In case you missed it, last night, on NBA TV, the San Antonio Spurs, on an eleven game win streak, faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Rose garden and were completely destroyed, losing by forty points. It was a humiliating beat-down of a storied franchise by a struggling but talented young team. Only it wasn't. Because Gregg Popovich, the man many believe is a genius and the best coach in the NBA, threw the game...
The Spurs were on the second night of a back-to-back, the third game in four nights (wins against the Clippers and the Utah Jazz), and the eighth consecutive road game. Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter were both injured in the Clipper game on Saturday night. Ginobili was sent home to San Antonio and Splitter is traveling with the team, wearing a large, expensive suit. But, with an twelve-game winning streak on the line, Greg Popovich made a decision. With a twelve-game winning streak on the line, and with another game on Wednesday Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, the legendary coach decided eleven was enough.
The Spurs starting lineup was DeJuan Blair, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Richard Jefferson, and someone named Cory Joseph. You'll be forgiven if you don't remember Joseph, a Canadian, and the 29th pick in the 2011 draft, because he logged a whopping ten seconds against the Clips.
I'm trying to decide, was this a brave, bold move by the genius, giving away a game in a tough arena to a struggling team, or was it an awful chicken-hearted decision... to actually and obviously throw a game. After all, the Rose Garden attendees paid big money for their seats, they're expecting to see Tony Parker and Tim Duncan on the court aren't they? Those players are admittedly healthy. Tim's old, sure but Parker's only 29 and played 78 games last year. And what about that winning streak? Does it mean nothing?
To Popovich, to the Spurs, yes, it means nothing. I think Popovich made a great decision. He knows his team better than anyone, he's the rare NBA coach, not worried about his job, and his team has to be weary on the Spurs long "rodeo" road trip. They just won seven games straight on the road and they beat the teams they needed to beat (Memphis, Philly, and the Clips) on alien floors. Portland? A tough arena but a struggling team, who might not make the playoffs at all. They simply are not in the Spurs post-season plans. And what do the Trail Blazers get to take away from this? Nothing. They didn't beat the Spurs, they beat a bunch of guys wearing Spurs jerseys. Pop said to himself: "Let the gods have this one, and lets see what we can do against a badly injured Nuggets team in two days."
As Clippers fan, Pop's decision probably has some empirical meaning, after all he took the Clips seriously enough to let Tony Parker play 45 minutes on Saturday and Timay 40. Which, wearing our optimism hats for a moment, can only be construed as a good thing... right?
If you're interested in car wrecks: the box.
0 recs | 51 comments
The Game Would Have Been A Lot Closer
If the Spurs had decided to play defense.
I thought I was watching a game at the HAX and that was only because it was indoors instead of here
Buddahfan - February 22, 2012
Love the HAX!
LJ Hann - February 22, 2012
I thought the Clippers were playing against Denver tonight
lovinglosangeles - February 22, 2012
In Defense of Raffo The Spurs Actually Did Play The Nuggets On Wednesday
Dec 22, 2010
Buddahfan - February 22, 2012
thursday
Spurs have the Nuggets Thursday. They were on the second game of a B2B having played Monday night with one more game before the ASB.
As it happens, I was assigned to recap that game for SBNation.
Steve Perrin - February 22, 2012
Steve, did you get my e-mail in response to yours?
lovinglosangeles - February 22, 2012
I did
Just haven’t gotten back to you yet. Sorry about that. Soon.
Steve Perrin - February 22, 2012
No worries. Just making sure you got it because I am in the process of
changing servers and don’t want any mail to get lost. That’s all.
lovinglosangeles - February 22, 2012
I didn't even see that!
I caught the pregame on NBA TV, saw the lineup and thought, “I’m gonna write about this.”
I especially like your words:
John Raffo - February 22, 2012
imagine my surprise...
I actually had to watch that mess. It’s amazing how many bad games there have been in the NBA this season. And I seem to get assigned to a lot of them.
Steve Perrin - February 22, 2012
I watch 2 or 3 games per night and never blame referees for a loss
but I think the condensed season has not only effected the inconsistent play it has also effected the officiating which has been very irradic.
