NBA Fines San Antonio

Greg Popovich, you ol' rascal you. 

The NBA recently issued the San Antonio Spurs a $250,000 fine for sending their best 4 players home before an upcoming prime time game of against the Miami Heat. The players included were Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Danny Green. Commissioner David Stern was quoted as saying that Gregg Popovich and the Spurs were doing a "disservice to the league and our fans." Now no one can really be quoted as saying that this move was a surprise. Gregg Popovich has been known for two things during his tenure with the Spurs: 1) Resting players in big regular season games, knowing health for playoffs is more important than regular season winning percentage, and 2) doing crazy unexpected things, much to the displeasure of fans and the league. So the question can be asked: Whats the big deal?

Most of the arguments lately that side in favor of the league on the issue of fining the Spurs over their actions goes along the lines that the players have a responsibility to the league to play and also that the Spurs violate a part of the league policy that prohibits resting players in situations that are contrary to the best interests of the league. Honestly, what a bunch of bull. For one, the players play almost 40 minutes a game, 82 games in the span of 6 months, not including the playoffs, and practice every single day for most teams with little rest in between. Some of these games are back-to-backs, even some including ending games early in the morning of the day of the next game and flying a plane in order to get to the next one. Secondly, the coach has full control over how much he wants to play his players and the strategy he wants to use in order to not wear out his best players. So what does the league have to do with this?