The San Antonio Spurs are the anti-establishment team of the NBA. They pay no mind to whether or not their games are nationally televised and freely alter their rotations for the benefit of the team, with little regard for the financial impact.
Rightfully so.
Per a team release, the Spurs are back at it by resting some of their biggest names for tonight’s game against the 5-0 Houston Rockets—a game that will be aired nationally on TNT.
"Marco Belinelli (mild strain, right groin), Tim Duncan (rest), Manu Ginobili (rest), Patty Mills (right shoulder surgery) and Tiago Splitter (tightness, right calf) are listed as out for tonight’s game at Houston."
This isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last, that head coach Gregg Popovich has rested his stars for a big game.
In November of 2012, the Spurs were fined $250,000 for resting starters for a nationally televised game. Popovich chose to do it again the very next season.
Criticize them as you may, but the Spurs made the NBA Finals in both seasons and won the title in 2014.
Against Houston, Patty Mills is out after undergoing shoulder surgery, which isn’t a surprise. Marco Belinelli suffered a groin injury against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, November 5, and Tiago Splitter played just 10 minutes in his season debut, making neither player a stunning scratch.
It’s Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili whose absences will be debated.
Duncan put up 17 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, six blocks and three steals in 35 minutes against the Hawks. The upcoming game against Houston is the second leg of a back-to-back, however, which has Popovich opting for caution with the 38-year-old.
Prior to this two-game stretch, the Spurs hadn’t played in four days.
Ginobili, 37, has shot just 2-of-12 in his past two games after going 6-of-13 for 20 points in the season-opener. The decision to rest him could be just as much about his quality of play as it is his age in a back-to-back.
Regardless of why it’s happening, San Antonio is certain to draw the ire of the NBA for this decision.
What else is new?