The Heat rested the Big 3 in the last few games before last year's playoffs began.

He rested his Big 3 against Boston and Washington (their last two regular seasons games)

I remember one of them memorably because the Wizards won 104-70.


Stern didn't take any action then.

I understand this was early in the season, but the Spurs schedule was so nasty.

They have just done a road trip with 6 games in 8 days. The Heat was the last game on the road trip.

A coach can play who they want, when they want.

What I don't get...This is being happening for ages now. So why open this can of worms now?

What if the Spurs won, would they still fine them?

I can definitely see the NBA's point of view. Resting big guys on the eve of the playoffs is a lot different to about 15 games into the season. It is a lot easier to argue that the NBA isn't being disadvantaged because guys are resting up to go hard in the playoffs, as opposed to early in the season.

I can see both sides, but I agree with the NBA (don't necessarily agree on the size of the fine) because the Spurs crushed Orlando the night before and there was plenty of time for their big 3 to rest.

Lesson learnt, next time have them suit up, warm up and sit on the bench the whole match.

Opt, then Stern would do something worse.

Another case of Stern being Stern. Wanker.

If a coach decides to sit somebody 5 minutes before a game, he shouldn't have to tell anyone. It's what he gets paid to do, make decisions!

Oh, and only a 5 point win for the heat. Maybe Stern should fine them for almost losing to bench players

About time Stern retired

Per a statement released by the NBA: The Spurs' actions were in violation of a league policy, reviewed with the NBA Board of Governors in April 2010, against resting players in a manner contrary to the best interests of the NBA.

Resting players was clearly not in the best interests of the NBA.

NBA franchises have to be able to manage the insane amount of risk that comes with professional sports and athletes.

Pops made this decision when the schedule was first released because of the wear it would likely have on his players, and the disparity between the Spurs and HEAT in terms of "freshness" - Spurs were about to play their 5th game in 6 nights (6 in 8), had played 11 road games this season to Miami's 14 total games etc.

If Parker, Ginobili, Duncan and Green were injured and rested then this would be a non-issue. If these players weren't 100% and rested it would be a non-issue. Pops has done this in the past and everyone with half a brain understands why. After a schedule like the Spurs have had, they should be allowed to manage the risk of injury to their key players.

I understand the NBA's reasoning too, but the league policy on this issue is so ambiguous and subjective it has to be taken to court.

The league interfering with individual franchise decision-making is clearly not in the best interests of the NBA... though as much as this disgusts me, it is entertaining!

Did I mention they play division rivals, Memphis, in their next game?

While a big hit for a small market team I doubt it will deter Pop from doing it again.

Next time some 'tendinitis' or 'general soreness' may come into play!

Perhaps Sir Charles should've quizzed him about it in the 1/4 time interview.

The spurs showed how deep there bench is by pushing the heat to the wire and would have the fined the spurs if they had won that game

Players are put on the injury list all the time with general soreness so they can activate another player and the NBA does nothing about this because they probably can't be bothered investigating it every time this happens. If Pop had rested the Spurs bottom 3 players in the next game would they get another fine?

No they would clearly not get another fine because the bottom three players' omissions would clearly not disadvantage the league. Fucken

You don't see any difference between resting players now and the end of the sea... gosh...

Cuban has come out and said that the fine should've been higher. You mess with the vital TV deal, and you should be punished, etc.

Said that if it weren't a nationally televised game, he thinks there shouldn't have been a fine.

Cuban's right. The viewership of that game on Miami's local Fox station is a fraction of what it would be on national station. That's really all it's about -- viewership.

Unless Pop is an idiot, he was just playing the stupid mindgames he always does. It's as though he tries to be an asshole in the media. He sure can coach, but he's cocky and arrogant.

They justify it because it is at the end of the season -- players getting that few days rest directly before the playoffs start, so NBA viewers get a better game (fresher athletes) in the post-season.

When it is at the start of the season, players don't have that general soreness/niggling injuries and you are simply taking away from the NBA spectacle, a violation of the rule. Saving your players from niggling injuries that could potentially arise in a few months is in breach of the rule. The rule is clear enough. If it were small-time guys, although it's a contradiction (the stars have to play all the time and risk injury, while the bench guys can sit out), it wouldn't take away from the spectacle.

Maybe an over-reaction to give such a big fine, but the Spurs will make that money up quickly I am sure, so what wa the point in that. If fans pay $350.00 for a ticket and don't see the super stars, I get the disappointment and let down, but it ended up a great game with a close ending!

Maybe Stern could have thought about it before he did a Galup??

Does the ticket say Miami vs San Antonio, or does it say Lebron and co vs Parker and co? Because, unless the ticket states the players involved, then tough shit

Kind of shows the NBA is style over substance. If the Spurs rested their players and got whooped by 40 I would understand, but it was still a good, close ball game that the Spurs werent far off winning.

What the NBA is effectively saying is what happens on the court isnt our core product, it's who is on the court. Shame the Spurs didnt hold on in the last quarter and win, that would have made it a farce.

The Spurs are supposedly "boring" anyway. The audiences probably enjoyed the game more because it was less about fundamental good basketball and more about a isolation plays, one-on-five and jacking up shots willy nilly. It's better TV isn't it?

I honestly have no idea how people can call the Spurs boring (and it happens frequently). The way teams like the Lakers play is just so boring. Watching Kobe hit ridiculous shots is interesting the first hundred or so times and on occasions down the stretch, but it just doesn't cut it as viewable basketball day in day out.

The most interesting aspect of Lakers basketball is waiting for Artest to "accidentally" injure someone and Howard to lose his shit prior to an ejection.

Funny thing is, the Spurs bench are still more interesting to watch than the Lakers with Kobe/Howard or Miami with James/Wade.


ESPN and TNT should stick to teams like Spurs (even without the big three), OKC, Clippers, Boston, New York, Golden State, Portland etc.

Not even the people of Miami bother to turn up to Heat games, so many free seats available!