PV Mike - February 22, 2012
"...has also effected the officiating which has been very irradic..."
I think your usage of “effected” (rather than “affected”) might be erratic.
I bother you about this only because I know you can take it.
John Raffo - February 22, 2012
"Effective" 2/22/12 it will never happen again.
Now where is that Poetland script.
PV Mike - February 22, 2012
I meant Thursday...
The holiday on Monday has me totally messed up.
John Raffo - February 22, 2012
When I saw out l last night
I thought it was a heady move by one of america’s greatest basketball minds. Hew and Adelman along with Karl sometimes, are awesome.
VDN………. not so much
Takebb909 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
I'm really on the fence as to whether it was brilliant or doggish...
The simple fact is Pop is one of only a few guys with the job security to get away with it.
John Raffo - February 22, 2012
More collateral damage: This killed my fantasy team last night.
Jonee - February 22, 2012
Ooh. Good point.
Pop abhors fantasy bball. You were his victim.
Takebb909 - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Brilliant move by Greg Popovich
However it could come back to bite them in the butt if Portland does make 8th seed and Spurs takeover 1st seed. Portland would definitely be looking for revenge for taking them lightly in that scenario.
Thrashkill - February 22, 2012
If I was a Portland fan paying big $$ to watch the game I would ask for a refund
PV Mike - February 22, 2012
yup
It’s a fine move on some level, though the timing does seem strange with the All Star break after just one more game.
But it’s problematic on several levels. Portland just got a free win, that teams like Minnesota and Utah and Denver (teams around them in the standings) didn’t get. What if Portland edges one of those teams for the eighth playoff spot at the end of the season? How will that team feel?
The issue of the fans is clearly another one as well – though by allowing 137 points, Pop did make it fun for most Portland fans. Spurs fans living in the Northwest wanting to see their favorite team? Those guys got screwed. This was SA’s only trip to Portland this season.
Pop can get away with it because he’s Pop, but this is something the NBA should strongly discourage. It’s problematic to say the least. Will it ultimately benefit San Antonio? Possibly. It’s just one loss, whether you lose by 40 or by 1, and if you can play Tim Duncan 40 minutes versus the Clippers and 0 minutes against the Blazers and come out of those two games 1-1, that’s better than going 0-2 I suppose. And you’d rather beat the Clippers than the Blazers given the standings. But it’s fraught. In a competitive league, there’s an understanding, almost an obligation, to compete in every game.
Steve Perrin - February 22, 2012
Yes, I agree with this...
The NBA and the players are all guilty in this… what with this compressed, too-difficult, too short season. I thought it was very strange that Pop ANNOUNCED that Duncan and Parker were sitting out. I wonder if he received a call from the commissioner. I wander if he even took it, or even called him back.
I feel certain we’ll see more of this kind of thing, but I doubt it will be so blatant.
John Raffo - February 22, 2012
I feel certain we’ll see more of this kind of thing, but I doubt it will be so blatant.
so instead of rest, Pop or one of his men will blindside Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili in the abs with a pipe a day before the “throwaway” game?
then basically report them as “bruised abs – day-to-day” ?
if this is the case, can we trade Jasen Powell to them? he’d a better scapegoat for this kind of thing in SA
KidJustin - February 22, 2012
I "wander" why you were so pedantic in your reply to PV Mike
but didn’t bother to check your own post.
ReignMan - February 22, 2012
Oof...
I am pedantic. Guilty.
John Raffo - February 23, 2012
He got it right once!
Steve Perrin - February 23, 2012
This actually raises some interesting points
Not 100% comparable I know but in English Premier League Football (or Soccer to you), teams have been hit with disciplinaries and big fines for fielding under strength teams.
For example, there have been teams fighting from relegation that have basically put out their second strings when playing a big team like Chelsea, Man Utd etc, resting those players so they are ready for a game against a rival that is situated more closely to them in the standings (and also fighting relegation).
This causes issues on different levels as you said Steve.
Firstly, what about the people who have paid good money to see the stars on the opposing team. Apart from your team, you basically go to a game to see the top few players on the opposition don’t you. By pulling them, the ticket you’ve paid for is not what you thought you were seeing.
