs.
and lakeshow, yeah you said it alright, but hten we laughed at you then just like we are now. i dont know where everyone has it in their head that the nuggets can beat the spurs, i mean damn they won 2 of 3 and the 2 they won had no tony and no manu, while the one they lost they lost big to tony just back from ankle, manu just back from ankle and not even 75%. and you guys say WE are the over confident ones?
(i expect snoopy i mean calvin will come in now saying he was a spurs fan at the game and is pissed)
February 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am
TCL says:
I have bench seats when the Raptors play the Spurs next week. If the big 3 don’t play I’m gonna start a riot.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Bron42 aka Downtown Funky Stuff Malone says:
people say its a slap to the nuggets, I say its also a slap to the lakers as in wiht bynum down, we can def cruise ow…boys..take a seat and relax..no worries now.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Duke says:
Your team is the Raptors, that’s reason enough to start a riot.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Jim says:
If I–a Spurs fan–lived in Denver and went I would be a little disappointed. But this team has been good to me for 20 years, I’m not crying about shit. Pops knows what he’s doing, whether it’s just resting, or telling the other teams the Spurs don’t care about regular season.
Nuggets fans asking for the Spurs: Please.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:43 am
baron von faulk says:
That wasn’r an eff you to the fans, it was an eff you to the league schedulers for putting them in Denver after playing a late game in Oakland the night before.
They went to OT in Oakland, too. Also they’re in the midst of an 8-game road trip. Better to get some rest and try to win the next 6 games.
Pop can do whatever the hell he wants. It’s not like he rested them in San Antonio or something; that would be an eff you.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Prof. TX says:
These guys are entertainers. Just like actors or singers or even professional wrestlers, they are paid to put on a show for the fans. Without the fans, there is no league. If you bought concert tickets and the stars got replaced by some local bar band at the last second, you’d want your money back or be mad at the venue for not announcing the change in advance. If you sign up for a basketball clinic from Michael Jordan and instead get one by Brian Scalabrine, you’d want your money back. It’s the same thing, the fans didn’t get what they paid for.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:44 am
The Jed says:
From a basketball perspective, the move is obviously fine. I mean, if the Spurs want to lose to a team in their own conference that they should beat that is. That’s Pop’s prerogative. he has a long term plan.
That being said – the NBA is about putting on a good show for the fans. It’s in the sports and ENTERTAINMENT business and the League has a responsibility to the fans that they’ll put their best foot forward to make sure the product is as good as it can be. And last night, it wasn’t.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Bron42 aka Downtown Funky Stuff Malone says:
@prof tx…If i went to a camp expectin MJ and got brian scal? Someone might get punched and TAKE my money back
February 4th, 2009 at 11:50 am
rangerjohn says:
prof, all of those things you mentioned while being decent points are of a “one time thing” nature. how many people at that game last night said “oh the spurs are comming to town i better rush out and buy tickets” my guess is not even 1/2. the fans dont go to see the visiting team very often they go to see their team. bottom line if the denver fans think they got shorted because of the game then they should be mad at the nuggets not the spurs, they are the ones who played like ass. they are the ones who barely beat some d-leaguers and rookies. if it had not been for the 16 extra freethrows they got they would have lost. meditate on that!
bottom line, not a single person here was at the game, not a single person here really cares everyone here bitching just to be bitching. well except me lmao (calvin) im not bitching abou the loss, i love it, it shows how deep the spurs really can be.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:51 am
fallinup says:
If it’s cool at the end of the season for teams to do that. Then why do those games even count in the standings? Why not just have those tickets free for the fans? Rationalizing for that, then getting on Pop for doing it now…I just don’t see the difference.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
The Jed says:
fallinup – that’s a good argument but even then most teams don’t rest everyone on the same night.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
snook says:
make up your minds.. they’re “boring” but when they sit out it’s a disservice.
2nd game of a B2B after an OT win, and the 2nd game is in Denver. Pop decided to rest them. Get over it.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
fallinup says:
But like I said before, Jed. Pop takes out the big 3…one L is risked. Pop takes one here, one there, and one there…that’s 3 L’s risked.
Pop’s not necessarily known as a crowd favorite. And he most def not known to be big on entertainment. But he IS known as a brilliant coach.
