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San Antonio Spurs Shouldn’t Care About Remarks From Phoenix Suns Owner

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Most NBA fans wouldn’t bat an eyelash at a Phoenix Suns’ 121-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, which took place last Thursday. No one really puts much stock into a preseason game, but it wasn’t the game that made headlines. It was the lack of a game that caused Phoenix Owner Robert Sarver to apologize for a poor showing from the Spurs.

During a timeout at about the 2:31 mark of the fourth quarter, Sarver angrily grabbed the microphone at courtside and made an announcement over the the PA system. He apologized to Suns fans for the blowout they had witnessed up to that point and urged fans to mail their tickets back in for a personal gift from the Suns’ executive.

Sarver’s impromptu rant referred to the fact that the Spurs had made the trip to Phoenix without Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills and Tiago Splitter. Of course, the game would’ve been more competitive with the bulk of the offensive scoring in the lineup for the Spurs, but this was a preseason game.

The game was against the semi-competitive Suns team and had no bearing on anything. If Popovich feels like resting his players and preparing for a repeat campaign, then that is his business. Of course, the NBA is a business and Sarver obviously felt his profit was being affected somehow.

This isn’t the first time Popovich has decided to rest his players. In December of 2012, the NBA fined Popovich $250,000 for sitting Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili in a nationally televised game against the Miami Heat. There is no doubt that this issue will continue for as long as Popovich is heading the San Antonio attack.

In the two previous preseason games for the Spurs this year, Popovich had played his stars extensively. Many of the big names that sat out against the Suns had logged significant minutes this preseason or were suffering from injuries. The Spurs have nothing to be sorry for and don’t be surprised if the same decision is made for the remaining preseason games left on their schedule.

Winston Harris is a San Antonio sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @winstonharris34. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.

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