The tanking theory

I understand that many of us have a strong feeling that we are purposely thanking for that other prize. Not a championship but the no #1 draft pick. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it to get Anthony Davis and continue what Rich Cho has started. But I still can't honestly believe that the players would be involved in playing half- heartedly so they can get help next year. You mean they don't have confidence in themselves. But do we suspect the coaches are not trying to coach each game to the best of his abilities. Maybe, if Paul has time to give his son the reigns and allow him to get experience even if he become head coach here or elsewhere. If this is the case, I know the players have to suspect this and are the ok with this. This would explain, Boris Diaw lack of motivation, why would he to stay here if 1. he is not in the future plans of this team and 2. playing to lose every night has to play on your psyche. I can understand the FO being in on this with MJ going in the closet and screaming with every lost and trying to keep his composure. Let discuss and keep it civil.

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Originally Posted by superb1

I understand that many of us have a strong feeling that we are purposely thanking for that other prize. Not a championship but the no #1 draft pick. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it to get Anthony Davis and continue what Rich Cho has started. But I still can't honestly believe that the players would be involved in playing half- heartedly so they can get help next year. You mean they don't have confidence in themselves. But do we suspect the coaches are not trying to coach each game to the best of his abilities. Maybe, if Paul has time to give his son the reigns and allow him to get experience even if he become head coach here or elsewhere. If this is the case, I know the players have to suspect this and are the ok with this. This would explain, Boris Diaw lack of motivation, why would he to stay here if 1. he is not in the future plans of this team and 2. playing to lose every night has to play on your psyche. I can understand the FO being in on this with MJ going in the closet and screaming with every lost and trying to keep his composure. Let discuss and keep it civil.

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I don't think the tanking mindset it is "let's go out there and lose games," even if that is the planned result. I think it's more about not putting the pieces together that a team needs to compete in the NBA. The real disparity between the vast majority of these teams is pretty small, which is why any team can beat, and ever rout, any other team in the league. I think the organization still wants the team to be competitive and try, but it knows that it will not likely win as many games as just about every other team, most of whom are trying to make the playoffs.

I'll put it to you like this: Michael Jordan and rest of management aren't privately pleased with losses. They're simply watching the likely result of what they've put in place.

Having said that, I do think there are teams that go out and lose on purpose towards the end of the season if they're one of the worst teams.

The players obviously aren't tanking, they just aren't very good.

It's the front office who has tanked, putting the talent on the floor that you see. Terrible depth, poor contracts, no talent. They are fixing it.

It's like a bankruptcy. At some point you have to pay your debt. They made some horrible trades and made some terrible draft picks, and they're paying the price now.

Look at this team's terrible picks, look at the terrible trades, and look at the inability to sign any quality free agents, and tell me how do you get out of the mess?

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Originally Posted by Brad

The players obviously aren't tanking, they just aren't very good.

It's the front office who has tanked, putting the talent on the floor that you see. Terrible depth, poor contracts, no talent. They are fixing it.

It's like a bankruptcy. At some point you have to pay your debt. They made some horrible trades and made some terrible draft picks, and they're paying the price now.

Look at this team's terrible picks, look at the terrible trades, and look at the inability to sign any quality free agents, and tell me how do you get out of the mess?

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So far, so good actually. It's not pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but they're clearly intent on culling the mistakes and making smart decisions moving forward.

I feel o.k. about it, even though I'd like to ditch the last 22 games of the season and just go straight to lottery night.

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Originally Posted by dnbman

I feel o.k. about it, even though I'd like to ditch the last 22 games of the season and just go straight to lottery night.

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That is EXACTLY how I feel.

This is the pain we have to go through... And we will probably have another year like this one before we can make some additional moves to compliment the "hopefully good" draft picks coming our way. Glad the DVR fast forward works...

You don't have to lose on purpose. Just run a bunch of young guys out there. It really serves two purposes, young guys get more development time and the team gets a good pick.