To me, this is no different than the tail end of the season. Shaq sitting whenever Porter feels he wants to sit him. Starbury being shunned by his own team. Or a coach benching a starter for bad play. That’s the power of CD/DNP. And there are no rules for when it is best to use it.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
snook says:
Good point fallinup, how is this different at a game near the end of the season? if teams can do it then why can’t we do it now.
/thread
February 4th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
doc (i like kobe AND bron) says:
Pop had his money on Denver and took the under on all Manu TP Timmy prop bets.It would’ve been nice to see Tony out there on the dolo though.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
control says:
The morale of this debate: Spurs fans can justify anything they do. Non Spurs fans (not even Spurs haters, just anyone who isn’t a Spurs fan) can always find a reason to hate on them…and it’s usually semi-valid.
I doubt I’d honestly pay to go see a Spurs game, I understand their game plan and understand that I don’t really like spending 1-2k to watch them execute it to perfection. I also am not sure if I could restrain myself from kicking Manu’s ass and/or starting “the Brawl 2″.
I can understand fans that would be pissed off at Pop’s choice. When Vince Carter was on the Raps, I paid 1500 for tickets to see him play when he came to Detroit. 4 times. He never played once. I even drove to Toronto twice and dropped like 1800 each time, to see him play. He sat out both games unexpectedly. That shit really pissed me off.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Jay says:
It sucks for the fans who paid to attend the game, I get that part. But bottom line is the NBA is still a SPORT before it is ENTERTAINMENT. The day we all look at it like it’s just for our entertainment is the day we take the competitive soul out of the game.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
control says:
The morale of this debate: Spurs fans can justify anything they do.
Control you got that on the money
February 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Ian says:
sorry to say this but fuck the fan on this one this wasnt in san antonio people paid to see melo billups and their home team , pop can do whatever the hell he wants with his team. in fact even better for the home fans instead of the ass woopin they would have gotten from td and parker they walked out with a win btw finley didnt play either.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
dennis says:
this simply cannot fly, i`ve drafted an email to correct this problem
Dear Team Presidents and General Managers,
The Portland Trail Blazers are aware that certain teams may be contemplating sitting their star players for the purpose of throwing games and adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers playoff position. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer. In addition, persons or entities involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers’ playoff chances and perspective economic opportunities.
Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
the antoine says:
resting them was weak.. especially if they didnt have another game until the weekend.. thats plenty of time to rest.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
the cynic says:
who cares if the Spurs rested there guys. They still put a respectable showing on the floor and that’s more then could be said for some of the bottom feeders on a nightly basis
February 4th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
the cynic says:
lol @ dennis
February 4th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Ian says:
karizmatic
the sad part is that san antonio gave them a competitive game what the fans paid for according to u
calvin brodus
hahahahahaha stay cocky sorry im not cocky but denver is no problem anyone would love to play denver is the second round instead of new orleans san antonio lakers houston dallas or suns in fact denver might end up the second seed and still no one would care, why would u want the spurs again so u can win game one like always then get destroyed.
trut me only nuggets fan know that u won the season series for the first time in 20 something years WE DONT GIVE A FUCK LIKE GIVE DONT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT DENVER FANS
aj
agree only home fans can be pissed about this
February 4th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Ian says:
jim
lol its almost like suns fans wanting the spurs hahaha. NO SPUR FAN IS PISSED not even the 12 that live in denver its everyone else talking shit trust me denver fans were happier for barely beating the spurs bench than getting wooped by duncan.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
doc (i like kobe AND bron) says:
@control-Vince was shitting on u dog.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
mules says:
wow….Spurs cockiness is on full blast. Bynum goes down and they just assume the west is theirs. Don’t forget that K-Mart didn’t play and Billups didn’t play the second half last night…so no, your bench did not almost beat a full strength Nuggets team.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Ryan says:
Get over it. I went to a Bobcats game last year vs. the Celts and the Big 3 all sat out. Oddly enough, we still lost…
February 4th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Ian says:
mules
so billups and kmart = duncan finley manu and parker
in fact fuck the spurs just realized i just lost my streak in espns streak for the cash challenged damn pop
February 4th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
AB_40 says:
no they didn’t and they made melo happy he averages like what 14 ppg against them. the spurs got the nuggets number and they know it. yesterday they did what they now don’t have to do the last day of the season… sit their stars.
