Race to the bottom: Who's our biggest competition?

[440BB]

Even with that limited lineup Diallo, Jackson and even Cook could go on a run against a depleted Heat squad.

[flow]

Boston's hanging in there so far. Up 1 after 1.

[Manocad]

Butler's tightened back changed everything yesterday, and hence today as well. The Heat were favored by -4 at Milwaukee prior to the Butler news. They would likely have won the game, making their game today important. By tip off, with Butler out, the line had moved to Milwaukee -5, and they won easily.

So now, Miami will be locked into the #6 seed, with nothing to play for, as long as New York beats Boston at 1:00. That line right now is NY -11. Not only is Boston locked into #7, but they have a play-in game on Tuesday. They'll be resting everybody. Which is too bad, because NY did play a tough overtime game yesterday and would probably be vulnerable against a decent nba roster.

Point is, if NY wins, Detroit will have to fight for this loss tonight. Miami won't care, plus they're on a back-to-back. As much as I've praised Casey over the last couple of days, and as pleased as I am with what Weaver's done, playing Joseph or Plumlee or anyone else who could potentially tip the scales against a team with Zero interest in playing the game, would tarnish it. They can't be that careless.

.

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

[NYPiston]

Well, tonight is going to be a nail biter but to be honest, win or lose it doesn't effect their positioning for a top 4 pick much at all. It's about securing far better odds for a top 5 pick and to prevent the chance of falling to 7 or 8 which most of us will agree doesn't matter much whether they end up 6,7 or 8.

Personally, I think this is a 5 player draft so I place a little more importance on tonight's result compared to those who don't think much of Kuminga. That 80% shot at a top 5 pick would look awfully nice to me.

On another note, why is Plumlee playing tonight? That's a headscratcher.

[flow]

Butler's tightened back changed everything yesterday, and hence today as well. The Heat were favored by -4 at Milwaukee prior to the Butler news. They would likely have won the game, making their game today important. By tip off, with Butler out, the line had moved to Milwaukee -5, and they won easily.

So now, Miami will be locked into the #6 seed, with nothing to play for, as long as New York beats Boston at 1:00. That line right now is NY -11. Not only is Boston locked into #7, but they have a play-in game on Tuesday. They'll be resting everybody. Which is too bad, because NY did play a tough overtime game yesterday and would probably be vulnerable against a decent nba roster.

Point is, if NY wins, Detroit will have to fight for this loss tonight. Miami won't care, plus they're on a back-to-back. As much as I've praised Casey over the last couple of days, and as pleased as I am with what Weaver's done, playing Joseph or Plumlee or anyone else who could potentially tip the scales against a team with Zero interest in playing the game, would tarnish it. They can't be that careless.

.

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

For Detroit - Last game of the year. Last game for guys to make an impression.
For Miami- Last game before games matter. When do we go to Milwaukee?

That's the difference.

Hope you're right, though. The line movement, if any, will be telling in the hours leading up to the game. It's presently Miami -5.5 with only Butler listed as out. The Suns were -9 @ San Antonio until Booker and Paul were scratched about 1.5 hrs before tip. Line was down to -2 by the time the game started. Spurs are leading by 9 at the half.

[Snakebites]

Well, it was a nailbiter in New York but the Knicks pulled it off.

So the Heat are officially playing for nothing today.

[DetroitSho]

Butler's tightened back changed everything yesterday, and hence today as well. The Heat were favored by -4 at Milwaukee prior to the Butler news. They would likely have won the game, making their game today important. By tip off, with Butler out, the line had moved to Milwaukee -5, and they won easily.

So now, Miami will be locked into the #6 seed, with nothing to play for, as long as New York beats Boston at 1:00. That line right now is NY -11. Not only is Boston locked into #7, but they have a play-in game on Tuesday. They'll be resting everybody. Which is too bad, because NY did play a tough overtime game yesterday and would probably be vulnerable against a decent nba roster.

Point is, if NY wins, Detroit will have to fight for this loss tonight. Miami won't care, plus they're on a back-to-back. As much as I've praised Casey over the last couple of days, and as pleased as I am with what Weaver's done, playing Joseph or Plumlee or anyone else who could potentially tip the scales against a team with Zero interest in playing the game, would tarnish it. They can't be that careless.

.

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

At this point I can't wait to just lose this game so these takes can die. Miami 1-15 are pretty balanced. Even though Butler is the main star he's not far away the best player on the team game in and game out. If they're only playing with players 4-15, that's still better than us playing what we're throwing out there.

