Official Play-in Thread - Our Play-in Destiny is in our Hands

[Kreamy]

Still hopeful the Sixers will get Embiid back at some point this season and run with the last play-in spot.

[canz55]

If they are able to compete and get back in the race it would mean there have been serious improvements. I can't see them going on a ten game win streak but I wouldn't mind seeing it happen. I would hope it means Barnes, RJ, Dick, or IQ has come into the next level and propelled us.

Winning and getting to the play in would mean we have some great pieces on our team. They'd be pieces with higher value that other teams would be willing to pay a good price for. As a tanking team it seems like our players values takes a nose dive.

A example that would outline what I mentioned would be Poeltl. He's a forgotten role player, but if we were in the top 6 of our conference he would get a lot of praise and therefore have higher value.

"The team is butcheeks bro [insert emoji, insert gif]"

"TWO FOREVER!"

signed: a bunch of low energy incels.

Sent from my SM-S908W using RealGM mobile app

[Kreamy]

If they are able to compete and get back in the race it would mean there have been serious improvements. I can't see them going on a ten game win streak but I wouldn't mind seeing it happen. I would hope it means Barnes, RJ, Dick, or IQ has come into the next level and propelled us.

Winning and getting to the play in would mean we have some great pieces on our team. They'd be pieces with higher value that other teams would be willing to pay a good price for. As a tanking team it seems like our players values takes a nose dive.

A example that would outline what I mentioned would be Poeltl. He's a forgotten role player, but if we were in the top 6 of our conference he would get a lot of praise and therefore have higher value.

"The team is butcheeks bro [insert emoji, insert gif]"

"TWO FOREVER!"

signed: a bunch of low energy incels.

Sent from my SM-S908W using RealGM mobile app

I don't think you grasp how the NBA system is set up for teams to get better.

[Tha Cynic]

Saw the thread title and it made me irrationally angry. I can't imagine what Del is going to go through when he logs in and sees this.

Let's hope we are firmly out of the play-in when the season ends.

So still it's all in my head?

It's all in your head...

You got me.

In my defense, 1-2 guys don’t make a team.

And both of those two individuals love Poeltl more than anyone else too. Maybe it's one individual with two accounts - who knows

[Nebuchadnezzar]

If they are able to compete and get back in the race it would mean there have been serious improvements. I can't see them going on a ten game win streak but I wouldn't mind seeing it happen. I would hope it means Barnes, RJ, Dick, or IQ has come into the next level and propelled us.

Winning and getting to the play in would mean we have some great pieces on our team. They'd be pieces with higher value that other teams would be willing to pay a good price for. As a tanking team it seems like our players values takes a nose dive.

A example that would outline what I mentioned would be Poeltl. He's a forgotten role player, but if we were in the top 6 of our conference he would get a lot of praise and therefore have higher value.

"The team is butcheeks bro [insert emoji, insert gif]"

"TWO FOREVER!"

signed: a bunch of low energy incels.

Sent from my SM-S908W using RealGM mobile app

I don't think you grasp how the NBA system is set up for teams to get better.

I think what folks don't realize is that tanking is not just a basketball decision, it's one that impacts the operations and ultimately the sustainability of an organization.

The NBA has actively tried to discourage tanking by introduces the flattened odds system. The league knows that all out tanking sets franchises back years, because the odds of getting a top pick that is actually a generational talent, who stays healthy are very low. Also, as we see on countless occasions having a top pick doesn't mean teams know who the best player is in a draft.

The negative risk to the integrity, structure, and sustainability of the organization as a result of tanking is very high. I wish it was as easy as just throwing a season away, but the odds are unfortunately not in our favour with this strategy.

[ItsDanger]

I hear Jimmy Butler is available for the right price.

[ForeverTFC]

How do you think Scottie feels about all this? Given his outpouring of emotion lately in wins, doesn't look like he's down for the tank, nor would he be very happy to tank for someone to replace him given he was provided the keys to the team.