February 4th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
control says:
One small thing to add, if we are talking about SA doing a disservice to SA fans…then I say that is A.O.K. The Spurs have been a good team for so long that they deserve a small kick in the nuts. Try being a Raptors fan…they kick their fans in the nuts at least 3 times a game.
If we are talking about them doing a disservice to Denver fans, that is aight as well. Denver has done more disservice to their fans by giving away Marcus Camby and acquiring AI. They won’t even feel this tiny disservice Pops laid on them last night.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Moose says:
This dismissive nonsense about people liking Parker and Duncan “for whatever reason,” is beyond ridiculous. Clearly, it is unfathomable that fans of the game could find any reason to appreciate the way that an All-Star and a Hall of Famer play. Any who do appreciate those two players have sunk to levels of unreasonableness that should disqualify them from being NBA fans.
Absurd.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
rangerjohn says:
um MOLES i dont think bynam going down has ANYTHING to do with this situation. what is up with people and the fucking lakers? i mean damn can we have a single conversation without fucking koby or bynam or phils name coming up. fucking lakers holy shit!
February 4th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
JH says:
I think that POP had good reason to “rest” all 3 players…and it’s not just because Boston is coming up. Boston’s game is of equal importance & value. 82 games & a tight playoff race means that every game counts.
Unless you are with the team day & night…it’s impossible to know the exact reasons. Keep in mind that game time is not the only time a player can be injured.
It’s easy to assume…but the only people who truly know are deep within the organization.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
SASpursFan says:
Pop DOES care about the fans. Spurs fans that is.
I’ll let you people in on a little saying we have down here in S.A. “In Pop we trust.” Pop doesn’t give a damn about other teams’ fans or the natl. media.
With Pop, the ends will justify the means.
Odd year magic baby!
February 4th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
the cynic says:
who cares about the fans, its all about the gamblers! Good fortune for those who put money on Denver. POP.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Ross says:
Fined? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard all year. Its actually a very good idea, that more teams should do on back-to-back’s. Not only did his team go to overtime on the west coast the night before, but then they had to come back to Denver (in its different time zone and higher altitude). I remember Pop sitting Manu and Tim for a Suns game, and the Spurs ended up meeting (and beating) the Suns in the playoffs that year. Maybe Pop thinks he’s gonna bump into Denver in the post season?
Besides, look what happened to Billups in that game.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Ross says:
As for Spurs fans being upset, no. The previous game didn’t come on until 9:30 pm, and the Denver game didn’t come on until 8 pm. They were all asleep anyway.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
bookkwormmaster says:
The only thing I have a problem with (and another poster on here mentioned it) is that he rested ALL 3 of the players. Duncan (having played in every game up to this point and carrying the teram while Manu & Tony were out) is understandable and deservable, Manu (nagging injuries) could have played some spot minutes, but why not play Parker? As young and energetic as he is what does he need rest for? At he very least Pop should have played him in the 1st half and then rested him for the rest of the game
February 4th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
AO says:
As a Spurs fan, I am PISSED OFF that Pop sat the big 3! I got hoppin mad when I first heard about it! How can he do this to me? A SPURS FAN! Doesn’t he know I have both Tim and Manu on my fantasy team? DAMN! I’m pissed. Thank God the trade for Tony didn’t go through yet!
On the other hand, it was a VERY entertaining game! I got to see what type of game the bench players have and I must say I’m impressed. Watching the coachs talk after the game, you would have thought SA beat the nuggies.
BTW, I’m in first place and still winning this week thanks to Kobe!
February 5th, 2009 at 1:33 am
added says:
nobody wants to watch the spurs anyway, so whats the big deal? seriously? i aint tryin to hate but the people that are complaining are probably fans of other teams that got hit in the standings…
February 7th, 2009 at 6:54 am
little late says:
The Spurs played an over-time game the night before and did not arrive in Denver till 4 a.m. The Golden State game was both emotionally and physically draining. I think Pop did a very wise thing in resting and not playing the guys (Tony, Manu, Tim, Finley). While giving the core group a break and possibly prevented injuries to them, Pop got to give other players some playing time, while trying different combinations of players for extended periods in a real game situation. Very good move imo
February 7th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Alex Garcia says:
@84. The End, nobody should complain after reading your post.