Nba 2012-13

[elmo]

I thought I remembered something like that.

But this is against the mighty Heat...and it must have been a TV game for Stern to get his panties all twisted.

The irony is that San Antonio is still leading with less than 4 mins left in the 4th quarter.

 

[MrMarcello]

Stern signed off on that ridiculous scheduling that had the Spurs play four road games in five nights on top of a previous lengthy ten-day road trip, and allowed Miami to have four nights rest between their last game and this game against the Spurs. This is all about the networks, spare me the fans bullshit. If Stern had the best interests of the fans at heart he wouldn't have allowed prior work stoppages, clubs stockpiling the premier players, etc.

I would hope the Spurs fight back on any "sanction" towards the club and/or the coach using the legal system. I'd have my attornery show me in the by-laws where this is punishable.

 

[OB]

I don't get it, whats wrong with resting players? I just don't get it.

 

[gooDevil]

I'm thinking that Stern feels they rested so many players that they in effect gave up on the game. There is surely some rule to prevent teams from letting their opponents win. But where do you draw the line, how many players must be rested? I don't see how you can make a determination like that.

 

[Danny1982]

I don't get it, whats wrong with resting players? I just don't get it.

I think it's about the marketing. Many people (and TV channels) paid big money to be able to watch/show the game. It was definitely a bad thing to do from a marketing point of view (would have actually been worse if Miami lost to a "B team" while they are being advertised as the "invincible champions".. At least if they lost to the A team, they would have lost to Duncan and Parker and Ginobilli!)

 

[OB]

But this is a professional league. Managers want the best for their team. Plus if people are Spurs fans, they should understand its only good for their team. Plus even if they put a new rule now, how are they going to class different players? That you cannot rest X player and Y player, what would the conditions be for those players to be made unrestable.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

He should be able rest who he wants when he wants, it's a damn long season and the Spurs holy trinity are old now... Miami nearly made a meal of it anyway.

 

[Danny1982]

Well I hate Stern more than anything else in Basketball, but the reality of things is that if the players expect to be paid big bucks then they should play in the games that bring the NBA the big bucks.

 

[ha_rooney]

Lakers went crazy from 3 point land, even D12 hit a 3 pointer! Jamison will need to continue contributing big numbers from the bench, he's done well since D'Antoni's come in.

Fish going to the Mavs to play as their PG. He should just retire.

 

[MrMarcello]

The Heat did this last season in game 82 on the road at Washington - what about those paying fans then? Where was the uproar from Stern? Does it really matter if it is Game 15 or 51 or 82?

Nope, Stern is just being his usual egomaniacal self when it benefits himself.

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?id=320426027

 

[Danny1982]

The Heat did this last season in game 82 on the road at Washington - what about those paying fans then? Where was the uproar from Stern? Does it really matter if it is Game 15 or 51 or 82?

Nope, Stern is just being his usual egomaniacal self when it benefits himself.

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?id=320426027

Yes there is a difference MrMarcello, everybody does expect the teams to rest their players before the playoffs, so people (and TV channels) already know that before they purchase their tickets/rights. Also on the last day of the season the advertising is all about the play-offs..

Also, what made it even worse, Popovic didn't even try to cover things up by saying that they are nursing minor injuries or something legitimate like that.. He just did it as a protest against the schedule, like: Ok you give me this schedule? I'll ruin the game for you! It's that attitude that got to Stern's nerves, and we all know what a pr*ck he is.

 

[gooDevil]

David Stern stumbles again in his failed culture war against the Spurs, fines franchise $250K

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--d...-culture-war-against-the-spurs-194828970.html

Spoiler

Before the emperor of the NBA leaves his Olympic Tower office, this is the holy war that those within the San Antonio Spurs' extended family expected David Stern to eventually wage on Gregg Popovich and his program's culture. The commissioner burped that terse, threatening statement promising "substantial sanctions" to the rogue state of his totalitarian nation on Thursday night. This has been a long time coming out of the commissioner's office.

And yet, once more, Stern's tossed a temper tantrum that left everyone around him embarrassed, humiliated and wondering why he insisted on staying until February of 2014. All these years, Stern and his underlings privately complained and moaned that no one wanted to watch the Spurs, that they destroyed his TV ratings, that they were uninteresting, unappealing and impossible to market to the masses.

And now, this act of condemnation for Popovich – which resulted in a $250,000 fine for San Antonio handed down by the league office Friday evening – would be bathed in the ultimate of twisted irony: Without the Spurs' stars, Stern was selling that the NBA logo had been desecrated, that a public trust had been betrayed.

