Pop's bold move and Stern's harsh reaction

Oh, that zany Gregg Popovich.

In case you missed it, Pop sent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green home before the Spur game in Miami for no reason other than to give them a night off to rest and recuperate at the end of a long road trip.

Good? Bad?

I’d say far more bad than good but I can certainly see his point.

It is disrespectful of the game, the opponent, the paying customers to pull such a prank.

There is a covenant between franchises and the people from whom they take money: You give us a lot of cash and we will entertain you; athletes are as much performers as athletes and I honestly think teams owe best efforts every night. It’s basically cheating the people to do otherwise.

But it’s not like Pop hasn’t done this before and, truth be told, I can see his point at some low level. He has to do what he thinks is best for his franchise and if we’ve come to learn anything about Popovich over the years, it’s that he doesn’t give a rat’s ass what people think.

Now, we can debate whether a night off in November will have any consequences in April, May or June – I’m quite dubious of that – and the Spurs did take the Heat to the final seconds before losing so the game turned out to be quite entertaining.

Was Popovich right to do what he did? I don’t think so. But there is a “plausible basketball rationale” for sitting four starters, I guess.

However, it was David Stern’s rather harsh rebuke – “I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming” – that got me.

While it is entirely within his purview to levy fines and if he’s ticked off there’s no reason not to let people know but I’m wondering why now?

Where was he when the Heat were taking “maintenance” days for their best players down the stretch of last season?

Where was he on other nights in other seasons when Pop gave his best players the night off for no reason? Remember the night in Toronto when Duncan didn’t play, a move chalked up to DNP-Old in the boxscore?

Where’s the commissioner late in every season when teams blatantly tank games, an egregious slap in the face of fans who paid money to see games.

But maybe that’s it?

Maybe, since there is no appetite to change the format for determining lottery odds, Stern is firing an early-season shot across the bow of all 30 teams, a very public warning that tanking games late in the season will not be tolerated.

I don’t know that to be true but I can see it being a small bit of the reasoning for all of a sudden coming out and publicly rebuking an organization that’s done almost exactly the same thing with no repercussions in the past.

-

Now I find out this has been National Peanut Butter month?

We all know these salient facts about peanut butter, which is often the snack sandwich of choice around Casa Doug.

It should be smooth, not crunchy.

It shall be eaten on bread, not toast or crackers.

And it should be eaten on its own, not encumbered by jam or bananas or even butter or margarine on the bread.

I’m right, right?

-

Yes, Mickael Pietrus (and I apologize now for the number of times I will type his first name incorrectly in the future) will officially sign his new deal with the Raptors today; the second that Dom McGuire clears waivers and there’s a roster spot for him.

I don’t know if he’ll be in uniform tonight – I would suspect yes – but no, he will not make a major difference. He is, however, an upgrade and teams should always be looking to upgrade their talent.

And, no, he’s not going to take minutes away from Terrence Ross so don’t sweat that. He is going to replace McGuire, who gave them nothing and it will allow Dwane Casey to use Ross where he’s best suited – at the other wing position, where he can guard shooting guards.

It’s a good move, not a great one, he’s not exactly the dynamic break-down three they’ve needed for, well, for ever, but he’s probably better than what they had.

-

Even as I type this, I’m sure there are stock boys in grocery stores all over crazily putting out new supplies of razor blades.

And all I can say is: Thank whatever deity it is that you worship that this month is coming to close.

Yes, I understand entirely that the fund-raising for Movember is significant and we all know that every dollar counts.

But how about this:

Today, sometime, everyone who grew a moustache but shouldn’t have takes a picture of himself.

And on Halloween next year, he – or she – shows that picture to all their friends and loved ones and says: “If you donate the same amount as last year, I promise I won’t grow another one of these things?”

Sound like deal?

-

Mail? Please.

Long flight to Denver tomorrow to work on stuff for Sunday so it’d be nice to have something to do.

