Stern vs Popovich. Who ya got?

**Tre4ISU** · 11-30-2012, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by CyclonesRulzzz

Well, he has made his league better. Goodell has maintained but really has grown anything except fines. Bettman, well obviously and baseball, well, sucks in terms of viewers and growth. I would agree Stern is the best right now. The league was awful 10 years ago.

**JP4CY** · 11-30-2012, 01:21 AM

Not a huge Jim Rome fan but Stern lost all respect from me a few months ago when he was on the show.

**Jordanj6502** · 11-30-2012, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by CyclonesRulzzz

Out of the 4 Major sports, Stern may in fact be the best. Bettman (NHL) is clearly the worst, Selig is usually regarded as a good commissioner but he has presided over a decline in baseballs popularity. Goodell has gone on this player safety thing, while trying to push a longer schedule, and a less rest between games (thursday night games) for the sake of profit. Along with his authoritative rulings on fines and other issues. Stern has increased the global brand of the NBA more than any other major US sports league. And the NBA is gaining popularity in the US again.

Edit: Stern also has his moments. Like this one. And his Veto of the CP3 to Lakers trade. His Microfiber Basketball thing. Supersonics leaving Seattle. There are probably many more...

**Doc** · 11-30-2012, 01:43 AM

I hope Pop does it again after the next road trip. Great move.

**Doc** · 11-30-2012, 01:51 AM

Originally Posted by JP4CY

Not a huge Jim Rome fan but Stern lost all respect from me a few months ago when he was on the show.

Over the beating your wife thing?

**JP4CY** · 11-30-2012, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by Doc

Over the beating your wife thing?

Minimal because I've heard that saying before even though it sounds terrible. I just didn't like the whole condescending attitude.

**Farnsworth** · 11-30-2012, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by Jordanj6502

Out of the 4 Major sports, Stern may in fact be the best. Bettman (NHL) is clearly the worst, Selig is usually regarded as a good commissioner but he has presided over a decline in baseballs popularity. Goodell has gone on this player safety thing, while trying to push a longer schedule, and a less rest between games (thursday night games) for the sake of profit. Along with his authoritative rulings on fines and other issues. Stern has increased the global brand of the NBA more than any other major US sports league. And the NBA is gaining popularity in the US again.

Edit: Stern also has his moments. Like this one. And his Veto of the CP3 to Lakers trade. His Microfiber Basketball thing. Supersonics leaving Seattle. There are probably many more...

ya, when you overlook viewership going DOWN hadcore, and the whole all star game counts for something BS.

**longtimeclone** · 11-30-2012, 06:55 AM

Maybe coaches should start telling Stern how to do his job.

If Pop rests his players he is the one that has to answer to management about his coaching decisions, not Stern.

**Bret44** · 11-30-2012, 06:56 AM

Ya see, I wouldn't of know about this unless I read it from you guys. Stupid **** like this is why I don't watch the NBA. Well that and the fact that I have rabbit ears, but ya'll get the photograph.

But I did do some research as to not be the whole NBA hating DBag. Pretty fair article right here by Darren Rovell:

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dol...a-mistake#more

The nine Spurs that play minutes on Thursday night have a combined salary of $18.4 million. LeBron James alone makes $17.5 million.

And it was playing out as Stern could never imagine.

In the arena, there was the unexpected biting of nails from the Heat fans. Across the country, as word started circulating about Stern's great discontent and the fact that the Spurs were holding their own late into the game, remote controls started changing the channel to the game, which was broadcast nationally on TNT.

Some on Twitter remarked that it was the most NBA minutes they had logged all year. In a strange way, to those who had no rooting interest, the back story made the game so much more relevant.

**jbhtexas** · 11-30-2012, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by longtimeclone

Maybe coaches should start telling Stern how to do his job.

If Pop rests his players he is the one that has to answer to management about his coaching decisions, not Stern.

The NBA is an entertainment business. It gets revenue from fans purchasing tickets and merchandise, and from TV networks who pay the NBA to broadcast games...because fans watch the games. The question becomes whether it's good business practice to keep the some of the big name entertainers from performing when the fans expect them to be there.

