Greg Popovich ... the poker player!

San Antonio Spurs head coach
Greg Popovich knows his veterans
need rest in the truncated 2011-12 NBA regular season.

While Boston’s Doc Rivers clearly hasn’tlearned to trust his younger players – or save his veterans’ legs – San Antonio Spurs’ head coach Gregg Popovich – uses the perfect set of rotations between his older and younger players.

Case in point, ‘Pop’ rested star players Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in his team's 137-97 blowout loss Tuesday night at Portland, not that they cared one iota about the final score.

The main thing on Pop’s mind is apparently resting his best players in anticipation of the long haul and stretch run of the NBA regular season.

"Every team is going to do this at some point with this season," Popovich said. "Tonight was our night."

Maybe it’s me, but I think Pop’s plan for the Spurs was pure genius. Not only does it give the veterans the rest they so dearly need, but it also allows his younger players to gain valuable experience should they become a more integral component for the team late in the regular season or playoffs.