Oh, and I don’t know who told me about Homeland other than Not Grace Kelly but thanks.

I’m about 30 minutes of the last episode before I’m finished season one – Brody was about confront Carrie at the police station when the flight attendant made me shut the iPad Mini down – and can’t wait to see what season two is like.

Click. Write. Send.

-

Pretty busy day for David Stern, as it turns out.

Before lashing out at the Spurs, he hit Boston’s Rajon Rondo with a two-game suspension for his fight with Hump the night before and levied a handful of fines, too.

I think Rondo got off easy, too easy. I understand the heat of the moment nature of those scraps but the underlying facts in my contention that he should have been suspended for at least five games is that he wasn’t even involved in the original Hump on Garnett foul (I guess I could more easily accept Rondo’s reaction if he’d been fouled) and the recidivist nature of his behaviour.

Precedent would have suggested a longer suspension, too.

But when I first heard it, I though David had gone a bit soft; hours late the Spurs thing happened and I realized he hadn’t.

-

 

 

 

Comments

[Peter]

I cannot believe that you haven't experienced the joy of a peanut butter and honey sandwich!

[Steve]

I don't see how the league can throw a fine San Antonio's way for this and expect to appear consistent, because as you point out there are lots of other scenarios where teams field intentionally "weak" teams for various reasons for portions of games or even entire games.

The cynic in me suspects that in most of those cases (tanking in particular) the league turns a blind eye because they aren't games that are on national TV...

[TL]

SMOOTH peanut butter? Really?
Sacrilege, Doug -- I'm disappointed.

[AE]

I say good for Pops sending them home. If the NBA truly cared about putting a good product on the court they would eliminate the back-to-backs.

[Jerry]

"While it is entirely within his purview to levy fines and if he’s ticked off there’s no reason not to let people know but I’m wondering why now?"

This sentence is either poorly constructed or it needs a citation from a league rule, or ordinance.

Thanks.

[JHK]

LOL @ Stern
I called 3 but he actually gave out 2?
Wow...

[john]

'And on Halloween next year, he – or she – shows that picture '

Doug Smith, for all the bashing you take simply because you write a blog, at least the masses can't call you sexist. Well done.

[AT]

just like Pops giving it to the refs in a manner that very few other coaches can gett away with, this stunt shows that he thinks he is bigger than the game. That is what Stern may have an issue with. No reason to rest four starters all at the same time in November.

....nothing lke a peanut butter and nutella sandwich on fresh Italian bread....

[fg]

Absolutely FINE SAN ANTONIO

come on doug, I know these are 35 year old athletes and they need there rest.. give me a break. get with the real world, most people are working from 50-70 years old with bad backs, lifting heavy weights, using braces, paycheque to paycheque and they DO NOT get a day off work, let alone aloud to go home and rest and not be there with the team. NBA athletes are too spoiled, its getting tiring.
the age thin has really been blown out of proportion. Im sure the coach could have reduced minutes. not allow its employees to stay home. IF that happened in the real world, the manager would be lynched by upper management. an injury is one thing, but just saying my guy is now on old age part time contract making full contract millions. and doesnt have to be there with the team at all times is foul. The players need to be fined the amount of money they would be payed for playing each game missed. I would certainly lose my hours at work.

[Heath]

I love what Pop did, and when you put it in context (8 day trip, last game, big game on Saturday.....) it makes complete sense. As far as I'm concerned the only expectation any fan should have is to hope for a competitive, engaging match, which they were provided with. I actually watched more of the game than I would have as I wanted to see how things would play out.

Crunchy on toast, end of story.

[chris]

I think Pop was making a statement (maybe the middle finger to the league) about the schedule. If it was just about giving his guys rest, he doesn't do it in a nationally televised game against the Heat. Nor does he do 4 at once.

