Tank World Order (XIV) Here we go, The Final Stretch of the 2025 Tank Season!!!

[ConSarnit]

Do people forget what actually happened back then?

We were getting blown out by 20+ points on the regular and playing no semblance of defense. BAD HABITS were creeping in and we had to out a stop to it. Hell we lost by 54 to the Celtics.

Warriors...yup Boucher had 18 pts to help win. Brown and KO had 2 pts combined. GSW played without Dray...and that mattered more than anything. We had no IQ

Celtics...flat out Tatum, Brown and White **** the bed, combing for 32 pts. White and Brown were -29 and -23. Our "vets playing" had little impact on the game. We had no IQ

Orlando...no Wagner or Suggs...we had no IQ. Game was a flat out anomaly. Yak was -26 while Olynyk +39. But them missing Wagner and Suggs impacted things the most.

Atl...we went in with 1 road win on the season. Probably didn't expect to win b2b in Atl. Game 1, sure "the vets" got points. They also were +2, -11, -8 so they didn't impact winning a 3 pt game. JJ got hurt after only 11 mins. Again no IQ.
Game 2 we won by 23 and yes vets helped with that. Them having no JJ was a killer. KO didn't play and neither did IQ.

Pels and Wash we are just flat out better than them. IQ and KO didn't play either game.

Clips-Norm didn't play and Kawhi only had 14pts. That was essentially the game. IQ played 17mins and KO, Brown, and Boucher lost their combined. minutes.

So we didn't win these games just on the back of "playing the vets". A much bigger impact was Darko flicked the switch to actually playing defense again and stopping the bad habits that set in. Oh, and every good team we beat were without top guys in Dray, Wagmer, Suggs, JJ, and Powell....except the Celtics game...where again, their stars just **** the bed.

Yes we could have just tried to lose with lineups like we have been playing. But it was also at a time in the season where things really were getting ugly and again, the bad habits started setting in. Habits that lead to selfish play vs team play. And Darko put a stop to it and rightfully so. He showed that if they played the right way, they could win games. That lessen should carry over to next year since it continued the rest of the season. It gave the Raps an identity that they could he a great defensive team if everyone buys in. And the vibes of the team have continued to be good despite losses and Darko showed he isn't an idiot coach.

Yes it may have cost us 1-2 draft spots but Darko had to fix what was happening at that time.

Gonna have to push back on a few things here:

1) how are you claiming it cost us 1-2 draft slots when we’ve fallen from 2nd to 7th?

2) define “selfish play”. Since Jan 15 we’ve had a top 5 defense. Great. We’ve also had a bottom 5 offense. Why is it important to develop good habits on defense but not on offense? If we aren’t playing “selfish” anymore why does our offense suck? Are we building good habits for defense next year but also building sh*t habits for offense?

[Duffman100]

This thread is kind of funny after you read the draft thread. So much doom and gloom in here by some posters when there are a bunch of players who seem to be around the same level within the top 10 lol. What a contrast.

If you’re so invested in this draft then get excited about the potential players available instead of bitching and moaning about something that’s pretty much set now

That was involve certain posters to do something other than complain.

I see a lot of fun guys even if we slip a bit. Fears, Queen, CMB.

I don't think we want for any kind of positional need, maybe a decent back-up C for Poeltl next season but that doesn't require burning our best pick.

We can just draft BPA and figure it out later. The lottery does seem to being evened out in terms of the talent, with only Flagg being in a clear tier of his own.

That's why I'm fine with Fears. Does it create a weird log jam in the backcourt, sure?

But always BPA.

[Duffman100]

Do people forget what actually happened back then?

We were getting blown out by 20+ points on the regular and playing no semblance of defense. BAD HABITS were creeping in and we had to out a stop to it. Hell we lost by 54 to the Celtics.

Warriors...yup Boucher had 18 pts to help win. Brown and KO had 2 pts combined. GSW played without Dray...and that mattered more than anything. We had no IQ

Celtics...flat out Tatum, Brown and White **** the bed, combing for 32 pts. White and Brown were -29 and -23. Our "vets playing" had little impact on the game. We had no IQ

Orlando...no Wagner or Suggs...we had no IQ. Game was a flat out anomaly. Yak was -26 while Olynyk +39. But them missing Wagner and Suggs impacted things the most.

Atl...we went in with 1 road win on the season. Probably didn't expect to win b2b in Atl. Game 1, sure "the vets" got points. They also were +2, -11, -8 so they didn't impact winning a 3 pt game. JJ got hurt after only 11 mins. Again no IQ.
Game 2 we won by 23 and yes vets helped with that. Them having no JJ was a killer. KO didn't play and neither did IQ.

Pels and Wash we are just flat out better than them. IQ and KO didn't play either game.