Also, there's possibly a player looking to have a game that sticks out in the coach mind that guarantees him more of a look in the playoffs. Kendrick Nunn, I'm looking at you. Again, there's a big difference in them not needing to win and us straight up needing to lose.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Manocad]

Butler's tightened back changed everything yesterday, and hence today as well. The Heat were favored by -4 at Milwaukee prior to the Butler news. They would likely have won the game, making their game today important. By tip off, with Butler out, the line had moved to Milwaukee -5, and they won easily.

So now, Miami will be locked into the #6 seed, with nothing to play for, as long as New York beats Boston at 1:00. That line right now is NY -11. Not only is Boston locked into #7, but they have a play-in game on Tuesday. They'll be resting everybody. Which is too bad, because NY did play a tough overtime game yesterday and would probably be vulnerable against a decent nba roster.

Point is, if NY wins, Detroit will have to fight for this loss tonight. Miami won't care, plus they're on a back-to-back. As much as I've praised Casey over the last couple of days, and as pleased as I am with what Weaver's done, playing Joseph or Plumlee or anyone else who could potentially tip the scales against a team with Zero interest in playing the game, would tarnish it. They can't be that careless.

.

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

For Detroit - Last game of the year. Last game for guys to make an impression.
For Miami- Last game before games matter. When do we go to Milwaukee?

That's the difference.

Hope you're right, though. The line movement, if any, will be telling in the hours leading up to the game. It's presently Miami -5.5 with only Butler listed as out. The Suns were -9 @ San Antonio until Booker and Paul were scratched about 1.5 hrs before tip. Line was down to -2 by the time the game started. Spurs are leading by 9 at the half.

Last game to make an impression? After 72 games ONE GAME is going to make a impression that wasn’t already made? Come on, dude.

And the Pistons can secure the second worst record by losing which gives them at worst the 6th pick vs 8th. So they ARE playing for SOMETHING, whereas a team that has nothing to play for will ALWAYS try to win, at least relative to the players who are on the floor. Given a choice between winning and losing where neither makes a difference in the grand scheme, the players on the floor are always going to try to win.

[Manocad]

Well, it was a nailbiter in New York but the Knicks pulled it off.

So the Heat are officially playing for nothing today.

Except a win, whereas the Pistons actually gain if they lose.

Some people seem to forget that players have pride and egos, so it’s not like they walk onto the floor thinking “This game doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme so I’m not even going to try, and if I play like crap and we lose, oh well. Doesn’t matter.” We see it every year in every sport —teams that have nothing to lose (eliminated from the playoffs) will often play their guts out against a much better team. Why? Just for pride/ego/bragging rights for THAT game.

[flow]

Butler's tightened back changed everything yesterday, and hence today as well. The Heat were favored by -4 at Milwaukee prior to the Butler news. They would likely have won the game, making their game today important. By tip off, with Butler out, the line had moved to Milwaukee -5, and they won easily.

So now, Miami will be locked into the #6 seed, with nothing to play for, as long as New York beats Boston at 1:00. That line right now is NY -11. Not only is Boston locked into #7, but they have a play-in game on Tuesday. They'll be resting everybody. Which is too bad, because NY did play a tough overtime game yesterday and would probably be vulnerable against a decent nba roster.

Point is, if NY wins, Detroit will have to fight for this loss tonight. Miami won't care, plus they're on a back-to-back. As much as I've praised Casey over the last couple of days, and as pleased as I am with what Weaver's done, playing Joseph or Plumlee or anyone else who could potentially tip the scales against a team with Zero interest in playing the game, would tarnish it. They can't be that careless.

.

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

At this point I can't wait to just lose this game so these takes can die. Miami 1-15 are pretty balanced. Even though Butler is the main star he's not far away the best player on the team game in and game out. If they're only playing with players 4-15, that's still better than us playing what we're throwing out there.

Also, there's possibly a player looking to have a game that sticks out in the coach mind that guarantees him more of a look in the playoffs. Kendrick Nunn, I'm looking at you. Again, there's a big difference in them not needing to win and us straight up needing to lose.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

Nunn is a starter and plays 30 mins per game.

[flow]

And here it is. The other shoe.

Read on Twitter

[Snakebites]

Well, it was a nailbiter in New York but the Knicks pulled it off.

So the Heat are officially playing for nothing today.

Except a win, whereas the Pistons actually gain if they lose.