NBA tickets aren't cheap. If Heat fans were angered because they shelled out good money and some of the premier players (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili) weren't at the game, the Heat will probably be the ones to suffer because those Heat fans may not buy home game tickets and merchandise in the future. The Spurs don't suffer. So does Miami pay back the Spurs by keeping LeBron, Wade, and Bosh at home the next time the Heat visit San Antonio? If this sort of thing gets out of hand, it will eventually start to hurt the entire league, so I can see why Stern is jumping in.

If the players need periodic mid-season rest breaks, then the NBA should designate "rest weeks" or "rest games", and offer reduced ticket prices for those games. Otherwise, if the fans are paying full price, the premier players, unless they are injured or sick, need to be on the floor.

I like Pop as a coach, but frankly, I think what he did was bush league.

**3TrueFans** · 11-30-2012, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

The NBA is an entertainment business. It gets revenue from fans purchasing tickets and merchandise, and from TV networks who pay the NBA to broadcast games...because fans watch the games. The question becomes whether it's good business practice to keep the some of the big name entertainers from performing when the fans expect them to be there.

NBA tickets aren't cheap. If Heat fans were angered because they shelled out good money and some of the premier players (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili) weren't at the game, the Heat will probably be the ones to suffer because those Heat fans may not buy home game tickets and merchandise in the future. The Spurs don't suffer. So does Miami pay back the Spurs by keeping LeBron, Wade, and Bosh at home the next time the Heat visit Miami? If this sort of thing gets out of hand, it will eventually start to hurt the entire league, so I can see why Stern is jumping in.

If the players need periodic mid-season rest breaks, then the NBA should designate "rest weeks" or "rest games", and offer reduced ticket prices for those games. Otherwise, if the fans are paying full price, the premier players, unless they are injured or sick, need to be on the floor.

I like Pop as a coach, but frankly, I think what he did was bush league.

None of that gives the commissioner any authority in telling coaches how to play or who to play though. Is it any different than if the players were injured? If you buy a ticket to see a specific player there is the possibility that you might be disappointed.

It'd be like Pollard sanctioning CPR because he took out senior starter Steele Jantz in favor of redshirt freshman Sam Richardson.

**Clark** · 11-30-2012, 08:13 AM

If this game wasn't being broadcast on TNT, I don't believe Stern would have had an issue with it. The punishment seems pretty simple to me: no more Spurs games on national tv until the playoffs.

**3TrueFans** · 11-30-2012, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by Clark

If this game wasn't being broadcast on TNT, I don't believe Stern would have had an issue with it. The punishment seems pretty simple to me: no more Spurs games on national tv until the playoffs.

Stop lying, NBA basketball isn't on TV, that's silly.

**cycloneworld** · 11-30-2012, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

Commissioner trying to set lineups, now I've seen it all.

Don't forget he vetoed the Chris Paul trade last year as well.

**Mr Janny** · 11-30-2012, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

The NBA is an entertainment business. It gets revenue from fans purchasing tickets and merchandise, and from TV networks who pay the NBA to broadcast games...because fans watch the games. The question becomes whether it's good business practice to keep the some of the big name entertainers from performing when the fans expect them to be there.

NBA tickets aren't cheap. If Heat fans were angered because they shelled out good money and some of the premier players (Duncan, Parker, Ginobili) weren't at the game, the Heat will probably be the ones to suffer because those Heat fans may not buy home game tickets and merchandise in the future. The Spurs don't suffer. So does Miami pay back the Spurs by keeping LeBron, Wade, and Bosh at home the next time the Heat visit San Antonio? If this sort of thing gets out of hand, it will eventually start to hurt the entire league, so I can see why Stern is jumping in.

If the players need periodic mid-season rest breaks, then the NBA should designate "rest weeks" or "rest games", and offer reduced ticket prices for those games. Otherwise, if the fans are paying full price, the premier players, unless they are injured or sick, need to be on the floor.

I like Pop as a coach, but frankly, I think what he did was bush league.

horsecrap. As a paying fan, am I entitled to my favorite player hitting a home run as well? Am I entitled to Tim Tebow being the starting quarterback?

There's a reason that when you buy your ticket it says San Antonio Spurs vs. The Miami Heat and not The San Antonio Tim Duncans vs. The Miami Dwayne Wades.

A coach is judged primarily by his team's wins and losses, and if Pop feels like it will benefit his team down the road to rest his players against the Heat, that is completely within his rights.