So we should see more minutes for Mills then?

Don't forget Green is out too. Lots of minutes for Neal, Mills, Splitter etc.

Does anybody think that this is kind of 'blooding' the bench guys?

They get a lot more burn, in a sold out Miami home game, and have to deliver when the heat is on.

I see it as a chance to give guys exposure before a finals campaign. Removes the 'unknown' factor for those players should they make it through?

Just a thought. I know the media rhetoric will be 'resting players' etc but I'm sure theres more thats been considered.

Diaw/Blair
Splitter/Bonner
Leonard/Jackson
Neal/Anderson
DeColo/Mills/Joseph

A deep team. Everyone gets 20 minutes....

No Leonard and Jackson either, both out injured. Spurs suiting up 9 players.

Why the hell would he rotate all 3 in the same game?? It's not about playing his bench because he could do that any time he wanted....it's not hard to sit your starters.
Makes no sense. Surely you rest one at a time to maximise your chances of winning.
I think his guard rotations this year are strange, especially after Mills' finish to last year.
But then again Mills needs to learn to pass the ball a bit more if he wants to play more minutes. 6 foot shooting guards aren't going to play much.

Great news for Mills.

I think it is a smart idea. Next game is against Memphis @ Spurs.

The coach probably thought just accept the loss to Miami and then be rested up to throw everything at Memphis.

The Memphis game is more important since they are in the same conference. Also is my understanding correct that if they are tied at the end of the season that the team that won the series gets the edge? If so it shows more reason why its important to beat Memphis rather then Miami (Until the finals when they will beat them :) )

King James,

Nailed it mate. Chances of the Spurs knocking of Miami in Miami are pretty slim. Beating Memphis in San Antonio is not only more likely, its far more important. Rest up the old stars and throw everything in a game with a lot more on the line is the smart way to go.

This sort of thing happens when you play too many regular season games in too little time.

Allegedly the starting five is:

Patty Mills
Nando de Colo
Matt Bonner
Boris Diaw
Tiago Splitter

Nationally televised game in the US. I can't imagine the networks are huge Pop fans right now.

It'll be good fodder for mind games if they meet in the finals... "sure Miami beat us in November, but we didn't have our 3 best players on the court."

Spurs lead Miami at the end of 1st quarter. Mills had a crap start, other guards doing much better, looks like he blew a good chance to have a big game in the first quarter.

It's an interesting discussion.

I don't agree with sanctions, but I don't like Pop's decision.

Playing their main 3 for 5 road games then sending them home before the last one - a bit of a middle finger to fans who've paid money to come watch that game. Sure, they still get to see "Miami vs San Antonio", but the NBA is a star-oriented league.

If people rock up to see the Heat host the Spurs, they (mostly) want to see Wade, James and Bosh go up against Duncan, Parker and Ginobli.

Not only that, it's only a month into the season. Why would you rest players a month into the season?! a month out from playoffs, maybe - a week before playoffs, sure. But a month in, these guys should have enough in the tank to do a 6 game road trip then play the next home game. Even if their main guys play restricted minutes, that's better than sending them home completely.

bet he wish he had his starters to finish of Miami in the last quarter, Spurs bench are doing great , looks like they could win.

1:4 assist to turnover ratio isn't a good look :(

Miami were lucky to get away with that win, Spurs should have won, they had a 5pt lead with under 2min to go. Mills missed the shot to tie the game.
Mills 1/7 from 3.

looks like Patty has missed an opportunity here. might be relegated down the order for back up PG. probably just ahead of Corey Joseph.

Fined 250k for resting players because it lessened the
Game quality , wtf how can u be fined for that
Surely resting players for there welfare is not
Against the rules

Whole heap of clauses etc that the teams must abide by, which the Spurs failed. They didn't notify the league, Heat or TV station within the required time frames for starters.

Embarrassing for the league when they promote the game, and then one team tanks player-wise. Probably could of got away with resting two players with 'flu-like symptoms', but not the 3 big, plus Green in one hit. Pop should of been smarter...

There is a difference between watching a game for the superstars and watching a game for the contest.