The Warriors "won't be fined by the NBA" for resting Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala on Saturday against the Spurs, according to a source cited by Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY. The game held potential playoff implications and was being broadcast nationally in primetime on ABC, and for these marquee matchups going forward, closer attention "must be paid to the schedule." The issue of teams resting players "isn't going away" (USA TODAY, 3/13). Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that his decision was "strictly due to health concerns and the fact that the Warriors will have been on the road for seven of their past eight games" (ESPN.com, 3/11). Kerr: "I genuinely feel bad for the fans who bought tickets and came to see Steph or Klay or Draymond, but I have to do what I have to do. Our team has been through the wringer the last couple weeks" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/12). Curry said of not playing Saturday night, "Our coach's job is just to put us, as a team, in the best position to be healthy, to be fresh and ready for what we're gearing up for, a playoff run. ... He basically made the decision for us and you go with it. I obviously understand the repercussions from a fan's standpoint and anything can happen over 82 games, but we're trying to be healthy for the playoffs” ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 3/13).
SCHEDULING CONFLICT: In S.F., Connor Letourneau wrote Kerr sent an "emphatic message to the league: No TV ratings or disgruntled fans will trump his duty to prioritize the health of his players." It was a move "rooted in months of consultation with his training staff, one that Kerr hopes will push the NBA’s schedule makers to be more mindful about the toll chaotic road stretches take." With a league-high 28 national TV games this season, the Warriors are "set to log a league-high 54,736 miles." That is nearly 10,000 more miles than the Kings, "located only a 90-minute drive away" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/13). NBCSPORTS.com's Kurt Helin wrote if one were to "think blame needs to dished out," it has to "start with the NBA and its scheduling." In the quest to "get the ratings-driver Warriors on more national games, the Warriors finished a gauntlet of eight games in eight cities in 13 days Saturday night" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/11).
REKINDLING THE DEBATE: In San Jose, Anthony Slater wrote the game was a "nightmare for ABC's national broadcast" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/12). In S.F., Bruce Jenkins wrote the game was "one of the strangest of any NBA season, rekindling a debate that becomes more heated each year." ABC’s Mark Jackson was "appalled by Kerr’s move and called it 'the wrong message to send to fans'" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/12). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes the NBA "has a major problem." Jones: "I get it. Kerr is doing what is best for his team. But this cannot continue." This was a "major embarrassment for the league, and it was great to hear the ABC announcing crew, which had the game in prime time, heavily criticize Kerr's move" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/13). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "I just look at the Warriors and I'm like, you couldn't sit them down against Minnesota?" Jones said he has "always had a frustration" of sitting stars, as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich "seemed to take a great level of joy in sitting his players before the TNT game." Jones: "Come on man, you know that this is what pays the bills. This is what America is here to do, watch these games in these showcases" (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 3/13).
DO FANS DESERVE BETTER? The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan said, "When Steve Kerr withholds Curry, Thompson, Green and Iguodala just because, we have entered full refund territory." The Detroit Free Press' Mitch Albom said, "You could save up all year to see that game and half of the players aren't even there by coach's decision. That's absolutely wrong" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 3/12). ABC's Jeff Van Gundy said, "Once again the fans are told, you don’t matter. Pay us up front, we’ll take your money and then we’ll give you whatever product we want to" (USATODAY.com, 3/11). ESPN.com's Michael Wright wrote under the header, "Warriors-Spurs Matchup Turns Into Battle Of Backups; Fans Not Pleased" (ESPN.com, 3/11). USA TODAY's Matt Tynan wrote it was an "odd evening" (USATODAY.com, 3/12). The MERCURY NEWS' Slater wrote, "Was the decision to rest all their main, marquee guys on the league’s ABC showcase -- completely stripping the matchup of intrigue and, likely, ratings -- a form of protest against the travel burden? Kerr and the players say no" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/12).
