ON DECK: Popovich hurts the NBA brand

Gregg Popovich created a mini-controversy Wednesday night, sending home his three best players — Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker — before a game on national TV against Miami.

Commissioner David Stern said there will be significant sanctions on the Spurs coach.

Putting aside the fact that the short-handed Spurs still gave Miami all it could handle, benching your players for a game of this magnitude is not acceptable.

The Spurs wrapped up a six-game road trip and stretch of four games in five nights. But if Popovich really wanted to rest his guys, he could have done it in his last two games, when they played the Wizards (118-92 win) or Magic (110-89).

Instead, he uses the stage of a TNT game to throw a hissy fit about a tough schedule — he never said anything, but his actions speak volumes.

The NBA is a business, and Popovich went out of his way to hurt the brand.