Hey, David Stern

[chancito1]

So now what's gonna happen is when players need a rest they will come down with flu, stomach bug, sprained ankle or some other injury. There is no rule in the nba that states players must play. This is a BS fine and I hope they appeal it. Stern is a freaking idiot

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

Rdiculous.

[Lungbustr]

I'll start this by saying I could care less about basketball. But I believe what they are trying to do is BS. The man is just trying to do what he thought was best for his players. Everybody doesn't have to like it.

[awatsonjr]

He sent the 4 players home without telling the league office, the media or the heat I think that's what stern is saying. The folks in south beach come to see the big 4 there. Regardless if the 4 pop sent home would have played or not would not have affected ticket sales or attendance. They sale out every game whether it the spurs in town or the wizards.

[herzog11]

Ya

[trjones87]

They were fined 250,000!!!!!!

[MikeTCU]

Happens all the time at the end of the season.

and preseason. Not sure what to think on this topic, but it sure does suck to pay a crap load of money to see NBA's best only to be dissapointed and not because they are hurt. Not sure a fine is in order, but I can see why the NBA has a problem with it.

[cosmiccowboy]

and preseason. Not sure what to think on this topic, but it sure does suck to pay a crap load of money to see NBA's best only to be dissapointed and not because they are hurt. Not sure a fine is in order, but I can see why the NBA has a problem with it.

Looked to me that the 9 guys the Spurs played gave the Heat all they could handle.

[Speedgoat]

You guys actually watch basketball while there is football still being played?

[TENRMORE]

bball

I think the bigger issue is for fans in Miami who paid to watch the match up for superstars that were disappointed. I usually don't agree a lot with Stephen A Smith, but he had a valid point last night. He said, "if you want to rest them, rest them at home, where fans have a lot of opportunities to watch these guys play". I have to agree, if I was a Spurs fan and lived in the Miami area and spent that much money on tickets (BB is not cheap) I would have been disappointed. I don't care that it was a close game, I could have watched that at home on tv. I go to watch great players play in person. Its the very reason ticket prices are higher when superstar teams come to town rather than the bottom dwellers. Stern was ****** because of how it looks to the fans. You Spurs fans don't care because you are looking at the long term goal and agree with it, but fans of other teams might. Again, I'm sure that game was under the "premium" pricing based on the fact that it should have been full of superstars. I think that is what upset Stern. Me, I personally don't care about either team

I totally agree...

[MikeTCU]

Looked to me that the 9 guys the Spurs played gave the Heat all they could handle.

Sure, didnt say they didnt. Was actually a great game. Its a superstar league. You dont pay to watch parker, ginobili, duncan, and green sit at home. Upcoming schedule was no worse than last year on a strike shorten season where some teams played 4 games in a row.

On another note, $250,000k Team fine is not that unprecedented. Cuban was fined 200K for rushing the court, and $250,000 for talking bad about the officiating after the 2006 finals.

[JSF]

Stern is a lot like Jerry, he's a tool. These guys have egos the size of Texas. Can't stand either one of them.

This

[cosmiccowboy]

Sure, didnt say they didnt. Was actually a great game. Its a superstar league. You dont pay to watch parker, ginobili, duncan, and green sit at home. Upcoming schedule was no worse than last year on a strike shorten season where some teams played 4 games in a row.

On another note, $250,000k Team fine is not that unprecedented. Cuban was fined 200K for rushing the court, and $250,000 for talking bad about the officiating after the 2006 finals.

I really like watching good team basketball.

I know the league pimps it's superstars but I personally like it when a team of "scrubs" takes the superstar loaded Heat right to the last 25 seconds to see who wins and loses.

[Tcooper93]

Do you really think the people that were at that game were there to watch Duncan, Parker, and ginobli..?
They went to watch their boys, James, wade, bosh, ect not the spurs players. And in top of that they got to see a great game.
Stern over reacted and I have yet to see anyone on tv take his side completely. He'll probably have a apology by the end of today or tomorrow

Exactly. I am a Mavs fan but Pop is my new hero!
Stern hates the Spurs and Popovich. The NBA has 82 games in the season. It's early and they had 4 games in 5 nights. If the coach wants to rest his players that's his decision to make...not the commisioners. I definitely see both sides of the issue. But, the fans in Miami are there to see Wade, LeBron, and the other goofy looking guy...not Genobli, Parker, and Duncan! I think Pop did this on purpose to embarrass Stern. I say good for him! Stern acts like a dictator and he did this to send a message to the Spurs. There is no rule that Pop broke. The fine is ridiculous. Pop's only mistake was not making up silly injuries for his starters and then sitting them on the bench. I was hoping the Spurs would win (and they almost did)...maybe Pop proved his point by making this game go down to the wire with the Spur's reserves vs. the Heat starters. Stern must leave!

[Dale Moser]

Stern probably should be careful not to pick fights above his pay grade. As much as I dislike the spurs, Pop is the godfather...and he doesn't give 2 wet farts what Stern thinks, says, or does. Truth is, he has more REAL power than Stern.