Fine the Spurs? Don't you dare, Stern

David Stern says he's going to punish the Spurs for resting their star players on Thursday night in Miami. He says "substantial sanctions" are coming. I think that would be a substantial mistake.

David Stern is way out of line if he punishes San Antonio.

As the head coach, Gregg Popovich has the right to sit or start whomever he wants. It's not like this is the first time he's done this, either. He has routinely rested Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker over the past couple years. All this guy has done since becoming head coach in 1996 is make the Spurs one of the best franchises in the NBA (maybe in American pro sports) and won four NBA titles along the way. I think we can trust he is doing what is best for his franchise.

Ultimately, Popovich just wants his best players healthy for the playoffs, when the games really matter. Remember what happened last season? The Spurs gained momentum late in the year, passed the Thunder for the best record and top seed in the Western Conference and made a deep run in the playoffs. Only an amazing rally by Kevin Durant and company kept the Spurs from reaching the Finals. Still, Popovich's strategy to rest his stars throughout the 2011-12 season worked because his team was healthy and playing extremely well in June.

David Stern has no right to tell teams which players to start and sit. He can be upset about it. He can complain openly, but he cannot dictate who starts and he certainly should not fine a team for it. That's not his job. It is Popovich's job to decide what is best both short-term and long-term for the Spurs. History has shown he does that job quite well.

What if Stern forced the Spurs to play their starters and Tim Duncan went out there and got injured and missed two months of action? Then how would Stern look? This was the Spurs' fourth game in five nights. It made perfect sense to rest some guys. Granted, I'm not sure why 30-year old Tony Parker and 25-year old Danny Green needed a full night off, but I'm not the coach.

I'll also say that I don't get why Pop can't spread out the rest for his guys: rest Duncan on Wednesday, Ginobili on Thursday, etc. I'm also not sure why the guys couldn't at least be in the arena, maybe sign autographs for any fans who really wanted to see them or at least be there in case the Spurs had foul trouble or injuries and needed them. Again, though, I've never coached a game in my life. Popovich has four NBA championships.

If Stern is going to fine Popovich for the lineup he put out there for one game, shouldn't he fine the Wizards and Bobcats for the trash they put out there every single night? Now, those teams are punishing the fans.

I get Stern's disappointment. This was a nationally televised game between two great teams. He wanted the stars to come out. Maybe he should have made sure both teams had a couple days' rest before the game if it was really that important to him. Sure, if I was a fan at the game, I'd be bummed I didn't see Tim Duncan, but that's the breaks sometimes. The ticket you buy guarantees you nothing but a seat in the arena.

Popovich knows what he's doing. Let him coach his team.

Counterpoint: the news of the rested players and the Spurs' surprising play (they only lost by 5) actually made the game really exciting and a lot of people watched to see what happened. I bet the ratings were good by the end of the night.

Punishing the Spurs would open a big can of worms for the NBA. Will teams demand he punish teams for tanking late in the season to improve lottery odds? Will players demand that teams that have clinched playoff berths continue to play their starters late in the year? What if a star player and a coach are feuding and the coach sits that player? Can Stern step in and force him to start? No way.

Stern has done a nice job as commissioner, but he is really overstepping his bounds here. Leave the Spurs alone. Popovich knows what he's doing. Just look at those rings on his finger. No other active coach has more.