Secondly, it affects the win total (or points in soccer) of your team and the standings around your team.
Then, it affects the win total (or points) of the team you threw the game against and all the other teams around them.
How will say Minnesota feel if they miss out by 1game on the playoffs and that game was the one thrown against the Spurs? How much revenue could they lose from a playoff series?
What about how it affects the rest of the playoffs? You know in the West how tight things are at the end of the season. An extra win for Portland and an extra defeat for the Spurs could change the whole setup of the first round in the West. And those matchups can affect how the West playoffs turnout.
I’m not saying this result will potentially change who will come out of the West but it’s just food for thought on the consequences of this move.
ClippersUK - February 22, 2012
Well everything has consequences
I feel like as long as SA is fine with losing the game, and Portland is fine winning it, there is no problem.
LJ Hann - February 22, 2012
I think that's a narrow minded view of the situation LJ
Maybe because it’s unlikely to affect us, that is affecting how you feel about it.
Look at the standings today. If Portland hadn’t won that game, Denver would be in a playoff spot. If the season were to end like that and Denver miss out on the playoffs because the Spurs threw the game, how would you feel as a Denver fan or a member of their organisation?
ClippersUK - February 23, 2012
+1
Erik O - February 23, 2012
I mostly agree... but...
Pop sacrificed a win to win further down the line, right? So, lose one on Tuesday, win one on Thursday, etc.
The problem is, when are you cashing your sacrificed games? In the playoffs. That’s unfair to the bubble teams.
John Raffo - February 23, 2012
from SA's perspective
It’s all fine from SA’s perspective. The point is that in a competitive league, choosing not to compete has an effect (noun) on other teams, not just on SA – it affects (verb) the overall standings.
Steve Perrin - February 23, 2012
soccer
I definitely had soccer in mind when I was thinking about this, but more specifically the world cup. In years past there have been all manner of shenanigans on the final day of group play — strong side A, already qualified for the next stage, taking against weak side B in hopes that side B would advance in front of side C. In a group of four teams, where each team is playing three games, it can obviously have a much greater impact — but the concept is the same. San Antonio certainly didn’t do this because they have some preference for facing Portland in the playoffs rather than Minnesota … but whenever a team intentionally does less than their best, it raises issues.
I was livid over Avery Johnson’s decision to rest his stars in a late season DAL-GSW game in 2007 when the Clippers needed GSW to lose in order to have a chance to catch them for the final playoff spot. Of course, Avery got what he deserved in that case when the Dubs knocked him out of the playoffs in the first round.
Steve Perrin - February 23, 2012
Which, of course, brings to mind 2006 when we intentionally lost to Memphis in order to get Denver in the playoffs.
That was so silly, and even though it benefited us, it felt really wrong.
Erik O - February 23, 2012
I don't care what anyone says...
I would GLADLY give away one win a year if it means we have a great coach like Pop. Besides, VDN damn near gives away games against most teams with his utter lack of any offensive system and inability to draw up plays.
82-0 - February 22, 2012
?
I don’t think I understand this. The price of having Popovich isn’t the loss of a game. He clearly did it because he doesn’t give a damn about winning streaks and wanted to give his senior players the night off.
Criticize Vinny all you want (I’m mostly with you on that), he simply doesn’t have the status, courage, or position in the standings to do the same thing. As you point out, Vinny is perfectly capable of losing games even with his best players in the lineup.
John Raffo - February 22, 2012
I would give away a win a year also
because Pop would get us like 10 wins back
LJ Hann - February 22, 2012
sacrifice good word
I don’t know about anyone else but take out duncan/parker and this team looks horrible. They have what? bonner and blair upfront with splitter? They also give richard jefferson heavy minutes and gary neal is the highlight of the bench. On what planet could we get away with this kinda team around blake and cp? we would be laughed off the court (which is apparently what happened to them). But its interesting to see the chemistry that exists between those 2 has such an impact. We need that kinda chemistry or whatever it is that those 2 guys have to make this team win. I’m personally tired of seeing blake and cp play individually to their own games to try and win, these guys gotta learn they are in this together and make a championship duo not this superstar 1/1A crap.
flightofthegriffin - February 22, 2012
We also could use a decade together
I’m sure that has just a little bit to do with it versus a few months of playing together.
ganima - February 22, 2012
I can't, in good conscience, support that kind of "basketball"
Just like I can’t support the Hack-a-Shaq defense. Neither thrown games nor Hack-a-Shaq defense is good for the spirit of the game, and they’re not what the fans paid for.