Some people seem to forget that players have pride and egos, so it’s not like they walk onto the floor thinking “This game doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme so I’m not even going to try, and if I play like crap and we lose, oh well. Doesn’t matter.” We see it every year in every sport —teams that have nothing to lose (eliminated from the playoffs) will often play their guts out against a much better team. Why? Just for pride/ego/bragging rights for THAT game.

If the players are on the court, absolutely.

[DetroitSho]

The "whatever can go wrong, will" is thick AF in this thread.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[DetroitSho]

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

At this point I can't wait to just lose this game so these takes can die. Miami 1-15 are pretty balanced. Even though Butler is the main star he's not far away the best player on the team game in and game out. If they're only playing with players 4-15, that's still better than us playing what we're throwing out there.

Also, there's possibly a player looking to have a game that sticks out in the coach mind that guarantees him more of a look in the playoffs. Kendrick Nunn, I'm looking at you. Again, there's a big difference in them not needing to win and us straight up needing to lose.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

Nunn is a starter and plays 30 mins per game.

Yeah with Herro out and Dragic not being 100%. He played sparingly in the playoffs/finals last year. But I was just using him as an example, wasn't supposed to be taken literally.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Manocad]

Butler's tightened back changed everything yesterday, and hence today as well. The Heat were favored by -4 at Milwaukee prior to the Butler news. They would likely have won the game, making their game today important. By tip off, with Butler out, the line had moved to Milwaukee -5, and they won easily.

So now, Miami will be locked into the #6 seed, with nothing to play for, as long as New York beats Boston at 1:00. That line right now is NY -11. Not only is Boston locked into #7, but they have a play-in game on Tuesday. They'll be resting everybody. Which is too bad, because NY did play a tough overtime game yesterday and would probably be vulnerable against a decent nba roster.

Point is, if NY wins, Detroit will have to fight for this loss tonight. Miami won't care, plus they're on a back-to-back. As much as I've praised Casey over the last couple of days, and as pleased as I am with what Weaver's done, playing Joseph or Plumlee or anyone else who could potentially tip the scales against a team with Zero interest in playing the game, would tarnish it. They can't be that careless.

.

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

At this point I can't wait to just lose this game so these takes can die. Miami 1-15 are pretty balanced. Even though Butler is the main star he's not far away the best player on the team game in and game out. If they're only playing with players 4-15, that's still better than us playing what we're throwing out there.

Also, there's possibly a player looking to have a game that sticks out in the coach mind that guarantees him more of a look in the playoffs. Kendrick Nunn, I'm looking at you. Again, there's a big difference in them not needing to win and us straight up needing to lose.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

Next up will be people complaining that Casey screwed up the lottery drawing

[flow]

You act like if another team doesn't care/doesn't need to/doesn't want to win it's almost guaranteed they won't, but the Pistons need to be careful and make all kinds of calculated moves to ensure they don't win. The other teams' players aren't just going to go out and start throwing airballs or playing pylon on defense. Is either team going to be trying to play 110% effort lock down defense? No. But neither team is just going to start doing crap like a PG trying to post up a C, big men launching airball 3's, etc. The players aren't going to embarrass themselves on purpose. The Pistons won't have to "work" any harder to lose than Miami will.

For Detroit - Last game of the year. Last game for guys to make an impression.
For Miami- Last game before games matter. When do we go to Milwaukee?

That's the difference.

Hope you're right, though. The line movement, if any, will be telling in the hours leading up to the game. It's presently Miami -5.5 with only Butler listed as out. The Suns were -9 @ San Antonio until Booker and Paul were scratched about 1.5 hrs before tip. Line was down to -2 by the time the game started. Spurs are leading by 9 at the half.

Last game to make an impression? After 72 games ONE GAME is going to make a impression that wasn’t already made? Come on, dude.

And the Pistons can secure the second worst record by losing which gives them at worst the 6th pick vs 8th. So they ARE playing for SOMETHING, whereas a team that has nothing to play for will ALWAYS try to win, at least relative to the players who are on the floor. Given a choice between winning and losing where neither makes a difference in the grand scheme, the players on the floor are always going to try to win.

My concern was that players on the floor try to win regardless of the grand scheme. Ala Memphis. Glad you were right!

[Manocad]

I've got plenty of crow roasting on the barbecue. Now I just need to figure out who gets the first serving.

[Snakebites]

June 22nd. The day of reckoning.

[The Moose]

best odds at the number 1 and top 4 picks secured.

can't ask for any more in terms of tanking

[440BB]

We really owe the Timberwolves thanks for their late season antitank surge. They were in the drivers seat and could have easily locked up the second worst record.