Clips-Norm didn't play and Kawhi only had 14pts. That was essentially the game. IQ played 17mins and KO, Brown, and Boucher lost their combined. minutes.

So we didn't win these games just on the back of "playing the vets". A much bigger impact was Darko flicked the switch to actually playing defense again and stopping the bad habits that set in. Oh, and every good team we beat were without top guys in Dray, Wagmer, Suggs, JJ, and Powell....except the Celtics game...where again, their stars just **** the bed.

Yes we could have just tried to lose with lineups like we have been playing. But it was also at a time in the season where things really were getting ugly and again, the bad habits started setting in. Habits that lead to selfish play vs team play. And Darko put a stop to it and rightfully so. He showed that if they played the right way, they could win games. That lessen should carry over to next year since it continued the rest of the season. It gave the Raps an identity that they could he a great defensive team if everyone buys in. And the vibes of the team have continued to be good despite losses and Darko showed he isn't an idiot coach.

Yes it may have cost us 1-2 draft spots but Darko had to fix what was happening at that time.

Gonna have to push back on a few things here:

1) how are you claiming it cost us 1-2 draft slots when we’ve fallen from 2nd to 7th?

2) define “selfish play”. Since Jan 15 we’ve had a top 5 defense. Great. We’ve also had a bottom 5 offense. Why is it important to develop good habits on defense but not on offense? If we aren’t playing “selfish” anymore why does our offense suck? Are we building good habits for defense next year but also building sh*t habits for offense?

We were never going to finish 2nd. Washington, Utah, Hornets and likely Pelicans were always going to be worse.

The only way we were finishing bottom 3-4 is if we sat our guys for the majority of the season. And there has to be some sanity of sacrificing an entire year of development for players vs a few slots in the draft.

[Tripod]

Do people forget what actually happened back then?

We were getting blown out by 20+ points on the regular and playing no semblance of defense. BAD HABITS were creeping in and we had to out a stop to it. Hell we lost by 54 to the Celtics.

Warriors...yup Boucher had 18 pts to help win. Brown and KO had 2 pts combined. GSW played without Dray...and that mattered more than anything. We had no IQ

Celtics...flat out Tatum, Brown and White **** the bed, combing for 32 pts. White and Brown were -29 and -23. Our "vets playing" had little impact on the game. We had no IQ

Orlando...no Wagner or Suggs...we had no IQ. Game was a flat out anomaly. Yak was -26 while Olynyk +39. But them missing Wagner and Suggs impacted things the most.

Atl...we went in with 1 road win on the season. Probably didn't expect to win b2b in Atl. Game 1, sure "the vets" got points. They also were +2, -11, -8 so they didn't impact winning a 3 pt game. JJ got hurt after only 11 mins. Again no IQ.
Game 2 we won by 23 and yes vets helped with that. Them having no JJ was a killer. KO didn't play and neither did IQ.

Pels and Wash we are just flat out better than them. IQ and KO didn't play either game.

Clips-Norm didn't play and Kawhi only had 14pts. That was essentially the game. IQ played 17mins and KO, Brown, and Boucher lost their combined. minutes.

So we didn't win these games just on the back of "playing the vets". A much bigger impact was Darko flicked the switch to actually playing defense again and stopping the bad habits that set in. Oh, and every good team we beat were without top guys in Dray, Wagmer, Suggs, JJ, and Powell....except the Celtics game...where again, their stars just **** the bed.

Yes we could have just tried to lose with lineups like we have been playing. But it was also at a time in the season where things really were getting ugly and again, the bad habits started setting in. Habits that lead to selfish play vs team play. And Darko put a stop to it and rightfully so. He showed that if they played the right way, they could win games. That lessen should carry over to next year since it continued the rest of the season. It gave the Raps an identity that they could he a great defensive team if everyone buys in. And the vibes of the team have continued to be good despite losses and Darko showed he isn't an idiot coach.

Yes it may have cost us 1-2 draft spots but Darko had to fix what was happening at that time.

Gonna have to push back on a few things here:

1) how are you claiming it cost us 1-2 draft slots when we’ve fallen from 2nd to 7th?

2) define “selfish play”. Since Jan 15 we’ve had a top 5 defense. Great. We’ve also had a bottom 5 offense. Why is it important to develop good habits on defense but not on offense? If we aren’t playing “selfish” anymore why does our offense suck? Are we building good habits for defense next year but also building sh*t habits for offense?

1. Because we were never going to stay in 2nd when the strength of schedule normalized but that's ignored. I know you guys think you can just lose every game but that just doesn’t happen. We simply are much better than teams like Wash, Hornets, Nets and Utah. Pels too without BI playing for them. IQ played 8 games all season at this point. Should we have just kept him out all year? That's unrealistic.

