Gregg Popovich has frequently given some of his players strategic rest over the course of the season to preserve their bodies for the playoffs and also to extend their playing careers.

The San Antonio Spurs were given a substantial fine by the NBA last season when Popovich sent Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Danny Green back home to avoid a back-to-back, with the second game televised nationally.

“You don’t want to be fined $250,000 too often, so that’s not a good trend, obviously. But we’ve been resting guys for 20 years since I’ve been here. I think it extends their careers. It’s logical that when you’re playing four games in five nights or eight games in 12 nights or some crazy thing, and your guys are getting older, you do what makes sense.”