In a nutshell, they’re good for winning, and bad for basketball.
Erik O - February 22, 2012
well Hack-a-Shack can be discouraged easily
just set an off the ball foul bonus target (high enough that they either have to be complete idiots or hack a shaqing). When a team crosses that limit on the next off the ball foul the other team gets 1 free throw and the ball back.
I think the league doesn’t fix it because they don’t want to.
BelgianClipper - February 23, 2012
That's a really good idea Belgy.
ClippersUK - February 23, 2012
"I think the league doesn’t fix it because they don’t want to."
I think so too… and that sucks, as a fan.
Erik O - February 23, 2012
nice insight
There are certain things that players and coaches might do that gives them a competitive advantage — this rest scenario is one, hacking is another, flopping is a third (though in this case it’s the player, not the coach) — but if it’s not in the “spirit of the game” then it should be discouraged. Of course, it’s hard to legislate the “spirit” — that’s why we can discuss the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.
But it’s a fine line of course. Everyone would agree that it’s better to foul DeAndre Jordan and send him to the line when he’s got the ball next to the basket and is about to dunk. Why is that OK, but not fouling him at half court? Both are calculations to foul intentionally for a competitive advantage.
And then of course there was the Clippers-Grizzlies game in 2006. The Clippers HAD to tank that game. I’ve argued in the past that they had a fiduciary responsibility to lose that game. The NBA’s insane seeding of playoff teams (since modified) was the problem, but the Cilppers definitely wanted to be 6th, not 5th, and the strategy paid off with home court in the first round and a trip to the second round.
Steve Perrin - February 23, 2012
Ah beat me to it
You know, I’ve never thought about the difference between hack-a-DJ and hack-a-dunking-DJ. It really is the same, and equally lame, but perhaps because the latter comes within the flow of the game, it seems more natural?
Yep, that Memphis game always goes through my mind. Based on principle, I have to be morally against it, but in light of how things turned out, wasn’t it really for the best for the team that I love? I suppose if I blew my savings on courtside tickets to a Grizzlies-Clippers game, I’d be pretty peeved.
Erik O - February 23, 2012
No problem
Teams often do this in April
wilriv21 - February 22, 2012
It sucks in April too.
Erik O - February 22, 2012
If by the grace of God the Clips can clinch early I would be OK with The Assassin and Mad Dog Griffen taking a game off. Now DJ is a bum and could use all the playing time and experience so his skinny ass is suiting up and playing.
wilriv21 - February 22, 2012
Would you be happy with that if you bought courtside seats to the game they take a breather on?
Erik O - February 22, 2012
you know the deal there...
Let’s say you buy tickets to the final home game of the season (and we’ll ignore fan appreciation night for a moment). You know when you buy the ticket that there are some very different possibilities for that game. Maybe you’ll see a game where the two teams are tied in the standings, and the winner makes the playoffs while the loser doesn’t. That would be like seeing a playoff game for the price of a regular season game. Then again, maybe you’ll see two teams long since eliminated from the playoffs, and playing out the string, giving minutes to unproven rookies and guys on 10 day contracts auditioning for next season. Or maybe you’ll see two playoff teams, who seeding is already determined and for whom the game matters little. In that scenario, even if the coach plays the stars, it’s not as if there will be any intensity on the court.
Steve Perrin - February 23, 2012
Yeah I figured that out later in another thread
I suppose you have to know what you’re getting late in the season, and I can only assume the tickets are cheaper. But right before the all-star break (which only one of your players are invited to), it seems kind of weird and unexpected that almost all of the starters sit it out.
Erik O - February 23, 2012
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