Suddenly, Stern had to issue an apology to NBA fans because Popovich sent his stars home to San Antonio at the end of a long road trip. No one in Miami bought a ticket to watch Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Man Utd Ginobili, because those players are relevant to no one in Miami. Mostly, they come to watch LeBron and D-Wade, or they don't come at all. Few people watch the Spurs on national television – unless they're playing the Heat or the Los Angeles Lakers – and that's because the Spurs never deliver the dysfunction and self-destructive bents that fuel the sport's storylines.

Stern once declared that his fantasy NBA Finals would be the Lakers vs. the Lakers, and no one laughed in San Antonio because they understood Stern was stone-cold serious. And well, if there was a little "Bleep You" out of Popovich toward Stern after shipping his players back to San Antonio after five games in seven nights, it was beyond understandable.

Back in the Spurs' glory days, it was one disrespectful act after another out of Stern.

The Spurs don't forget how the NBA's vice president of operations, Stu Jackson, directly called Bruce Bowen to warn him about how he was playing defense and threaten him with future punishments. Jackson didn't show the respect of reaching out to Spurs officials before communicating with Bowen, but bypassed them and got into the heads of one of their most important players. Phil Jackson himself couldn't have orchestrated it better on behalf of the Lakers' Western Conference championship chances.

They don't forget how one of Stern's top public-relations officials went out of her way to try to dissuade an NBA team owner from hiring a well-regarded Spurs executive as general manager. And they don't forget that once that executive got the job, she went out of her way to try to undermine his operation.

They don't forget how Stern wanted to infiltrate the inner sanctum of the Spurs with TV cameras and microphones, with the kind of phony, superficial behind-the-scenes access that went against how the franchise conducted its basketball business and kept its edge. The Spurs have been a model of efficiency and innovation that has been an immense resource for the operations of small- and big-market franchises, but the commissioner can't leverage that on TNT with Ernie, Kenny and Charles.

Popovich had Man Utd Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker skip the Spurs' game in Miami. (AP)They don't forget how Stern stood by as USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo publicly embarrassed Popovich. Colangelo went out of his way to insist his close friend Mike Krzyzewski was chosen as Olympic coach because, in part: "I think [Popovich] had a bad taste in his mouth regarding his most recent experiences with USA Basketball, some bitterness, and that came out in my conversation with him. He seemed burned out by it. … He just wasn't as enthusiastic as Mike."

There's a double-standard to how this league operates under Stern, and it won't change until Adam Silver takes over and makes it a priority to do so. When Yahoo! Sports uncovered a pattern of deliberate predraft rules violations that benefited the New York Knicks and penalized the rest of the teams, Stern did little. Brandon Rush blew out his knee in an illegal workout, Wilson Chandler was stashed for weeks in Atlanta so no one else could get access to him before the draft, and Stern fined that Cablevision empire essentially lunch money for a weekend shindig in the Hamptons with the Dolans.

Teams had talked about these violations for years and complained to Jackson's office. Brandon Rush said the NBA had never once contacted him before the Y! Sports' investigation. For two years, the charges went uninvestigated. Had the Spurs been caught doing this, there likely would've been a loss of draft picks, suspensions and millions in fines. And rightly so for the Knicks, Spurs, or anyone who tried to get away with those things. That's the double-standard that Stern runs in the NBA.

In that instance, here's a possible reason for the way the NBA never acted dutifully on its flagship franchise. The scout responsible for running those workouts? Rodney Heard. How did Heard get into the NBA? Jackson, as general manager of the Vancouver Grizzlies, hired him. Rival teams were always suspicious Heard conducted those illicit workouts on the Grizzlies payroll, too. If Rush told me about blowing out his knee as a Kansas undergraduate with the Knicks conducting an illegal workout – and then hiding it – wouldn't he have also told league investigators the same had they pulled him into their Manhattan offices and demanded the truth?

Stern never apologized to the paying public about allowing his franchise with the most resources to get away for years with this behavior. He fined them $200,000 – $50,000 less than he fined the Spurs for sitting their players – fined Heard $25,000, but never made an example out of them. The Knicks affected competitive balance, and it didn't matter that New York remained horrible. No one gets a lighter sentence for robbing a bank and dropping the money on the way to the getaway car.

Stern doesn't care about the realities of his league, just the appearances. To him, the appearance on Thursday night was that Popovich had tried to embarrass him on national television and that's why the commissioner tossed that tantrum. Apologize to the fans? In a league where the mere appearance of players on the floor doesn't guarantee preparation and effort, the Spurs never cheat the public. They're honest, in a way so few are honest. When too many others wear the uniform and yet still take the night off, the Spurs come to play – or they don't come at all.

