Gregg Popovich elected to institute a questionable set of decisions during Thursday's contest against the Miami Heat, and the San Antonio Spurs ultimately paid the punishment—a controversial $250,000 fine.
He chose to sit stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, as well as prominent role player Danny Green. Popovich did this to give them some rest, and to increase San Antonio's chances of success against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The move was made in response to their strenuous schedule, with the Miami matchup being the team's fourth road game in just five days. The Heat, on the other hand, were in a much more favorable situation, having only played two games in the previous eight days.
Even with their starters, Popovich likely viewed the game as a lost cause. He ultimately chose to sacrifice the game in return for future success.
David Stern imposed sanctions following his decision, stating that the move was a "disservice to the league and our fans." However, while the fine itself is catching headlines, the game's result is an enlightening outcome in and of itself.
The Spurs starting lineup featured the ...
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Article written by Garrett Jochnau
Loss to Miami Ensures San Antonio Spurs Are Contenders
December 1st, 2012 by Garrett Jochnau Leave a reply »
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