SA Spurs Thread

[Cythim]

This is not the first time the leage has fined a team for resting their starters during the regular season. I'm pretty sure the NFL would have a very dim view if a team sent a large portion of their healthy starters home before the game started just to preserve them for a playoff run; especially this early in the season.

It happens at the end of every NFL season, difference here is the Spurs can afford to give one away early in the season. When the commish can dictate a game day roster he has too much power.

 

[Cythim]

As I said, I understood why the Spurs did what they did, but I can understand where the NBA stands on this. What concerns me more than anything is that players weren't even there to play. They were traveling on their way home. As a fan that's a big snub if the team doesn't even care if their top players are there but I'm still supposed to pay top price for the tickets? Part of the enjoyment of watching a game live is to see all the top players, even if they don't play that much. If fans lose interest during the regular season what is their motivation to watch during the playoffs?

I would hate to make the trip to see the Bobcats (closest to my home) play the Lakers and not see Kobe, Gasol, or Howard play because it would help them make the playoffs later on. I would be seriously irked spending that kind of money to see a second rate product. Why even have a regular season? Just jump straight to the playoffs because that's all the matters apparently.

If a team is selling tickets based on the opponent instead of their own product they have problems.

 

[ThreeandOut]

Actually the game last night had higher ratings than an average regular season game on TNT because of the "controversy", so maybe the league should be thanking the spurs for increasing the ratings

The cynic in me thinks this whole incident may actually be an ingenious marketing ploy by Stern. The NBA usually doesn't get this level of coverage in the middle of football season. With the controversy and the Spurs making it a battle, the game last night actually overshadowed the Atlanta/New Orleans NFL game.

 

[Jammer]

If a team is selling tickets based on the opponent instead of their own product they have problems.

You're missing the point entirely.

 

[zrinkill]

You're missing the point entirely.

No .... i think you are

 

[Jammer]

No .... i think you are

I get your point. You're saying it's totally acceptable to not start players because it may help you win more games down the road and help your playoff chances.

You're also saying it's okay to screw the fans who pay top dollar to see the best players, especially since the Spurs gave no advance warning that the players were even going to be there. Not playing them is one thing, but to not even to have them available to have the fans see them is bad, IMO. Spurs fans living in the Miami area lost their one chance to see their top players locally this year.

First NBA game I ever saw live was in '82 when the Spurs played the 76'ers. I didn't care for either team but I went because I wanted to see Dr. J and Moses Malone (among others). I would have been upset had I gone and they weren't there to play, especially since the game was hyped as having those players playing and it was around Christmas time. I would never have gone to another NBA if the game was hyped as having the players there and then showing up and them not being there.

 

[zrinkill]

I get your point.

I am glad you agree that it is ******** for a commissioner to decide on who plays and who does not for every team in the league.

If you thought otherwise I would be worried about you.

I am sure all those times that Romo and Aikman did not play the last game of the regular season you were equally upset.

 

[Cythim]

I get your point. You're saying it's totally acceptable to not start players because it may help you win more games down the road and help your playoff chances.

You're also saying it's okay to screw the fans who pay top dollar to see the best players, especially since the Spurs gave no advance warning that the players were even going to be there. Not playing them is one thing, but to not even to have them available to have the fans see them is bad, IMO. Spurs fans living in the Miami area lost their one chance to see their top players locally this year.

First NBA game I ever saw live was in '82 when the Spurs played the 76'ers. I didn't care for either team but I went because I wanted to see Dr. J and Moses Malone (among others). I would have been upset had I gone and they weren't there to play, especially since the game was hyped as having those players playing and it was around Christmas time. I would never have gone to another NBA if the game was hyped as having the players there and then showing up and them not being there.

As a fan you take the risk when buying the ticket of not watching a quality game with the star players you want to see. This is the NBA's fault for marketing superstars instead of teams. If it were a home game for San Antonio I would see fault with not having those players available, but Pop owes nothing to Miami fans or fans seeing a game in Miami.

 

[MC KAos]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/52046/did-popovich-or-stern-sit-those-players

Nice read

 

[Manwiththeplan]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/52046/did-popovich-or-stern-sit-those-players

Nice read

It's really a horribile read. It's so extremely one sided, it may as well have been writen by Tim Duncan.

Suggesting that the league hopes Popovich falls in line and plays his stars 40 minutes a game is stupid and comparing the sending home of 4 of you top 5 scorers versus resting Lebron James for 9 minutes is such an exaggeration, that most reasonable people would ignore the merits in the article.

Not one mention of the message sent to fans, if this went unpunished and how that would effect the NBA financially. The NBA regular season is a money grab. It likely is too long, but it's needed to balance out (or atleast try to) NBA player salaries. And reminding (or telling the less informed) fans of this is harmfull to the league. This wasn't an end of the season game where fans expect this, this was very early in the season and if the guys in question played limited minutes this would've been a non story or atleast limited to the next days "first and ten" and "around the horn"/"PTI" at best

 

[MC KAos]

It's really a horribile read. It's so extremely one sided, it may as well have been writen by Tim Duncan.

Suggesting that the league hopes Popovich falls in line and plays his stars 40 minutes a game is stupid and comparing the sending home of 4 of you top 5 scorers versus resting Lebron James for 9 minutes is such an exaggeration, that most reasonable people would ignore the merits in the article.