Stern plans to retire as NBA commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014. (AP)In every way, Popovich let his players be the stars. He never self-promoted. He's never done endorsements. Stern wanted a players' league, and Popovich gave him the ultimate players' program. It was team, team, team. Only, Stern couldn't market it. He hated it. Four times they reached the NBA Finals, and Stern didn't like the TV ratings of those series.

For all of his so-called marketing genius, Stern could never sell the global appeal of Man Utd Ginobili and Tony Parker. They brought the NBA to the corners of the world, glamorized basketball over soccer, and somehow it was Popovich's failure that Stern couldn't market this to people. The NBA failed the Spurs, far more than the Spurs ever failed the NBA. After his fourth championship, I asked Popovich why he never cashed in on all the trappings that come to the immortal coaches.

"Listen," Popovich told me, "it's a player's league. I think it's very important for a coach to make sure that his players believe 100 percent – and not with lip service – that it's about them. Coaches are going to do everything they can to create that environment for them. It's not about creating an environment for us. It's a privilege to be able to coach these guys. We make enough money."

When Pat Riley scored the greatest free-agent coup in NBA history, no one called to congratulate him – except Popovich. This was the kind of power play that should've served to put him out of the championship business in San Antonio, but, still, Popovich admired it. He respected that Riles played to his strengths, Popovich played to his own, and together they would compete for the title. Popovich never tells people that his way would work for them, but it works for him and the Spurs.

Against LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, against Chris Bosh and Ray Allen, what the Spurs did in a 105-100 loss wasn't an embarrassment to the NBA, but a celebration of it. This is how a franchise ought to be run, how winning is of foremost importance. Popovich empowered his bench to hang with the defending champion Heat, and gave his group even greater confidence and belief for when they're called upon again. What happened was one of the most compelling Spurs' regular-season games, and easily the most mesmerizing game of this season.

This was a testament to the Spurs' great scouting and player development, the great coaching and discipline. This was the ultimate testament to the Spurs' way, and it didn't repulse the paying public – it inspired them.

When David Stern issued that belligerent, foreboding statement before tipoff, it was clear he believed the Spurs would get blown out and make his case for him. He never imagined San Antonio would hold the lead into the final minute.

Stern could've waited until Friday, delivered his substantial sanctions – a naval blockade on the Riverwalk, a ban on Napa Valley imports for Popovich, whatever – but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to embarrass Popovich throughout that national TV game, and wouldn't you know it: Popovich embarrassed Stern because the Spurs coach has a complete understanding of his realm, his team, his players, in a way that Stern has lost touch with that with which he lords over.

The emperor of the NBA wasn't standing up for the fan on Thursday night, but settling an old score on his way out of office, on his way to a February 1, 2014, retirement date that suddenly seems so far away. Even within a league that would've never imagined the core of the Spurs dynasty could stay on top longer than the commissioner who wished them away, the expiration date on the emperor still feels so far away. Nevertheless, make no mistake: David Stern wanted these players gone all the way until Thursday night, all the way until they became convenient devices for his failed culture war on the San Antonio Spurs.

 

[elmo]

Yes there is a difference MrMarcello, everybody does expect the teams to rest their players before the playoffs, so people (and TV channels) already know that before they purchase their tickets/rights. Also on the last day of the season the advertising is all about the play-offs..

Also, what made it even worse, Popovic didn't even try to cover things up by saying that they are nursing minor injuries or something legitimate like that.. He just did it as a protest against the schedule, like: Ok you give me this schedule? I'll ruin the game for you! It's that attitude that got to Stern's nerves, and we all know what a pr*ck he is.

Oh come on, Popovic's job is to do what's best for San Antionio and not what's best for the league. Should Sir Alex be fined for resting the likes of Rooney and RVP in our next game against Cluj because he thinks keeping them fit for City is more important?

 

[OB]

Man, another loss. Howard's FT's are really bad, missed around 11 tonight. It's going to be tough winning close games with him playing, Hack-a-Dwight and then he misses FT's, and the game's lost for us.

 

[Zen]

Coach picks his team, ridiculous that Pop is getting a fine, it was a joke when they threatened it in the Premiership, it's a joke to fine 250k in the NBA. If you're a day tripper on that day? Tough fecking luck.

All made up by Magic lol, beating the Lakers. You know the Lakers are randomly still going to the finals, but I'm still holding out they implode or some shit.