[chris]

Also - the lakers were fined many, many years ago (showtime days) for resting their starters just before the playoffs. Too long ago to be a precedent, but still. Also wish they applied the same logic to tanking lottery-hungry teams.

[gmartin]

What"s "low level" about a coach acting creatively and strategically to meet his season-long objective of winning an NBA championship? Thanks for the reminder that the NBA is mostly circus.

[Mike B]

I went to a Raptors vs. Heat game , the first year that Bosh and Lebron played for them, hoping to see them play against our Raptors in Toronto. It was (i think) the second-last game of the season, and none of them, including Wade, played. It was very disappointing to pay goon money to see Eddie House torch us, but I am pretty sure Stern did not get involved in any way to decry that!

[Lorie]

@Peter - Oh yes...only made better by adding sliced banana with the honey and peanut butter. And, Doug, have you ever tried a big scoop of peanut butter on top of Decadent Double Chocolate Fudge or Moose Tracks ice-cream? Or adding it with a little soy, garlic, ginger and oyster sauce into a stir-fry? But...that being said the best way is still the first way it was experienced. Literally on its own. Enjoyed with a spoon. Plunged into a brand-new jar of Jif. Lick. Repeat. And I don't like Stern's 'apology' to all NBA fans for a couple of reasons, but the first thing I questioned was the harshness of the tone: immediately committing to 'substantial sanctions' tied his hands to actually, you know, doing so. Not much room for sober second thought. Or reconsideration. I don't know...we might not have seen Parker, Duncan, Green and Ginobili, but I think NBA fans saw an entertaining game last night. I know I happily watched right until the end. Cheers!

[David in Oakville]

Good Morning Doug,

Bang on with your comments about Stern and his lack of consistency with respect to the Spurs and the penalty assessed to Rondo! Every freakin league needs someone who is responsible for continuity and consistency.

+

Peanut butter on bread only, not toast?

I swear Doug, some days you are delusional.

However, Health Canada wants me to remind you that you need to provide a warning at the top of this blog post that the contents may include nuts. Wait... that warning should run with every post.

[Bill]

I think what Stern is doing will not be defensible in the future. What does it mean to sit "regulars"? Is it because they are starters (Manu is not)? If so should teams just start their normal bench players and have all his usual starters come in during the first time out/foul? Is it because they play the most minutes? If so is the league trying to control the minutes that players play?

Either way, what Stern is doing is telling teams to lie if they want to rest their players. What can the league do if those four sat out due to a flu? If it's going cost Pop or the Spurs say $30,000.00 for this by telling the truth, then he may just say they are sick and save themselves $30,000.00. Makes absolutely no sense to me.

[Cluck Kent]

I disagree about sports being entertainment. I understand that it is entertaining and tha the more entertaining it is the more money folks make but that isn't why I watch sports. If it was, we'd have a lot more interest in Harlem Globetratter games which are entertainment.

Sports are about competing to win, and more specifically winning a championship. A coach should have the right to do what he believes gives his team the best chance to win, not what will entertain the most fans. When you start blurring that line, you lose the true essence of sport.

Would I be disappointed if I went to a game and the best players were held out? Sure, but I'd understand why. Cause it's not all about me. So if you want to avoid stuff like this, shorten the season.

And while I was pro tank last year, I hate tanking, I wish there was another way to get quality players but so far I haven't seen any other way. You can't win if you don't have good players and you can't get good players if you don't win.

[Colin W]

Doug said: "I honestly think teams owe best efforts every night. It’s basically cheating the people to do otherwise" and I totally agree. This is the same point some Raptors' fans have been making for quite some time regarding their team.

And peanut butter on toast is simply yum!

[Matt M]

I think all teams should rest their best players when the schedule gets too crazy. And in my opinion four games in five nights is crazy, no matter how long the league has been doing it. If fatigue is a contributing factor in injuries, then why wouldn't you look into resting key players in a nothing games against certain team outside your conference. The fact the team you are playing may be the defending champion should not enter into the equation.

