Post#22 » by NoLayupRule » Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:30 pm
I dont believe in tanking at all. However the wisdom of it is only applicable in a single season or pair of seasons at the absolute most!
For examples people will look at SA or Clev or Miami.
SA had a superstar who lost a full season. they traded away everyone and tanked the whole season and got super unbelievably lucky and nabbed Duncan to go along with Robinson. They brought back solid role players and were able to keep coach Pop. very lucky.
Clev dumped their entire roster in a desperate all in attempt to land LBJ, perhaps the best player to come into the league since Duncan. They got very lucky and have since been doing everything they can to build a roster good enough to keep him. So far so good.
Miami has been the luckiest of all. They had 2 really bad seasons. In one they settled for Wade since Bosh was gone. Poor them. Then they added Shaq and won a ring. Then they had another horrible season, totally tanked on purpose, got the #2 overall and moved shaq. Wade is back better than before and they have both cap space and young talent. so lucky!
However for every team thats hit that lottery there are several who've gone the opposite way. Clips, GSW, Atl, Cha, Tor, Min, sea, Chi 'till Isiah saved them, Bos until McKale saved them, etc. teams that year after year suck enough to get a top 5 pick and then keep on sucking!
The only teams that we should be emulating are Port, NO and Det. these are teams that do it the right way. they draft smart, work hard to build a complete roster with a defined identity, play hard every year to develop a culture of winning and then make the most of the cards they are dealt.
Det made great FA and trade choices and built a perfectly balanced team. They drafted exceptionally well with the major exception of Darko. They walked away from players at the right time - Stackhouse, B Wallace and now Billups, Rasheed and AI. And they never panicked or tanked.
NO moved troubled talent like Davis away and built from the ground up. they got incredibly lucky in Paul and they built around him. I think we are trying to go that way. Get a star this summer and build around him.
Port we all know. They shipped out all the bad contracts and bad attitudes. they stocked up on draft picks. they picked very very well. and they got lucky as hell with Roy over Foye - McHale is a moron - and getting the #1 overall when they were supposed to pick 9th
I think we are and should be modeling ourselves after Port but its important to remember that at no point did portland tank at all. they got very lucky in the draft but they also brought in good players and a coach that wouldnt let them mail it in. Their GM moved talent and contract for flexibility and youth. And they have competed every night with an eye on a championship eventually.
Sound familiar?
NY needs to compete until its too late, then do their best with picks and players - moving old for young and keeping the gems we do have ie; Lee, Chandler and perhaps Nate and Gallo.
'Tanking' shouldnt be mentioned but making the most out of draft night and restructuring for flexability reasons should be the new mantra
