Gregg Popovich, Big Three absent from tonight’s game

Oct 18, 2010; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guards Tony Parker (right) and Manu Ginobili (left) and forward Tim Duncan (center) watch play from the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at the AT

Now that the Spurs have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, naturally, there is little incentive to risk injuries. In a move that will surely dissapoint ESPN, the Spurs will be without coach Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan.

Instead, the national audience will witness a Spurs starting lineup consisting of Patrick Mills, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw and DeJuan Blair. Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer will man the sidelines tonight. Yay …