San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

Rather than play Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green in a nationally televised game last week against the defending NBA champion Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich sent them home to rest after playing five games in seven days. NBA Commissioner David Stern fined the Spurs $250,000 for sitting them out, saying the Spurs did a disservice to the league and its fans.

Speaking in an telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, Stern reiterated that the fine was justified, although many potential playoff teams sit out their starters during the final month of the season.

Stern said they had a big discussion at the NBA’s Board of Governors in April 2010 about sitting out players in a manner contrary to the best interests of NBA. Stern said he told owners he would maintain the responsibility of addressing the situation with the ability to levy fines to teams if they violated the policy.

"The organization agreed they would take away four players, including a 26-year-old and a 30-year-old -- their four best players,’’ said Stern, who will be attending Wednesday night's game between the Hornets-Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. "And they did it without notifying the league or the media the way they’re supposed to for injury and illness. That, and the totality of all the circumstances, if this wasn’t the appropriate time for exercising the discretion then there would never be an appropriate time. This is not about the coach, I’m fine with Pop.’’

Stern pointed out that it was early in the season and the Spurs' only visit to Miami to play the Heat for the regular season.

"This is not about a coaching decision,'' Stern said. "This is more about the relationship among our 30 teams and 30 owners.''

Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers criticized the NBA’s fine against the Spurs, saying a coach has to coach his team to win in the long run, so they must do whatever necessary to accomplish the objective.

New Orleans Hornets Coach Monty Williams said he’s never dealt with a situation like what Popovich did in resting all of his key players during an extended road trip. But he said his thing is to always play.

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ss...stern_s_6.html

[BearClaw]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

Why is Stern allowed to decide whether or not a player is worthy of being rested?

[bigbob]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

...and it begins again.

The San Antonio Spurs are being sued by a lawyer who is alleging that the team violated the state's deceptive and fair trade practices law.

On Monday, Larry McGuinness filed a class action suit in Miami-Dade County, stating that the team's head coach, Gregg Popovich, "intentionally and surrepticiously" sent their best players home without the knowledge of the league, the team and the fans attending the Nov. 29 game against the Heat. McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, "suffered economic damages" as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn't cost more.

[cavsfan2]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

I love this country, but the USA is the only place where stupid *** lawsuits like this can be entertained.

[WTF]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

Wow... I'm not sure what else needs to be said.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

People are always looking for a hand out.

[NFCastle]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

This is all such bs. No one except for the coach has the right to decide who does and does not play on any given night.

Especially not anyone outside kid the organization


Future solution to avoid ridiculous punishments for smart ten decisions: list the players as injured with bs injuries.

[JasonWilliams55]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

The Miami Heat make their own tickets prices not the Spurs. The Miami Heat are the ones trying to gouge people with different ticket prices for quote unquote better teams.

Since his whole argument is:

McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, "suffered economic damages" as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn't cost more.

Shoot I might go down to a Sacramento game and after they lose, sue the Maloof brothers for ticket gouging as the tickets are too expensive and caused me to have "economic and mental damages" from watching their piss-poor performance... oh and also throw in the suit something about the owners not trying hard enough, even after public monies went to the Arena. SMH @ 'MERICA.

[jeebs9]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

What some don't see is that other people will start to step up after this thing if he wins. I know I was pretty pissed when I heard the news. I'm still on the fence about the whole thing.

[WTF]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

Why would you be pissed? You saw a heck of a game if you were at the game. It's not like it was a 30 point blowout. The backups nearly pulled off a heck of an upset against the Super Trio. You paid money to see a sporting event. You saw a sporting event.

[aholbert32]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

I'm a lawyer so its no surprise that I totally agree with and understand this suit. Teams like the Heat charge more money for games against top teams like the Heat. Most teams do this now. The Wizards do the same thing because my tickets to see the Magic were only $30 but to see the Lakers it is around $60. You are charged more because these players (Duncan, Parker etc) were supposed to play and because the Heat value a game featuring those players higher than others. If those players dont play, its reasonable to demand some sort of refund.

[jeebs9]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

I know it's easy to say "You saw a great game". And it was a awesome game. But what if I'm some casual basketball fan. And I love the Spurs. Love Tim Duncan. I save my every last penny just to see him play. I get to the game and find out that not only is Duncan not playing... But no Parker or Manu. Guys... I just lost the whole reason I saved my pennies to come to this game. I think the situation could of been handled much better. Dress the players and don't play them. Even start them and then take them out of the game. But send them home. A kid can't even get his signature if you send the players home. And I'm talking on a minor scale here. Lets not get into Ads money.

[aholbert32]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

Why would you be pissed? You saw a heck of a game if you were at the game. It's not like it was a 30 point blowout. The backups nearly pulled off a heck of an upset against the Super Trio. You paid money to see a sporting event. You saw a sporting event.

He paid more money to see that sporting event because the expectation was certain players would be playing. You cant argue that ever Heat game is the same. Why? Because the Heat's ticket pricing system says it isnt. By pricing the Spurs game higher, they are saying that a game featuring the Spurs is more valuable than a game against the Bobcats. Why is it more valuable? Because the Spurs have better talent. You cant make that argument if 4 of their top 8 players are not even in the building.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

Why would you be pissed? You saw a heck of a game if you were at the game. It's not like it was a 30 point blowout. The backups nearly pulled off a heck of an upset against the Super Trio. You paid money to see a sporting event. You saw a sporting event.

I get it. Yeah, you got to see an entertaining game in the end, but if you paid to see Tim Duncan or Manu or Tony, you didn't get what you paid for. For example living here in Chicago I didn't get to go to my first Bulls game until like 2003 because tickets to see Jordan and the Bulls ontop of being damn near impossible to get were expensive so my family never sprang for them because we couldn't afford them, nor get our hands on them, I can only imagine how difficult it was in cities outside of Chicago. Had they gone ahead and bought those tickets it'd be a pretty big deal economically for us to be paying that price. To find out the day of the event that Phil had given Michael, Scottie, Horace and John the night off while seeing the Bulls play a great game and win or at least come close to it would've been awesome, but it wouldn't make up for the money I spent to see Michael Jordan and ended up watching BJ Armstrong and Will Perdue.

All that being said you should know before spending the money that that's the risk you run buying the tickets and if the NBA is smart, they have printed somewhere on the ticket that very warning. Something along the lines of 'lineups subject to change' or something. Even WWE makes clear on their tickets and advertisements "card subject to change."

[aholbert32]

Re: San Antonio Spurs to Receive Sanctions for Resting Players

All that being said you should know before spending the money that that's the risk you run buying the tickets and if the NBA is smart, they have printed somewhere on the ticket that very warning. Something along the lines of 'lineups subject to change' or something. Even WWE makes clear on their tickets and advertisements "card subject to change."

I'd argue the only difference is that the "card" will only change because of injury or incapacity (like an arrest). I've been to a ton of UFC fights and had a few main events change on me but they were all because of injury. Never because the promoter wanted to rest a fighter for a fight in another city.