2. Do you think our offense is better if we stopped scratching RJ, IQ, Yak for games? Or not playing Boucher in favor of Castleton? Or not playing Shead for halves at a time? Wonder if playing Ingram helps the offense?

Defense is often about effort and details and that had started to get away from the team vs the beginning of the season. We all remember playing hard, playing lots of youth, but losing close games. The effort was there.

But then we hit that 1 month stretch where we won 1 of 17 games and it got ugly. Not just the losing but how they were losing....10 times giving up 120 or more, giving up 155 to Memphis, losing by 54 to Celtics.

I know TWO loved that because of the mystery box potential but the for the players, coaches, culture, etc... it had to stop. And it gave the team an identity of what they can be next year when locked in defensively. And again, for offense adding in likely your top scorer and not scratching multiple starters on purpose, is going to help the offense. Hell IQ missed 40 games this year, wonder if him playing more helps the offense.

[dohboy_24]

Just ran the Tankathon lottery simulator and would be happy with this result...



Phoenix gets the #1 pick, but has to convey it to Houston while Toronto gets the #2 pick ahead of Utah, New Orleans, Charlotte, Washington, Philadelphia and Brooklyn despite their attempts to out-tank the Raptors this season.

[wegotthabeet]

Just ran the Tankathon lottery simulator and would be happy with this result...



Phoenix gets the #1 pick, but has to convey it to Houston while Toronto gets the #2 pick ahead of Utah, New Orleans, Charlotte, Washington, Philadelphia and Brooklyn despite their attempts to out-tank the Raptors this season.

Flagg is clearly the top prospect and Harper is clearly the 2nd best. Flagg on Houston would be crazy. Harper on the Raptors would also great obviously.

Otherwise I think it's pretty wide open after pick 2. Tons of talent throughout the first round. I think if I landed pick 3 or 4 I'd try to move down.

Give me the 7th + 17th > the 3rd pick from OKC or the 8th + 16th > the 3rd pick from San Antonio. If the Raptors move up to 3 or 4 and one of those teams targets a specific player I would make that deal.

OPTION 1

Edgecombe or Bailey

OPTION 2

2 of Jakucionis, Queen, Maluach, Johnson, Fears, Richardson, Sorber, Murray-Boyles, Knueppel, Demin, Newell, Bryant, Traore etc...

Option 2 is preferable. I would look to acquire another first round pick regardless if we move up or not though.

[dohboy_24]

Flagg is clearly the top prospect and Harper is clearly the 2nd best. Flagg on Houston would be crazy. Harper on the Raptors would also great obviously.

Otherwise I think it's pretty wide open after pick 2. Tons of talent throughout the first round. I think if I landed pick 3 or 4 I'd try to move down.

Give me the 7th + 17th > the 3rd pick from OKC or the 8th + 16th > the 3rd pick from San Antonio. If the Raptors move up to 3 or 4 and one of those teams targets a specific player I would make that deal.

OPTION 1

Edgecombe or Bailey

OPTION 2

2 of Jakucionis, Queen, Maluach, Johnson, Fears, Richardson, Sorber, Murray-Boyles, Knueppel, Demin, Newell, Bryant, Traore etc...

Option 2 is preferable. I would look to acquire another first round pick regardless if we move up or not though.

Agreed. I would prefer option #2 as well.

[Scase]

This thread is kind of funny after you read the draft thread. So much doom and gloom in here by some posters when there are a bunch of players who seem to be around the same level within the top 10 lol. What a contrast.

If you’re so invested in this draft then get excited about the potential players available instead of bitching and moaning about something that’s pretty much set now

Ah yes, the "You cant complain while it's happening, you dont know how it will pan out." which then always shifts to "You cant complain now, because it's set in stone, just go along for the ride."

The level of acceptance for mediocrity is astonishing with some of you, the whole "We're a lock for bottom 5" crowd sure changes their tune real fast when that lock no longer exists. People were excited about the draft because of the top 3-5, not the top 10, virtually no one is ever excited about picking 8th.

[artsncrafts]

You have to respect the BKN/UTAH/PHI tanks though. Shameless, yes, but I would be happy if I as a fan of those teams (at this point of the season). Raptors rest half players every game.

[Tha Cynic]

This thread is kind of funny after you read the draft thread. So much doom and gloom in here by some posters when there are a bunch of players who seem to be around the same level within the top 10 lol. What a contrast.

If you’re so invested in this draft then get excited about the potential players available instead of bitching and moaning about something that’s pretty much set now

Ah yes, the "You cant complain while it's happening, you dont know how it will pan out." which then always shifts to "You cant complain now, because it's set in stone, just go along for the ride."