We just gave him a 5 year max. We’re not asking him to throw games here and we’re not pulling a Presti on him by sitting him out. The team goes out of its way to talk about how they are building around him. People need to stop babying him - he’s an adult. If this was year 4 of tanking, then yeah it becomes an issue. It’s too early now to worry about this. I bet he doesn’t like the losing, but I also think he gets it.

There's the mixed message of empowering Scottie while also attempting to replace his status that I'm sure is tough to deal with. It's a player's league and Masai's credibility dealing with his star players lately has taken a hit. I'm sure Scottie is doing what's best for Scottie.

This is a leap. NBA stars have been pairing up for 2 decades now. No one is replacing his status and Masai was very clear what the goal is: "We are building around Scottie Barnes and we need another player to emerge at his level - whether internally or in the draft." That's a clear message to Scottie.

Now does it suck if you're RJ? For sure. But we should have no interest in protecting RJ's feelings.

[DelAbbot]

If they are able to compete and get back in the race it would mean there have been serious improvements. I can't see them going on a ten game win streak but I wouldn't mind seeing it happen. I would hope it means Barnes, RJ, Dick, or IQ has come into the next level and propelled us.

Winning and getting to the play in would mean we have some great pieces on our team. They'd be pieces with higher value that other teams would be willing to pay a good price for. As a tanking team it seems like our players values takes a nose dive.

A example that would outline what I mentioned would be Poeltl. He's a forgotten role player, but if we were in the top 6 of our conference he would get a lot of praise and therefore have higher value.

"The team is butcheeks bro [insert emoji, insert gif]"

"TWO FOREVER!"

signed: a bunch of low energy incels.

Sent from my SM-S908W using RealGM mobile app

We will pump up that energy once we string together some losses

[YogurtProducer]

If they are able to compete and get back in the race it would mean there have been serious improvements. I can't see them going on a ten game win streak but I wouldn't mind seeing it happen. I would hope it means Barnes, RJ, Dick, or IQ has come into the next level and propelled us.

Winning and getting to the play in would mean we have some great pieces on our team. They'd be pieces with higher value that other teams would be willing to pay a good price for. As a tanking team it seems like our players values takes a nose dive.

A example that would outline what I mentioned would be Poeltl. He's a forgotten role player, but if we were in the top 6 of our conference he would get a lot of praise and therefore have higher value.

"The team is butcheeks bro [insert emoji, insert gif]"

"TWO FOREVER!"

signed: a bunch of low energy incels.

Sent from my SM-S908W using RealGM mobile app

I don't think you grasp how the NBA system is set up for teams to get better.

To be fair, I don't think many people on here grasp how unlikely and uncommon it is for bottom feeders to jump to contenders, either.

[ATLTimekeeper]

We just gave him a 5 year max. We’re not asking him to throw games here and we’re not pulling a Presti on him by sitting him out. The team goes out of its way to talk about how they are building around him. People need to stop babying him - he’s an adult. If this was year 4 of tanking, then yeah it becomes an issue. It’s too early now to worry about this. I bet he doesn’t like the losing, but I also think he gets it.

There's the mixed message of empowering Scottie while also attempting to replace his status that I'm sure is tough to deal with. It's a player's league and Masai's credibility dealing with his star players lately has taken a hit. I'm sure Scottie is doing what's best for Scottie.

This is a leap. NBA stars have been pairing up for 2 decades now. No one is replacing his status and Masai was very clear what the goal is: "We are building around Scottie Barnes and we need another player to emerge at his level - whether internally or in the draft." That's a clear message to Scottie.

Now does it suck if you're RJ? For sure. But we should have no interest in protecting RJ's feelings.

First of all, they 'pair up,' which is players conspiring to play together. Second, Masai's word is mud right now. He has said similar things about other important players and operated against what he's said. Scottie isn't breaking into the league, this is the quartermark for a strong NBA career. The draft is random. If someone better comes through the door he's knocked off his perch, and that's the aim of a top 5 pick.

It sucks for everyone in the franchise right now.

[ConSarnit]

"The team is butcheeks bro [insert emoji, insert gif]"

"TWO FOREVER!"

signed: a bunch of low energy incels.