Stern was likely looking to boost ratings for this game. For entertainment value alone this wasn't a bad game. It gives Lebron lovers a chance to wax poetic about him taking over while giving Lebron and official haters a chance to complain about the cheap calls that superstars get.

[CM]

Raps are in bad shape when peanut butter leads the commentary. Organization needs to decide in Bargnani can be a significant part of a winning program. After 6 yrs you would think they know the answer to that already. Interest is heading to an all-time low in this team.

[Ryan]

I don't think it's an "early shot" across the bow. Teams will still tank as they always do. This is more of him being angry that a mid-season marquee matchup is devoid of some of it's star players, making it not at all a marquee matchup.

That all being said, I completely agree with the Spurs and that ultimately, we are supposed to be watching a sport (not "entertainment"), where the season runs until June for the best, and that one mid-December matchup in a grinding schedule will not make, but can certainly break, one's championship chances.

I think for the integrity of the NBA to be truly representative of "basketball" they cannot even contemplate a "punishment".

Do teams exist to "perform" or to win championships? There's only one other "league" out there that openly admits to performing every night, and that's the WWE. Are we about to go down that road? Because if so, time to get clowns jumping over the shot clock with fake whistles and wrestlers coming out of the crowd to hit players in the back of the head with chair shots.

I know I know that sounds crazy but if what the players are providing is anything less than 100% sport, then what is it really?

[Rob.V]

Great points this morning.
-
The difference (I guess) is that these are star players. Would anyone care if the Raptors sat 4 players? The leagues concern must be about TV ratings I would guess?
-
Maybe there was some "head" work going on here by Pops. Let my kids get some experience against the team we would most likely face in the finals. Maybe it was to not show the Heat everything and to keep a fresh perspective if they do come back for the finals (along with rest).
-
Regardless, I don't agree with Pops however if he is fined it's just another black eye for the league. Once again, they will look silly and inconsistent as already pointed out by others.
-
Pietrus will help. First off, he's I believe a .350 career 3 point shooter. This alone is huge for the Raptors at the 3 position. He's still athletic and he's been in some big playoff games. The Raptors need experienced vets. Good move!
-
Could someone please remind me to never, ever, EVER participate in Movember again. I mean, I get it, I’m a team player. But without me taking donations, this turned into nothing more than a tribute to Freddie Mercury for 18 days. Now, I'm okay with honouring Freddie for 18 however when "the stash" began to morph, and I somehow started celebrating "The Butcher" from Gangs of New York for the last 12!!! Man, this was all I could bear. Really!
-
A shave and win baby, that's all we need... a shave and a win!

[Dave B]

I agree with your comments on the Spurs. I think Pop was doing this to make a point about the Spurs schedule. It was a televised game against last years champions. He sent the players home instead of sitting them on the bench. He sent all four, not one of two. Danny Green is not an old player. It was simply a challenge to Stern about the schedule and Stern bit on the bait. Stern in now in a difficult position. As we know teams sit srar players down the stretch. If he doesn't fine every team he will again be showing favouritism (like the Rondo suspension). If some teams hadn't tanked last season the Raptors would have had a higher draft pick. How do you determine which teams to fine?

As for November (Movember), I think we should all support the intention. After having a few friends deal with this dreadful cancer and all its side affects and now having a brother waiting for surgery for prostate cancer, I think it is a great cause and if it means we have to suffer through a few bad hairy upper lips for 30 days it is well worth it. I am very disappointed in your comments on this matter. It would have been much better if you had shown more support.

And this Pietrus move does nothing for the Raptors. If they can get 20 games out of him between injuries they will be lucky. If you are going to waive somebody, at least make it worthwhile.

Hopefully they can get a win tonight. It would help the players psyche as well as the fans.

[larry lukeeborg]

peanut butter should be banned from the world....last time i tried it, i had to run to the nearest projectile receptor