Tank World Order V (Rise of the Phoenix)

[ATLTimekeeper]

Chomche might be hard pressed to last 15 minutes without fouling out. I respect the Poku strategy for tanking, but if the Raptors actually care about his development as a prospect they should continue to develop him slowly.

[Badonkadonk]

Vecenie posted an RJ vid but he spends the first few minutes talking about the "ethical tank", leading into what he categorizes as an RJ leap, what he originally thought of RJ coming out of Duke etc.

If the Raps traded for an ex 3rd overall pick that is actually going to play to that level, they've definitely expedited things.

[video removed]

this is a good breakdown...it shows basically, raps got a 3rd overall pick, who's improved and can be counted on

i have to agree with sam that right now, tanking is likely out of the picture

Michael Grange touches upon this - if raps end up more competitive, that's good short-term but bad long-term in terms of adding more talent...that's an issue for another day

We sit today at 7-15, a lottery team. The combined W-L record of the 7 teams we've beaten is 49-70. So we are beating teams that are struggling badly or just bad. Does this put tanking likely out of the picture? I don't think so.

You can blame injuries for not beating any good teams yet. But we were supposed to have a bad record to start the season anyway due to our tough schedule. So maybe without the injuries, we win a few more and be like BKN or CHI with a play-in spot.

Is that a good spot to be in? Play-in for what? It's all going to depend on whether this BBQ core peaks to become contenders. Masai had said he wanted to give this group a chance, but injuries to BBQ have prolonged this evaluation.

So we're likely going to go to the trade deadline, like in prior years, to decide whether or not to tank the remaining season. Thus, I don't see tanking to be out of the picture just yet.

The only real "tank" decision to be made at the trade deadline is whether or not to offload Yak for a futures deal. I think that is extremely unlikely to happen, given everything that's been said and the focus on development.

I believe there are just over 30 games left after the deadline (2/6/25). After that you're just hoping for injuries, as every team that doesn't care for the play-in is likely to test the boundaries of the NBA's "sitting watchdog". Darko is definitely going to give IQ/RJ/Scottie/Dick/(insert competent 5) as much time together as possible, and they're simply going to do what they do. I don't think it's surprising that given all of their ages, they've improved individually this season. I don't see that trajectory changing.

Most likely outcome remains they lose in the play-in round and then are hoping for a Hawks situation like last year, which isn't terrible given how flat the odds are.

[Yeezus_]

Really wish we insisted on a 2025 pick swap with Indiana in Pascal's deal given the quality of talent and first round picks we got back. Could have just outsourced the tank to them.

Retrospectively, you want a 2025 pick swap from that deal when the Raptors are worse than the Pacers currently and will probably be worse to end the season?

[Badonkadonk]

I've seen a bunch of stats that offer different perspectives on how 'good' or 'bad' a team is beyond W/L (most basic being point differential).

This was a surprising one for me, but I guess it makes some sense given the margin of many of the Raps losses.

[Spida888]

Really wish we insisted on a 2025 pick swap with Indiana in Pascal's deal given the quality of talent and first round picks we got back. Could have just outsourced the tank to them.

Retrospectively, you want a 2025 pick swap from that deal when the Raptors are worse than the Pacers currently and will probably be worse to end the season?

We are 1.5 games back from Indy right now which isn't a lot considering we are still missing guys. While it's likely Indy ends up with the better record by the end of the season, it certainly doesn't hurt if a 2025 pick swap was thrown in as additional bonus.

[Ell Curry]

Really wish we insisted on a 2025 pick swap with Indiana in Pascal's deal given the quality of talent and first round picks we got back. Could have just outsourced the tank to them.

Retrospectively, you want a 2025 pick swap from that deal when the Raptors are worse than the Pacers currently and will probably be worse to end the season?

We are 1.5 games back from Indy right now which isn't a lot considering we are still missing guys. While it's likely Indy ends up with the better record by the end of the season, it certainly doesn't hurt if a 2025 pick swap was thrown in as additional bonus.

I'm annoyed we didn't get Jarace Walker instead of Nwora and say our 2026 and 2027 2nds, which project as decent, added in from our end.

[Basketball_Jones]

Oh snap I didn’t realize Yak was out! Masai has had enough haha

[ItsDanger]

And just like that, the tank is back on.

[Shwaguy]

I have no idea why ORL would add a 1st. Bitadze is playing like a solid starting C. If Bitadze were playing the same minutes as Poeltl their numbers would not look much different. Poeltl scores a bit more while Bitadze has been a better rim protector. I don't think the gap between Poeltl and Bitadze is all that big.

I'm not sure I fully agree but I understand your sentiment. Don't think it's wise to normalize minutes played with big men like those two, staying on the floor is an important skill. Passing ability a big difference too imo

Assists per36:

Poeltl: 2.8
Bitadze: 2.8

Assist%:

Poeltl: 11.5
Bitadze: 12.1

Fouls per36:

Poeltl: 4.2
Bitadze: 4.1

Bitadze plays less because ORL has actual backup bigs in Wagner and Isaac.

If we had Mo Wagner on our bench Poeltl would still be playing more than 22 minutes a game lol

[disoblige]

YES!!!!!!!!!!! lol

[bonjovi0308]

LOL to those (including many local media) suggesting let this team play and not to tank. Sucha short vision

[Basketball_Jones]

Just stay in that top 8 range whatever happens happens. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of good 6’8” or taller guys outside of the top 3 though.

[Brinbe]

Those upcoming Brooklyn and Chicago games are gonna be yuge.

[WhatsaTDot]

Continue to monitor Poeltl for any hang nails and rest as often as required to ensure full health at trade deadline.

[Naysorn]

People overreacting a loss to the team that’s primed to win the chip this year and has the best two way player in basketball lol

[Psubs]

Just stay in that top 8 range whatever happens happens. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of good 6’8” or taller guys outside of the top 3 though.

Egor Demin
Khaman Maluach
Adou Thiero
Thomas Sorber
Tomislav Ivisic
Zvonimir Ivisic

[HumbleRen]

Read on Twitter

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[DelAbbot]

Read on Twitter

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This is such corporate talk babble

Humble , do the honors of making the next TWO thread please

[ConSarnit]

I'm not sure I fully agree but I understand your sentiment. Don't think it's wise to normalize minutes played with big men like those two, staying on the floor is an important skill. Passing ability a big difference too imo

Assists per36:

Poeltl: 2.8
Bitadze: 2.8

Assist%:

Poeltl: 11.5
Bitadze: 12.1

Fouls per36:

Poeltl: 4.2
Bitadze: 4.1

Bitadze plays less because ORL has actual backup bigs in Wagner and Isaac.

If we had Mo Wagner on our bench Poeltl would still be playing more than 22 minutes a game lol

You're just going to ignore that ORL also has WCJ and Isaac? They have the most C depth in the league.

Bitadze is playing 25mpg as a starter on a team with strong C depth. Poeltl played 26mpg as a starter last year. Poeltl is playing 32mpg because the other option is Bruno.

[Chandan]

Pretty much knew this was going to be a half measured tank. In 2 years we are going to get swept by pretender in first round and wonder where it went wrong.
They simply don't have the pieces to put together a winning formula at the highest level.