David Stern: NBA Commissioner Sending Wrong Message by Going After Spurs

NBA Commissioner David Stern has finally had enough of the shenanigans going on in the NBA under his watchful eye.

No longer will teams—especially veteran ones—be permitted to give players a night off after playing four games in five nights.

For if a coach dares to try and rest multiple players at the same time, as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich did prior to Thursday night's game against the Miami Heat, the full force of the all-mighty commissioner's office will be unleashed upon them:

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David Stern on Spurs: "I apologize to all NBA fans...unacceptable decision...substantial sanctions will be forthcoming" cbsprt.co/SternSpurs

— CBSSports.com (@CBSSports) November 30, 2012"

I understand where Stern is coming from, really I do.

San Antonio didn't just rest players, they sent arguably their four best players—Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green—back to San Antonio before the game.

Fans in Miami didn't get a chance to see any of them play, and some of them might have been disappointed by that when they arrived to the arena.

Yet they were treated to a phenomenal basketball game that wasn't decided until the final seconds when Ray Allen's three-pointer with just over 22 seconds remaining gave Miami the lead for good.

Buying a ticket to a NBA game only ensures that you will get to see two teams play—it doesn't guarantee that your favorite player—or players—will be on the court.

Yet Stern, in his infinite wisdom, believes that this transgression is worthy of "substantial sanctions."

Where was the outrage and "substantial sanctions" when teams were clearly tanking games in an effort to improve their chances of landing the top overall pick in the NBA lottery last year?

It doesn't exist, because David Stern was cool with that. Yet he's not cool with this?

I couldn't have said it better myself. The Spurs should be up in arms over this, demanding an apology from Stern and the league office.

Actually, it might stand—but it shouldn't. 

David Stern owes the San Antonio Spurs an apology—and he should be looking to move past this embarrassing episode as quickly as possible.