Tim Duncan and Tony Parker Benched For Being Annoying

Well, that's what Gregg Popovich said.

"Parker makes the All-Star team and becomes hard to deal with, so we're going to sit him and teach him a lesson," Popovich joked.  "Duncan says he wants to renegotiate his contract, so I said, 'Sit, I'm not talking to you.'"

Boy, that Pop is quite the card, a real wild man.  In a game against a team seeded only one spot (and now by only one game) below them in the standings, the Spurs decided it would be best to rest Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Michael Finley.  Four of the top five scorers, all out.

No real reason was given as to Finley's absence, though one would have to assume simple old age.  As for Manu, the reason given was an alleged "hip contusion" suffered at some point in the previous night's overtime win at Golden State.

Currently the Spurs are in the midst of their annual Rodeo Road Trip, and last night's game in Denver was the second of a back to back, which is never easy in the NBA.  However, the Spurs have off until Sunday, when they head east to face the Celtics.  Even if all these guys needed a night off, the next four days of rest wasn't enough?

Now, I'm not going to question Gregg Popovich on anything other than his facial hair decisions.  The man's won championships, built teams on late first and second round picks, and seems to always make the right decisions.  Though, it does seem a bit above and beyond to rest these four guys for no real reason when three of the last four years one game would've made a huge difference in the standings.

Fans at the Pepsi Center in Denver must've really been excited.  Kenyon Martin was out with tonsillitis, Chauncey Billups left the game early with a sprained ankle, and any Spurs player worth a damn was wearing warm ups or a suit.  

Scary thing?  The Spurs almost won, led by Roger Mason and rookie of three NBA games Malik Hairston. 

Sometimes, I guess, those unruly, out-of-control guys on the Spurs need to be taught a lesson.