Game 76: Charlotte Hornets (35-39) @ Los Angeles Lakers (33-42) - 10:30 PM ET

[Landsberger]

Up 10, scored 69 and Bron is the 4th leading scorer. Lot's of ball movement and good shooting. Lance and KCP playing like they need some video to show in the offseason.

[Landsberger]

The ball is moving all over the place tonight. Guys are moving well off the ball as well. No ball stopping at all. I hope the FO is watching and I hope LeBron is understanding.

[TylersLakers]

I get it's best to lose but it's good to see them play well again.

How much different this team would have been with an engaged KCP & McGee in January and February..

[Kilroy]

We're full on eliminated from the playoffs and we go on a winning streak?
"If you score a basket, I punch you in the face." Should be the new coaching slogan for this team.

[iQon]

We do this **** every year, now, it seems, and it pisses me off.

Look semi competitive to start the season. Check out somewhere around December or January. Resurface in March and April when the only one's that benefit from winning are the expiring contracts who... You guessed it, were ghosts when the games mattered the most.

[LakerClipperFan]

Respectfully disagree with this.

Teams that have losing culture are unlikely to attract FA. You think Kawhi wants to go to a team that's on a downward spiral, losing easy games?

Another fine showing by #LABron last night, tho no steals unfortunately......still a nice point total.

We're full on eliminated from the playoffs and we go on a winning streak?
"If you score a basket, I punch you in the face." Should be the new coaching slogan for this team.

[stan francisco]

I get it's best to lose but it's good to see them play well again.

How much different this team would have been with an engaged KCP & McGee in January and February..

It’s never good to tank. I hate the tanking mentality. You have to play to win. Winning breeds winning. It’s a mindset/culture/self perception thing.

I’d love to see the kids show LeGroin how true team ball done now when he’s sitting out. Let’s see if the game threads might even grow with his absense.

[stan francisco]

We're full on eliminated from the playoffs and we go on a winning streak?
"If you score a basket, I punch you in the face." Should be the new coaching slogan for this team.

How has the tanking worked out so far? We kind of missed the playoffs again.

I’m with Phil Jackson on rookies. Unless it’s someone like Zion, build a complete team now. We have enough youth.

Trade LBJ to NYK. Add fitting pieces (Klay) to what we have.

[Kilroy]

We're full on eliminated from the playoffs and we go on a winning streak?
"If you score a basket, I punch you in the face." Should be the new coaching slogan for this team.

How has the tanking worked out so far? We kind of missed the playoffs again.

I’m with Phil Jackson on rookies. Unless it’s someone like Zion, build a complete team now. We have enough youth.

Trade LBJ to NYK. Add fitting pieces (Klay) to what we have.

Ok... So what should we do now? Win meaningless games and remove ourselves from even the possibility of landing a high pick? And moreover, aren't high draft picks pretty much essential for making trades for established players?

[Landsberger]

We're full on eliminated from the playoffs and we go on a winning streak?
"If you score a basket, I punch you in the face." Should be the new coaching slogan for this team.

How has the tanking worked out so far? We kind of missed the playoffs again.

I’m with Phil Jackson on rookies. Unless it’s someone like Zion, build a complete team now. We have enough youth.

Trade LBJ to NYK. Add fitting pieces (Klay) to what we have.

Ok... So what should we do now? Win meaningless games and remove ourselves from even the possibility of landing a high pick? And moreover, aren't high draft picks pretty much essential for making trades for established players?

So what do you propose? Tossing the ball out of bounds on each possession? Standing in front of the bench on defense? You ever played the game? What would you do if the coach or organization told you to lay down?

This tank BS is just that BS. Teams that purposefully lose are losing teams. That crap breeds on teams and you get long stretches of it and the organization gets the rep of being a place you go after the good teams have feasted in FA.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Duh...... all those same size balls in a row is waaaaay better.

that's what she said

[LakerClipperFan]

Remember, Magicman is a #tanker, he likes the tank. Removing Bron from the lineup, probably limit the minutes of our better players on the floor...basically we are in Stealth Tank mode right now.

You don't wanna do it TOO soon in the season, otherwise your paying fans (who bought tickets) get pissed off. Giving Lebron the rest will make him more attractive to free agents. "Hey, Lebron is getting some nice rest, he's going to be good to go next season."

He played great in this Charlotte game, we've seen enough of The King this year.

Ok... So what should we do now? Win meaningless games and remove ourselves from even the possibility of landing a high pick? And moreover, aren't high draft picks pretty much essential for making trades for established players?

[stan francisco]

Luke’s post game comment seemed loaded. Asked about how/why they played so well today he said, ‘we cut some stat-padding dead weight before the game, so guys had fun playing the way they’re supposed to play, sharing the ball and playing for one another’; something like that.

It might just have been me reading too much into it but it wasn’t just a joke. He seemed really pissed at something, and very glad to be without the ‘dead weight’. There’s something not cool going on under the surface with the LBJ situation, has anyone noticed? J/k. Maybe it’s the no defense? Maybe it’s the trading his team mates? Maybe it’s the early exit after stat padding for himself post injury while still not playing any defense?

[stan francisco]

How has the tanking worked out so far? We kind of missed the playoffs again.

I’m with Phil Jackson on rookies. Unless it’s someone like Zion, build a complete team now. We have enough youth.

Trade LBJ to NYK. Add fitting pieces (Klay) to what we have.

Ok... So what should we do now? Win meaningless games and remove ourselves from even the possibility of landing a high pick? And moreover, aren't high draft picks pretty much essential for making trades for established players?

So what do you propose? Tossing the ball out of bounds on each possession? Standing in front of the bench on defense? You ever played the game? What would you do if the coach or organization told you to lay down?

This tank BS is just that BS. Teams that purposefully lose are losing teams. That crap breeds on teams and you get long stretches of it and the organization gets the rep of being a place you go after the good teams have feasted in FA.

Tanking is like the plague. It’s Clippers bush league crap. Logo knows better. Phil did, too. Magic should know, too. It becomes an infection on a team and it takes years to clean off that stench.