Sent from my SM-S908W using RealGM mobile app

I don't think you grasp how the NBA system is set up for teams to get better.

I think what folks don't realize is that tanking is not just a basketball decision, it's one that impacts the operations and ultimately the sustainability of an organization.

The NBA has actively tried to discourage tanking by introduces the flattened odds system. The league knows that all out tanking sets franchises back years, because the odds of getting a top pick that is actually a generational talent, who stays healthy are very low. Also, as we see on countless occasions having a top pick doesn't mean teams know who the best player is in a draft.

The negative risk to the integrity, structure, and sustainability of the organization as a result of tanking is very high. I wish it was as easy as just throwing a season away, but the odds are unfortunately not in our favour with this strategy.

If the league actually cares about how tanking can set a franchise back for years why do they continue to let incompetent owners run teams for decades?

The league does not care about healthy franchises. Ownership is the biggest detriment to winning and they aren’t trying to force owners out.

The league only cares about money. They only changed the lotto odds to slow tanking because other owners complained that the process Sixers weren’t selling tickets on the road. The league does not care about franchise health: see them letting the Kings and Wolves miss the playoffs for 10-15 years and doing nothing about it.

[Basketball_Jones]

Big game tonight to catch Chicago

[ForeverTFC]

I don't think you grasp how the NBA system is set up for teams to get better.

I think what folks don't realize is that tanking is not just a basketball decision, it's one that impacts the operations and ultimately the sustainability of an organization.

The NBA has actively tried to discourage tanking by introduces the flattened odds system. The league knows that all out tanking sets franchises back years, because the odds of getting a top pick that is actually a generational talent, who stays healthy are very low. Also, as we see on countless occasions having a top pick doesn't mean teams know who the best player is in a draft.

The negative risk to the integrity, structure, and sustainability of the organization as a result of tanking is very high. I wish it was as easy as just throwing a season away, but the odds are unfortunately not in our favour with this strategy.

If the league actually cares about how tanking can set a franchise back for years why do they continue to let incompetent owners run teams for decades?

The league does not care about healthy franchises. Ownership is the biggest detriment to winning and they aren’t trying to force owners out.

The league only cares about money. They only changed the lotto odds to slow tanking because other owners complained that the process Sixers weren’t selling tickets on the road. The league does not care about franchise health: see them letting the Kings and Wolves miss the playoffs for 10-15 years and doing nothing about it.

The league absolutely cares about franchise health, especially given there is a revenue sharing agreement in place between the owners. The draft system as well as RFA following the rookie contract is precisely to protect owners - it is well-intentioned though a an unfortunate by-product is that it protects cheap/incompetent owners and it can be exploited.

And they have determined that tanking is not good for the league. That's why Hinkie was black listed as a message to any executive trying to take too much advantage of the system, why the lotto odds were flattened and in part why the player participation policy was put in. The league just fined the Mavs for tanking a few years ago. They're not going to go after the OKCs and Utahs of the world or those that have been mired in mediocrity if they tank "properly" for a couple years, but bigger market teams and those abusing the system are going to be dealt with.

[Boogie!]

I’ll be honest I like seeing them win, but I also like the idea of adding another star piece to this team… I think if we get a top 3 this draft, then next season is the year we start pushing to make the playoffs. Scottie, barrettt, quickley plus top 3 pick is a better future than just them right now plus role players. Unless one of them takes another step into elite territory, which based on what I’ve seen this season seems unlikely, they neee another prospect that has elite potential before they start makint a serious push.

[bballsparkin]

Big game tonight to catch Chicago

Break out the deep dish pizza Chicago, Toronto is coming for you!

[Nebuchadnezzar]

WE BACK UP!!!!

[MEDIC]

In before scase comes in to trash RJ and regurgitate his belief that we need to trade everyone because the world is ending tomorrow

[PushDaRock]

With the 15th pick in the 2025 draft, the Toronto Raptors select Liam McNeely from UConn.

love the positivity!!!

[Los_29]

They’re saying us and the Celtics are the super teams right now.

[MEDIC]

Don't worry. Chomche is going to be blocking Flaggs dunks in 2027.