Curry injury illustrates why you should never tank

We had a four-game winning streak (including a win against the world champs) after the trade deadline. It was a brand new team, and everything was clicking. You leave Nurkic in the lineup and wait for Lillard to come back, and you might have something special.

 

What exactly were we gonna do anyway when we already had months without dame when curry went down?

We were a mediocre team. Temporarily tanking for a better than mediocre team (or at least a chance of it) rather than "yay. We got to the second round and we're outmatched. Again."... Yeah, that sounds much better.

 

Lot of speculation to happen here that is really beside the point. However, if you want to go down that road, the expected value of a pick, while not a straight line, does go from #1 pick being most likely to make an impact, in order down to the 60th pick being the least likely to have an impact. So by tanking, the math would say the Blazers are increasing their chances of getting a more impactful player. Does it promise anything? Of course not. Also, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the Blazers pick won't be 14th, it'll be 1-8, so your hypothetical scenario doesn't even seem worth considering.

Now, does trying to win games this year with Dame/Nurk/etc as you suggest promise more success next season? Of course not. Could good things happen from it? Yes. Could bad things happen (injuries, fatigue, etc)? Yes.

So back to reality, we're playing a game of probability. A lot of NBA executives over the years, paid good money to put their teams in the best position to win/make money long term have concluded their is upside/value to tanking. Maybe all the professionals are wrong and you are right, but I'm siding with the pros on this one. Here's a good read about tanking if you'd like to understanding the good, the bad, and the ugly from it...

 

Those were Donuts and you ate them.

 

Actually I'm glad dame got that surgery and is out the rest of the year. He will be healthy next year and the family time will have done him good I'm certain with the kids. We might see the very best Damian Lillard we have yet to see and I also feel he might have put a couple more years on that body. The type of healing that is happening right now is more than just his Abs.

 

I get it then why dont we easily tank the rest of the games. Tell the coach and players for the sake of improved draft position and fans expectations go out, have fun, but let's not win the games its counter productive.
I say the Blazers win 7 of their next 11 games. Just a guess.

 

Certainly 5 of them is what I'm thinking.

 

Has the dude who started this thread not watched basketball for the past 25 seasons? This ain’t something new. And we’ve actually done this before. How is this bitch session still going? He may not like it, but its not like this is the first time this has ever happened.

 

Just curious, with you traveling with the team do you ever hear talk of tanking or improving draft position? I know you are around the organization a lot. You don't have to answer, I understand.

 

Rockets had a 7 game win streak too. One 4 game win streak doesn’t mean anything and the “world champs” didn’t have Giannis when we beat them.

 

It's a valid question but i bet you could answer it yourself. Listen to the interviews players are giving before the game. Everyone of them are about "Just trying to stay focused and play hard" "Working on my game on both sides of the floor" " Letting the flow of the game come to me and seeing if we can improve"
These players know they are tanking and they know exactly why IMO.

 

It's guaranteed to get you rest and recovery.

 

So do they try and win or just short of winning?

 

Guess it depends on if they are playing for a chance to actually become NBA players. I know if there was any question at all if I had a spot on a team I would be playing my very best ball every second I had a chance.

 

agree and I think winning is a motivator to do that, and Chauncey knows it's a-cardinal sin to to give a player nothing less.
Its management and fans that try to engineer tanks. Ask Dame Dolla

 

Lots of great players were picked there or lower including Clyde Drexler who was picked 14th. The reigning MVP (Jokic) & finals MVP (Antetokounmpo) were both available at 14 in their respective drafts too.

btw, a healthy 21-22 Warriors team minus Steph still likely mops the floor with a completely healthy Blazer team as would most of the Western playoff teams. Portland lacks contender level talent.

STOMP

 

I do think it would be in our best interest to lose the rest of our game. Sadly, we're going to be playing a lot of teams in the same boat. Having said that, I will gladly take the under on the Blazers winning 7 out of their next 11 games. They're going to be underdogs in all but 2-4.

 

I wasnt expecting the other vets like Hart & Winslow to be out rest of year? If they are I agree.