 

[elmo]

I don't get why NBA players suck at free throws, it's such a fundamental part of the game and yet some of them look like they've never practiced it before.

 

[Danny1982]

Look, I'm not defending Stern, he's a pr*ck alright.. But I'm showing you his point. The NBA wants to market the regular season games, and this won't help them do that, especially if every big team keeps doing it.

Besides, Popovic didn't even try to cover it up. Just sub a couple of players and say they are nursing minor knocks/injuries. The way he did it it looked like he did it as a protest/punishment for league, which wasn't the wise thing to do IMO.

 

[OB]

I don't get why NBA players suck at free throws, it's such a fundamental part of the game and yet some of them look like they've never practiced it before.

Exactly. It's not at all difficult. I mean, one of the easiest things around. I understand for big guys, they have bigger hands, more power, so they need to find a new technique, but it should happen eventually. Howard has been going from bad to worse. Worst FT% this year. I don't think we can win the championship with these FT stats.

 

[MrMarcello]

Yes there is a difference MrMarcello, everybody does expect the teams to rest their players before the playoffs, so people (and TV channels) already know that before they purchase their tickets/rights. Also on the last day of the season the advertising is all about the play-offs..

Also, what made it even worse, Popovic didn't even try to cover things up by saying that they are nursing minor injuries or something legitimate like that.. He just did it as a protest against the schedule, like: Ok you give me this schedule? I'll ruin the game for you! It's that attitude that got to Stern's nerves, and we all know what a pr*ck he is.

So much bullshit. Doesn't surprise me coming from a Heat "fan."

If the league is going to enforce lineups in Game 15 or 51 or 82 then they must do so in all games. It sets a precedent which is not established in the CBA or bylaws. Those Wizards fans bought tickets as well hoping to see the Heat stars and were denied that opportunity. Guess the NBA didn't care since it wasn't a big network game.

I love when personnel in the league give a big F U to Stern and his massive ego. If Stern cared so dearly about fans he'd stop the stockpiling of stars by particular teams, he would never have allowed multiple work stoppages, etc.

 

[Danny1982]

So much bullshit. Doesn't surprise me coming from a Heat "fan."

Wut??

 

[MrMarcello]

Lakers losing to Orlando at home is horrendous. Howard is such a liability late in games when opposition foul him. I'm all for a rule (and always have been) that intentional fouls late in games to send a particular player to the line should be either outlawed or that in such case the player handling the ball shoots - not the fouled player in intentional foul situations. It slows down the game, it's not within the spirit of the game IMO, and it's not a real strategy more like trying to steal a game without using offense/defense.

 

[Amir]

Look, I'm not defending Stern, he's a pr*ck alright.. But I'm showing you his point. The NBA wants to market the regular season games, and this won't help them do that, especially if every big team keeps doing it.

Besides, Popovic didn't even try to cover it up. Just sub a couple of players and say they are nursing minor knocks/injuries. The way he did it it looked like he did it as a protest/punishment for league, which wasn't the wise thing to do IMO.

It's hardly as if every team does it. Spurs themselves, who are a pretty special case because they've got ageing stars, wouldn't have done this unless this was the last away game in a string of games within very few days.

As for Popovich, why should he hide what he's doing when he's not doing anything wrong?

 

[Pscholes18]

This isn't going to go down well not that it's at the expense of Crawford but picture in whole especially in today's climate. Click the link to see the picture.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201212/embarrassing-photo-spurs-players-leaked-online

The San Antonio Spurs' bad week just got a whole lot worse.

Days after commissioner David Stern fined the team $250,000 for sitting its star players during a nationally televised game with the Miami Heat, a less-than-pleasant photo of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker has surfaced online that is sure to cause the organization another headache.

The image, which first appeared on Reddit, appears to have been taken on Halloween.

It shows Parker and Duncan, both in costume, pointing toy guns at the head of a man dressed as NBA referee Joey Crawford.

Crawford can be one of the league's more controversial referees, and once he even ejected Duncan from a game while the Spurs big man was on the bench. The league suspended Crawford for the incident.

Lightning appears to have struck the Spurs twice in the span of a few days, which is somewhat surprising for a team that has managed to avoid negative press during coach Gregg Popovich's tenure.

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Do people not have a sense of humour these days? What the heck is wrong with that photo? As for Stern and that fine, ridiculous, imagine if the Spurs won that game then what would he have done?

 

[ha_rooney]

The fine was stupid, Stern is an egotistical cnut.

