Spurs fined: Popovich's role players no 'disservice' to NBA

Some rules seem made up, so arbitrary they only emerge at the most case-specific time. It's like when a kid eats cake for breakfast and mom scolds them. Why? Because she said.

The latest policy seemingly crafted from this logic is cited as the grounds for David Stern's $250,000 fine of the San Antonio Spurs after they benched starters Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green for Thursday night's game vs. the Heat.

Stern's statement reads as follows:

"The result here is dictated by the totality of the facts in this case. The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early-season game that was the team's only regular-season visit to Miami. The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media, or the league office in a timely way. Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans."

The league further said the Spurs rested players in a manner "contrary to the best interests of the NBA."

Stern's ruling is a slap in the face to the little guys, a staunch but indirect way of telling them they don't matter. 

What Stern essentially sets forth is that no one wants to see you, Tiago Splitter or Boris Diaw. You guys starting a game (gasp) is a "disservice" to the fans. 

But see, a funny thing happened Thursday night. Gregg Popovich's backups almost beat the vaunted superstars of the Heat, who squeaked by 105-100 in a game that came down to the final minute.

It was no disservice to competition. The fans in attendance didn't see Duncan or Parker take on LeBron but they saw a good game. Encouraging the effort of the Spurs' role players against the defending champions is what actually should have been done.

However, in Stern's backward perspective, this comes off as a blow to the NBA 'image,' a nationally-televised game that didn't go as planned. Their superstar-centric marketing strategy was splintered by the Spurs. 

It really always has been by Popovich, the mastermind of the inconspicuous mini-dynasty of the 2000s, his Spurs the winners of three titles in five years between 2003 and 2007. They had stars like Duncan but did it quietly with tough defense and team contribution. Not the ideal NBA model of flash and pizzaz. 

With its fine, the NBA is overstepping any reasonable bounds. There's nothing in writing that spells out the "best interests" of the league. It's simply a subjective catch-all that any logical observer can surmise is the jeopardizing of star vs. star matchups. 

Punishment was set forth for a failure to inform the Heat, according to the statement. It is now a coach's responsibility to let the opponent know their lineup and gameplan? 

If Popovich wants to bench his starters, he damn well should have permission. It's his team in a November game, part of an 82-game regular season that can look rather unimportant when teams under .500 reach the playoffs in the eight-team model. 

Popovich is being reprimanded for nearly winning without his stars because it's not what the NBA wanted. 

That's not a good precedent to set. You wonder how far the league will go to ensure its "best interests." 

Sorry Gary Neal - the commissioner doesn't respect you or Matt Bonner or Popovich and his strategy. But go ahead and please keep doing the league a "disservice." Ultimately it may do the status quo some good.