Options 2/4/5 would fit my definition of tanking, even though I don't think option 5 is happening in the league. Options 1/3 seem more like "rebuilding" than "tanking".
Using "live by the 3, die by the 3" on a Blazers team lacking skilled shooters from deep. Coach Billups wants his guys to keep firing away, even if Portland bricks 10-15 in a row. Mosh pit offensive rebounding. When the opponent grabs a defensive board with room to manuever, opponent fast breaks are frequent and successful. Get back get back! Pull up game highlights, and you'll see non-turnover opponent fast breaks. Where'd all the Blazers go ?? Oap.. there's a 4th Blazer lightly jogging back.
Only in the second half.... so technically just the 2024 Blazers. I don't think we were tanking in the first half when we were playing Simons/Ayton/Brogdon/Grant.
I think when people get angry about tanking they're talking about options 2 and 4. When the best players on the team are held out when they are able to play, in an effort to increase losses and therefore lotto odds. I don't think rebuilding, even a youth rebuild is considered tanking but it does quite often end up with a team getting pretty high lotto odds. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that most fans who complain about tanking really hate the inorganic nature of trying to lose by not putting your best players out there.
I agree with Tince's and blazerkor's posts. Let's get real though, until the league sends out a warning and comes down hard on teams that employ tanking practices, it's going to continue. The potential rewards are too great.
