More Proof that the League treats us like crap

[mac]

its simple: the nba likes to protect its winners, because its winners = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. i mean, christ, the nba is actually considering sanctions against the spurs because gregg popovich thought it best to rest his star players last night after a brutal stretch of four games in five nights, their sixth game of a road trip, and their 11th road game in november. but of course, it was a tnt matchup against the heat, which, again, = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for the league, so how dare the spurs do what's best for their franchise's success?! i mean, they're only one of the most stellar examples of small market management, coaching, and longevity in all of professional sports, and the nba wants to punish them for doing what they've done best in the last few years: keeping their team in the playoff hunt by carefully managing their rotations. its bull****. what i love about gregg popovich, though, is that he'll stand by his decision and refuse to care one iota for what the nba or anybody else thinks about his process...

as for rajon rondo, he, like demarcus cousins, has a history of temper tantrum, and the league also has a history of punishing him for it. however, he plays for the boston celtics, one of the most storied franchises in the history of the nba, and a team that must play well for the eastern conference to look like anything other than a joke when compared to the western conference. rondo sets the tone for his team. as he goes, so do the celtics. the league will not suspend him for any longer than they deem good for the nba, rather than for the sake of fairness. demarcus cousins plays for the sacramento kings, a beleaguered franchise that the nba has had to pour countless millions into just to try and keep them afloat in their small market, so of course the league has no interest or investment in treating him or the kings fairly. parity, my ***...

I thought Inside the NBA provided some pretty good coverage and opinions on this. Webb and Kenny Smith were basically saying that Pop has always been doing this - that he was one of the first to start resting his guys at the end of the season, and then other teams started following suit. I don't know how true that is but it makes sense. They were saying as far as Pop's responsibility towards the Spurs goes - what he did was perfectly fine and was a good move. But in terms of the spirit of basketball and the game, it wasn't so nice for fans. I mean come on, if I traveled all the way to the states for a Heat-Spurs game and Duncan Parker and Ginobili don't play I'd be pretty upset. Both sides of the argument have their merit.

 

[Glenn]

You'll get over my rudeness! Or maybe you'll cry like your boy DeMarcus! The fact that you still don't think it warranted an ejection just shows your lack of basketball IQ and an understanding of the game. Keep drinking the Kool Aid!

Yet you think I post good notes. Somebody is confused.

 

[bloom]

The Positive View: Maybe the league is doing the Maloofs a favor by saving them money so they can put it towards a new arena & keeping the team here.