Not one mention of the message sent to fans, if this went unpunished and how that would effect the NBA financially. The NBA regular season is a money grab. It likely is too long, but it's needed to balance out (or atleast try to) NBA player salaries. And reminding (or telling the less informed) fans of this is harmfull to the league. This wasn't an end of the season game where fans expect this, this was very early in the season and if the guys in question played limited minutes this would've been a non story or atleast limited to the next days "first and ten" and "around the horn"/"PTI" at best

the part of the article i was most interested was the scientific studies done into fatigue and injury, but i digress. What is the difference exactly between a game in november in the middle of football season and one at the end of the regular season when fans are more interested in basketball? im sure if you looked up ratings, they tend to go up after football is over. So again, i fail to see how its not ok for a coach to rest his best players after they just played 3 games in 4 nights, before facing off with their closest division rival at the moment.

 

[Kangaroo]

The Spurs are banged up bad in the SF/SG area

Lenorad, Sjax and now Green

They still managed to beat the Bucks

 

[MC KAos]

Ya, good thing we have mad depth! We've needed every ounce of it!

 

[MC KAos]

@DaTrillStak5: Somebody tell serg Abaka. He aint bout dis life. Next time he run up on me im goin in his mouth. That's a promise. He doin 2 much.

Apparently Stephen Jackson is unhappy with something serge did/said!

 

[Biggems]

Jammer, I get where you are coming from in this thread, but you are wrong. Yes, it would be ideal to have the stars play every game. However, it would also be ideal to not have to play so many games in a short amount of time. This isn't like baseball where they stand around doing nothing most of the time. These guys are running up and down the court, cutting, jumping, landing, and getting physical with opposing players. It wears down the body. The Spurs core is the oldest in the league. Down here, we care about OBriens, not regular season wins. So Pop plays for the postseason. If the rest of the nation gets all upset, so what. He is the coach, he makes the player decisions. We as Spurs fans know how he coaches. We know his longterm goals and we have his back. Plus, anytime Pop and the Spurs can stick it to Napolean Stern, it is a great time. I cannot cuss on this forum, but I have a lot of expletives that I can layout for the scumbag commissioner.

Now onto the Spurs.....Nice play since the Miami game, 3-0. They beat a tough Memphis team. Then beat Milwaukee on a night when they didn't play all that great. Finally, last night, they took it to Houston.....which is always nice to see.

So tonight starts another mini roadtrip......bring on the Bobcats.

GO SPURS GO

 

[Kangaroo]

Jammer, I get where you are coming from in this thread, but you are wrong. Yes, it would be ideal to have the stars play every game. However, it would also be ideal to not have to play so many games in a short amount of time. This isn't like baseball where they stand around doing nothing most of the time. These guys are running up and down the court, cutting, jumping, landing, and getting physical with opposing players. It wears down the body. The Spurs core is the oldest in the league. Down here, we care about OBriens, not regular season wins. So Pop plays for the postseason. If the rest of the nation gets all upset, so what. He is the coach, he makes the player decisions. We as Spurs fans know how he coaches. We know his longterm goals and we have his back. Plus, anytime Pop and the Spurs can stick it to Napolean Stern, it is a great time. I cannot cuss on this forum, but I have a lot of expletives that I can layout for the scumbag commissioner.

Now onto the Spurs.....Nice play since the Miami game, 3-0. They beat a tough Memphis team. Then beat Milwaukee on a night when they didn't play all that great. Finally, last night, they took it to Houston.....which is always nice to see.

So tonight starts another mini roadtrip......bring on the Bobcats.

GO SPURS GO

Do not forget they are winning with two starters out and a primary backup out due to injuries and some depth injured. We have had some young guys stepup and contribute guys the fans expected to not even see the floor.

I am liking De colo better than mills he is a vet Europe player at 25 but he seems to be adjusting just fine to the NBA as a backup

 

[Biggems]

Do not forget they are winning with two starters out and a primary backup out due to injuries and some depth injured. We have had some young guys stepup and contribute guys the fans expected to not even see the floor.

I am liking De colo better than mills he is a vet Europe player at 25 but he seems to be adjusting just fine to the NBA as a backup

I didnt like de colo at the start of the season, i felt he was trying too hard. he seems to have settled in and found his groove. he is playing smarter. i see a bright upside for him. I am glad to see anderson back, though it will only be a for short time. Still, I hope the Spurs keep him at the top of their speed dial. I would love to have him return next year, when there should be an opening or two.

The depth of this team is just insane. I believe the early season injuries are a blessing. It has allowed our end of bench players a lot of extra playing time, which will only serve to help us as the season progresses.

 

[MC KAos]

Our offense is starting to click like it did at the end of last year! And our defensive efficiency is back to being elite! That's even with our two biggest wing players out with injury! Hopefully we can avoid major injuries and be fresh and healthy come playoff time, if so, I like our chances!

 

[MC KAos]

Spurs are fourth in offensive efficiency and fifth in defensive efficiency! The only team in the league in the top five of both, the only team even in the top ten of both is Memphis!

Edit: actually clippers and OKC also in top ten in both

 

[MC KAos]

I was studying some stats and as crazy as it sounds, at age 36, Tim Duncan might be the best big man in the league right now