That picture is distasteful but nothing more than that. I hope they don't fine the players or make them apologise for it.

 

[Pscholes18]

Do people not have a sense of humour these days? What the heck is wrong with that photo? As for Stern and that fine, ridiculous, imagine if the Spurs won that game then what would he have done?

I see it as funny but lately with all the shootings, I think many will frown upon it.

 

[elmo]

Exactly. It's not at all difficult. I mean, one of the easiest things around. I understand for big guys, they have bigger hands, more power, so they need to find a new technique, but it should happen eventually. Howard has been going from bad to worse. Worst FT% this year. I don't think we can win the championship with these FT stats.

What new technique do they need? It's all down to their lack of practice, you see some of them making mid range jumpers with a face in their head and they still make them with a higher percentage than they do with free-throws.

Howard is a liability in the 4th quarter, every team will just target him and keep the rest of the Lakers out from playing to their normal pace and denying them shots to close the gap or run the clock down. Gasol needs to a massive kick up his arse too, most WNBA players play with more intensity than him.

 

[gooDevil]

Definitely a bit of a weird season so far. Everyone expected the Lakers to come out hot, but of course they've been anything but. Other would have said that the Thunder were the other clear power in the West, but the trade of Harden has thrown that into uncertainty. After all, it was only in the conference finals against the Spurs where the Thunder seemed to be the best team in the West.

Meanwhile the Grizzlies are on fire, and all of us in the fantasy league wish we had picked up Zach Randolph, who no one seemed to want after being plagued by injury last year.

Others that are on fire so far include Tim Duncan, Anderson Varajao, Serge Ibaka, Chris Bosh and Nicolas Batum. Rookies Damien Lillard and Anthony Davis are a head about the rest of the class.

 

[MrMarcello]

Wut??

Was just feckin with you about being a Heat bandwagon jumper.

 

[MrMarcello]

This is the best referee moment ever. The man knows showtime.

 

[RDCR07]

There are rumors about Pau Gasol being traded. I hope it happens. I want a proper shooter and they are looking at Anderson which I think is a fantastic option.

 

[OB]

Another loss. Howard misses half his FTs.

 

[RDCR07]

fecking Lakers. Seriously so pissed right now.

 

[puNANI]

fecking lost my mind during that game. Just take him off if he can't put them in, it kills all the momentum. feckK

 

[elmo]

They should fine the players $1000 for every free throws they miss, and the sum donated to a charity of their choice.

Would at least do some good instead of showing what a joke some of these players are.

 

[RDCR07]

I just don't get how someone could struggle so much in terms of free throws. I mean you surely are practicing every day if you suck at something? So how can you not improve? If you can't even make 60% of your free throws, then you are useless. I mean I think even Shaq made 55-60% right?

 

[elmo]

I just don't get how someone could struggle so much in terms of free throws. I mean you surely are practicing every day if you suck at something? So how can you not improve? If you can't even make 60% of your free throws, then you are useless. I mean I think even Shaq made 55-60% right?

They don't really practice much in the NBA though, it's mostly about practicing the defensive plays for the next opponents and watching tapes. It's why there's been loads of debates about trying to increase the age requirement for players to be drafted.

Making them play college ball is much better in terms of developing their game, because coaches are sacked way too easily for any of them to bother about doing long term planning. Why bother to improve players in the long run, when you're being judged on the short term goals of wins and getting a ring?

 

[gooDevil]

Pelicans...pft.

 

[MrMarcello]

Wizards beat Miami, shock of the season for me. Granted LeBron "pissed" another triple double.

One of the ESPN NBA guys on Mike and Mike this morning claimed the Lakers lost their game to Houston because of blown defensive assignments. He mentioned the assignments blown are the types of lapses that are a result of lack of practice, i.e. once again indicting D'Antoni's reluctance to practice defensive principles. The guy is such an overrated coach. It kind of reminds me of "Nellie-ball" of coaching great Don Nelson, a guy that always had solid offensive units but defensively weak. However, Nelson is a much better coach and basketball mind than D'Antoni.

They also talked extensively about Howard's foul shooting, the negativity of constant fouling in the fourth quarter of Howard (they don't seem to agree with this tactic and believe it should be an intentional foul the entire fourth quarter), and if Howard's mind is even in LAL or more focused on July. I'm to the point where if I were Kupchak, I'd be talking with the Nets.

 

[gooDevil]

Anyone actually watching any LA games? I can't bring myself to.

Is Kobe still gumming up the offense by holding the ball while triple teamed before trying to dribble through all 3 players before heaving up a fall away jumper?