against the Heat. For about 20 games. Hit em where it hurts. The fine means nothing. Heat fans paid good money for that game to watch the best players give it their all. Send a message. And the fans going to Spurs games will know in advance that the 4 players will not be playing. The 4 old geezers seem to need the rest anyway. All 4 of them should be embarrassed - maybe it wasn't their call -- anybody know????
1. The coach makes the decision 2. Studies have shown excessive frequency to dramatically increase the likelihood of injury. 3. Players play better when rested (The older Spurs won the game; a tough game vs. Grizzlies in OT the next game with Parker getting 30 and Duncan able to play 40 mins and go for 27-15.) BTW, this has little to do with a few fans who paid money. Stern doesn't want a rested Spurs to compete for a championship. BTW - teams do this all the time anyways. They just don't bother telling the truth. Kobe will miss 10-20 games this year to rest. Each time, they'll just make up an ailment.
This used to be called "throwing a game", now it's called "resting"? But of course we all know there's none of that goin on in the NBA Is ther? What a sick joke.
Play every game on the schedule with your healthy players. Nobody is going to fear the Spurs in the playoffs. Already had a rep as a "soft team."
Is that why the Heat didn't take the lead til 22 seconds left? The Spurs go 12 deep. And I could argue that the Spurs would have thrown the game against Memphis had their players not been adequately rested. Do you really think the Spurs were throwing the game? Or are they interested in responsibly managing their players? Tim Duncan is putting up MVP numbers in his 16th season and the Spurs have 4 titles during the Poppovich era. I think they deserve some leeway.
BTW - this isnt the first time the Spurs have pulled this stunt. Other teams also rest their starters now and then - none have been so blatant as the Spurs.