It's been like that for a while now. You can name the top 6 teams before the season and the Finals is always between those teams.

The only difference is the regular season. There are the teams with elite QBs and then there are the rest. You have a few like BAL and SF that can possibly do it without one but even they have never made it further than halfway to the goal.

That's kind of strange since they didn't play last night or play tomorrow. Plus, they played Washington, and Toronto earlier in the week. Why not do it then? It's a regular season game, but you would think those players would want to play the World Champs. I understand the strategy with an older team, but I don't understand the spot at all.

Or rest a guy here and there - not all of them on a given night.

Waaaaaaaa

Pop has been great at extending Timeless Tim Duncan's career. He is smart enough to know an early season game against miami doesn't mean shit.

Because this game doesn't mean shit to the Spurs. Pop knows his team will easily make the playoffs. Why not get your young guys valuable experience against top tier talent when the outcome isn't important?

And IIRC Pop said he is managing by how many minutes they play over a set period of time.

I guess SA did play last night so that makes more a lot more sense.

I don't question his strategy because it works. As a fan, I'd like to see them play the Heat tonight though.

That's as cute as a bad chest tattoo, but the NBA is a business with paying customers. Teams charge extra for premium games against top teams. Charging customers extra to see the Heat-Spurs and then it turning into a Spurs starting lineup of Bonner-Diaw-Splitter-Mills-De Colo is bad business, plain and simple.

They have played 4 games in 5 days, but rest them against Toronto or Washington and you probably win anyway. This is outright forfeiting a game lol.

Exactly right, and Stern is coming strong with a response. I get why Pop is doing it, but it's not acceptable for what is essentially an entertainment business.

Hope the Spurs scrubs keep winning. Funny to see them get fined by the commish for winning but not the way fans and commissioners want.

Such is life for the people paying "extra" for it... good move by Pop.

Wait a minute, Stern's really going to fine them for this? I don't know if I agree with the decision but resting your players shouldn't result in a fine. The league can't be telling coaches how to run their teams.

There is no way they should fine them. It's his decision to manage the lineup the way he wants.

Only way Stern could justify it is if the Spurs got blown out by 20+. And even then there would be major backlash.