I keep seeing concern trolls here and on twitter agonizing about whether the Rox should tank.
Rox are 31-35 now.
https://www.espn.com/nba/standings/_/group/league
– If they go 0-16 from here they will end with 31-51 (Ime will not allow this). Every team from TOR down is on target to have >52 losses.
– BKN is on target to have 51. Trying to "beat" BKN in losses so that they can have a worse pick while giving OKC a shot at a better pick is moronic. Let's rule that out.
– Tactically, the Rox can only drop two spots to Utah's spot. Utah has the 2nd strongest [SOS](https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength) left in the league including multiple games v MIN, OKC and LAC. Rox are #17.
– Realistically, a "soft" tank only drops the Rox below ATL. .
Current chance of #1-4:
UTA – 20.2%
ATL – 13.9%
HOU – 9.4%
4% or 1 in 25 chance of keeping the pick. BFD. If it happens it happens. But FTJ.
https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds
– The play-in is unlikely BUT if the Rox make the Play-ins it's because JG goes on an epic Post-ASB tear that shows he can lead the team to wins that matter. He's always better post-ASB but none of these games have ever mattered before, it's just the garbage time of the season. Leading the team to a winning record over the last 16 games would show that he's still got a shot at max extension. I don't want to go into another offseason arguing with you assholes about the significance of him averaging 30PPG in 16 lost games.
– Tanking is a shit strategy by shit FOs. The belief is that just by being bad you get players that are good and then your team is no longer bad. NO. Look at what tanking did to JG. Hell, look at Wemby. Half his shots are shit. Playing hard games that matter makes players better and makes them more valuable.
JG needs to play winning D. Amen/Jabari need to learn how to dribble/create under pressure. Jock/Tate playing good for the last 16 games makes them tradeable assets. This FO has gotten used to just hoping for shit to fall in their lap. That's why they have to overpay for mid vets. Working for stuff matters.
– What would tanking entail? Shutting down FVV, DB…. JG? I am not a JG stan but he's been their best player for a bunch of games now. Are you going to kill JG's revival for a 4% better chance of drafting a guy that may not even be as good a prospect as JG was?
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In short: STFU. The Rox aren't tanking and stop dreaming of it. Reed "Jimmer" Sheppard isn't saving the franchise.
I would rather see them try, fail and learn from their mistakes. Then beat GSW on the way to the Larry O' Brien.
8 comments
Given how the previous 3 seasons have gone, and the bad habits we’ve picked up from the indifference of intentionally dropping games, I don’t want to even hear the word “tank” with the core group that we have now.
Winning and establishing a culture of winning is more beneficial than the insanely improbable odds of moving up a couple of spots in draft class that’s projected to be weak. I want our guys getting post-season experience as soon as possible. I want them to see and be a part of the fanfare that comes with the playoffs. To be invited to the dance and get an understanding of what is needed to win a series.
Trolls, all that shit should be deleted by mods
Another reason we shouldn’t overindex on those guys and Twitter in general: I’ve noticed most of them are playing out their fantasy of being a coach, coming up with weird line-ups or proposing weird replacements that make no sense whatsoever but they also have no legit proposal on how we will make sure everyone has opportunity to grow. We are already stacked with young talent that we can’t find enough minutes for. Just a bunch of folks trying to just stand out thinking they are the fantasy coach of the year who somehow will create a magical superstar line-up out of thin air.
No serious person wants to tank with this draft, that was the case before this season even started as this is a super weak draft. Even with that we are in a different phase, trying to compete.
Didn’t even need the writeup. Anybody talking about losing on purpose with a team full of young starters that need to gel and develop is an idiot. Plain and simple.
Thank you. The defeatist attitude some posters have is ridiculous.
Thank you. The defeatist attitude some posters have is ridiculous.
Rockets can’t really tank at this point since there are 8 teams doing worse than them with a lot of them by a wide margin. We just are not likely getting that pick, nor do we really need another project player.
I could see stealing a play in spot with some luck and effort just on the nature of it being win or go home. I dont really feel there’s a realistic chance of taking out the 1 or 2 seed, with Sengun being injured. That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be valuable to just let the guys playing now to try as long as possible