The level of acceptance for mediocrity is astonishing with some of you, the whole "We're a lock for bottom 5" crowd sure changes their tune real fast when that lock no longer exists. People were excited about the draft because of the top 3-5, not the top 10, virtually no one is ever excited about picking 8th.

There’s no “we’re a lock for bottom 5 crowd” that switched takes. There’s a crowd that understood there’s only so bad this team would be and didn’t spend every second on here bitching and moaning after every win lol. In fact many called out that we would win a lot in the second half of the season. None of this is a surprise.

There are maybe 3 posters who want this team make the playoffs - everyone else would love a first overall pick. A big group of people understand that sometimes team are just worse than you or better than you at certain things because their roster allows them to be.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

The eighth slot in the draft is better than the guaranteed 5th or 4th overall pick though right? Response was to SCase's recent post.

[WuTang_CMB]

Let's all agree for once and move on.

This is how I look at it:

This team made their bed when it comes to being a bottom dweller or not when they made the OG trade. They targeted players and not picks. Add that to having Scottie where Wash, Utah does not, and we are where we are supposed to be. The argument should be was it worth targeting IQ and RJ or going for picks. If we had a healthy IQ all year, we would have more wins as well.

I would be more upset if we sat at 7th with only Scottie on this team and we somehow grinded out meaningless wins.

The absolute best case is to jump into the top 2 or 3 IMO which would make this miserable year all worth it.

[Son Goku 25]

I like the odds at 4 and 7, seems like those are the ones that make a jump up most of the time. Let's stick to 7 and hope for best.

For me it's honestly Flagg, Harper or someone like Queen or someone of the lower ranking guys that will end up being best prospects in few years that happens every draft.

[Raps in 4]

Let's all agree for once and move on.

This is how I look at it:

This team made their bed when it comes to being a bottom dweller or not when they made the OG trade. They targeted players and not picks. Add that to having Scottie where Wash, Utah does not, and we are where we are supposed to be. The argument should be was it worth targeting IQ and RJ or going for picks. If we had a healthy IQ all year, we would have more wins as well.

I would be more upset if we sat at 7th with only Scottie on this team and we somehow grinded out meaningless wins.

The absolute best case is to jump into the top 2 or 3 IMO which would make this miserable year all worth it.

The only reason we even got to entertain the idea of tanking this season was injuries. Without injuries, this team is comfortably sitting in a play-in spot right now. Bottoming out was never on the table.

[WuTang_CMB]

Let's all agree for once and move on.

This is how I look at it:

This team made their bed when it comes to being a bottom dweller or not when they made the OG trade. They targeted players and not picks. Add that to having Scottie where Wash, Utah does not, and we are where we are supposed to be. The argument should be was it worth targeting IQ and RJ or going for picks. If we had a healthy IQ all year, we would have more wins as well.

I would be more upset if we sat at 7th with only Scottie on this team and we somehow grinded out meaningless wins.

The absolute best case is to jump into the top 2 or 3 IMO which would make this miserable year all worth it.

The only reason we even got to entertain the idea of tanking this season was injuries. Without injuries, this team is comfortably sitting in a play-in spot right now. Bottoming out was never on the table.

I agree. From 28 wins (which is where I think we end up) ... we probably can add another 5-6 best case. We would be a lot closer to Miami and Chicago today.

[Spida888]

The Wiz vs 76ers game tonight will be a crazy tank game. The Wiz needs more breathing room to stay 1st and 76ers wants to keep their pick.

[Raps in 4]

The Wiz vs 76ers game tonight will be a crazy tank game. The Wiz needs more breathing room to stay 1st and 76ers wants to keep their pick.

I hope the Wiz fall to #4 and Philly to #8.

[TorontoBarneys]

Simmed Tankathon and got us #1 first time and Philly gave their pick to OKC.

Literal perfect outcome. Please, Silver!

[TNRaps4life]

Read on Twitter

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[PushDaRock]

This thread is kind of funny after you read the draft thread. So much doom and gloom in here by some posters when there are a bunch of players who seem to be around the same level within the top 10 lol. What a contrast.

If you’re so invested in this draft then get excited about the potential players available instead of bitching and moaning about something that’s pretty much set now

Ah yes, the "You cant complain while it's happening, you dont know how it will pan out." which then always shifts to "You cant complain now, because it's set in stone, just go along for the ride."

The level of acceptance for mediocrity is astonishing with some of you, the whole "We're a lock for bottom 5" crowd sure changes their tune real fast when that lock no longer exists. People were excited about the draft because of the top 3-5, not the top 10, virtually no one is ever excited about picking 8th.

If not for this FO seeking mediocrity, you wouldn't be able to complain every day about them. Did you ever stop and think how grateful you should be for that?