Spurs Facing Sanctions for Sitting Players - East Idaho News
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Spurs Facing Sanctions for Sitting Players

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Getty Basketball?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1354267022786Bruce Bennett/Getty Images(MIAMI) — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has made NBA commissioner David Stern mad.

Popovich decided to send players Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green on a flight back home instead of having them play in Thursday night’s game versus the Miami Heat. The Spurs were playing their fourth game in five nights and Popovich wanted to rest them before the team played the Western Conference-leading Memphis Grizzlies Saturday. But Stern wasn’t a fan of the decision.

“I apologize to all NBA fans,” Stern said in a statement. “This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming.”

Popovich has a history of resting players. Last season, he didn’t bring Parker, Duncan or Ginobili to a road game in Utah. Neither the Spurs nor Popovich were disciplined for that decision.

One issue with the Spurs not playing their best players had to do with the Miami Heat’s dynamic ticket-pricing system. The Heat charge more money for tickets to games against high-profile teams, which the Spurs are considered.

Despite all of the attention to the Spurs’ lack of stars, the game was close. The Heat won 105-100.

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