Tanking: It's fun for both the fans and the players
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:19 pm
by Dick Tate
Earl Watson met with Sonics general manager Sam Presti following Wednesday's 109-107 loss to the Houston Rockets, and the point guard described the meeting as "a supportive type, we'll-get-through-this type of thing."
"This type of thing" is a 12-game losing streak, and although Watson has started the past 24 games for the Sonics, he has not played in the fourth quarters of the past five, including Wednesday's painful loss. Watson was visibly angry after the game and Presti sought him out for a conversation.
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Watson said he has asked Presti on more than one occasion about his future with the Sonics -- he has two more years on a five-year contract -- and has yet to receive an answer.
But his loyalty remains to his original team that drafted him in 2001.
"I've never had it confirmed that I fit in the long-term picture. I asked where I fit on this team and that wasn't answered so I stopped asking the question," he said. "You never quit on your family. You never quit on your friends. I think my mom made $12,000 and I never went to my mom and said I want to be adopted by a rich family and have everything. You've got to show some loyalty to somebody in your life."
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Watson's disdain has more to do with the perception that his career is melting away and he is years from winning in Seattle.
"As you get older you get a sense of urgency, you want to win," he said. "You don't throw away years. You don't throw away seasons. There's no such thing as throwing away a season or sacrificing a season. I don't believe in that. I think you have to go out every season and compete at a high level. Expectations have to be high and if they aren't high from the beginning, they are going to be a problem for your team.
"Some teams might be cool with it but I'm not cool with it as a player, with expectations being low. It's made it tough, this year has been a challenge."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/348763_sonx25.html
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:21 pm
by Troy McClure
Let's get this malcontent off the Sonics. He's becoming a cancer.
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:38 pm
by Dick Tate
They should probably trade every player that states a desire to win. Wouldn't want them to get in the way of The Plan.
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:42 pm
by Yoshi2kx
Dick Tate wrote:They should probably trade every player that states a desire to win. Wouldn't want them to get in the way of The Plan.
PJ and Presti have a, "plan"?
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:56 pm
by Dick Tate
After practice Thursday, Watson spoke openly about how he
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:28 pm
by FARMERMAN10
How exactly is Watson being frustrated by losing a sign of tanking? am I missing something here?
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:40 pm
by Dick Tate
You are if you don't think the plan has been having the team tank this season.
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:45 pm
by FARMERMAN10
Dick... there's a difference between rebuilding and tanking.
we are rebuilding. we traded away older, overpriced players (or let them walk) in exchange for younger, cheap talent and draft picks. that is the definition of rebuilding (in the NBA sense)
Tanking, involves intentionally not playing your talented players in order to lose games. Have we done that?
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:53 pm
by Dick Tate
FARMERMAN10 wrote:Dick... there's a difference between rebuilding and tanking.
When both are occuring at the same time, how do you tell the difference?
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:04 pm
by wiff
Is there any Sonic that is enjoying getting their ass handed to them every night?
I can't fault Watson for wanting clearity on where he stands with the organization. I can't fault anyone who wants to know where they stand with their job. I think that's perfectly normal, especially in turmoil.
Ask Durant how much he is enjoying the 12 game losing streak. I'm sure he loves the pay check but you know he hates the losing.
I do view this as rebuilding compared to tanking.
Tanking is what Boston did last year.
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:45 pm
by seafan
Or what miami is doing this year. I don't think were tanking necessarily. Our roster isn't all that great. Plus when you start two rookies things are going to be up and down.
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:51 pm
by BenjaminH
I think Dick means tanking as a derisive term for rebuilding.
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:16 pm
by conleyorbust
What would you want from Atlanta for Watson? Expirings?
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:40 pm
by wiff
How attached are you to Zaza and Anthony Johnson?
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:44 pm
by conleyorbust
wiff wrote:How attached are you to Zaza and Anthony Johnson?
Not attached
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:06 am
by wiff
I'd give you Watson for Zaza and Anthony Johnson and be all smiles about it.
Zaza is 4 mil expires next year. Give him a one year try out period. See if Swift, Petro or Sene can develop into more than Zaza.
Anthony Johnson expires this year.
That works for me.
That's 4mil expiring to go along with Wally Z's 13mil expiring.
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:15 am
by sonic-ben
please...
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:40 am
by FARMERMAN10
dick tate wrote:When both are occuring at the same time, how do you tell the difference?
what evidence do you have that PJ and Presti are tanking with the personnel we currently have?
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:42 am
by Joel Embust
This team doesn't even have a playbook, it's just pass around, dribble, dribble, oh wait there's 5 secs on the clock, shoot, miss. Oh wait there's 22 seconds on the clock, shoot, miss.
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 6:14 am
by seafan
what evidence do you have that PJ and Presti are tanking with the personnel we currently have?
Really. We have one starter and role players at best.