<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">How would that stop teams from intentionally losing? If anything, the teams that know they are out of it would try even harder to tank so their odds would improve.</div> That's why he's proposing an equal opportunity with all teams in the lottery.
We had that before, everybody hated that the Knicks got Ewing and claimed it was rigged. Then there is the whole Magic getting two #1 picks in a row (even though the 2nd time they had the best record of any team in the lottery), getting Shaq and Webber (who was traded for Penny). Personally I hate the idea of equal odds in the lottery, if the Clippers got the #1 pick this year, it'd be very unfair (and cause for more conspiracy talk). Who cares if Memphis or Boston tanked the last few games of the season, were they really in contention for an NBA Title otherwise? Besides losing is no garauntee, that's the benefit of the lottery, both teams could end up getting the 4th and 5th picks, this isn't the NFL where tanking can land you the #1 pick, tanking can only get you a 25% chance. That's why this is the best system they've come up with so far.
I would mind this a lot because there are people with multiple picks (via trade). Next thing you know they got the #1 and the #2 pick. Game over. Nevermind. Forgot they could lottery-protect. Still stupid idea though. Thanks Jeff for the insight.
