General thoughts on tanking

[impulsenine]

With the way the lottery works and the bust/homerun potential with pretty much any lottery pick it really doesn't make sense to tank without an elite prospect. Even then I wouldn't want to "tank" so much as go with a youth movement and let the losses fall where they may, like the Suns did in the '02-'03 season when they fell out of contention.

Not to give him too much credit, but this is an area where Stern made a good thing happen - tanking no longer makes sense in the NBA unless you're already close to the bottom.

[JasonDaPsycho]

Tanking is akin to the mentality of, well, lotteries. There is a reason why they call it the draft lottery. As you all have aluded to, it's far from surefire.

If you want an example of how to draft, look at the Spurs. It's almost embarrassing how much better they are than other teams. Seriously, they haven't had a lotto pick in over a decade.

Outside of Dragic, I've been disappointed with our recent draft days decisions.

I'd rather have an outside shot at a decent post season run than an outside shot of a potential bust.

I agree with you for everything you've said, except for the last part.

You see, good scouts could help find the right players to fit the team (in the Spurs case)
Average scouts could for least see the potential.
Lottery players are mostly potential players, and our scouts should be able to handle that.

I'd rather suffer through a few years of suckage than a decade of barely making it to the playoffs. I think a shot at drafting an actually decent player is higher than that of making a post season run.

[RunDogGun]

But a few years of sucking could be like the GSW, who have only been to the playoffs six times since 1978. The grass is always greener on someone elses yard. Tanking only works for teams like Spurs, Cavs, and maybe NY. At this point, Suns fans should be happy that Stern hasn't taken our team away from us and give it to another state. We just need to make some decent trades and we will be competitive again.

[JasonDaPsycho]

But a few years of sucking could be like the GSW, who have only been to the playoffs six times since 1978. The grass is always greener on someone elses yard. Tanking only works for teams like Spurs, Cavs, and maybe NY. At this point, Suns fans should be happy that Stern hasn't taken our team away from us and give it to another state. We just need to make some decent trades and we will be competitive again.

You forgot to mention OKC.

I agree with you on the last part, but the problem is, we don't have the assets to make decent trades. I'm doubtful we can even trade for Amir Johnson, let alone Jason Thompson, Josh Smith and so on...

Maybe Carter's expiring can do something but I'll have my fingers crossed.

[Sun Scorched]

Tanking is akin to the mentality of, well, lotteries. There is a reason why they call it the draft lottery. As you all have aluded to, it's far from surefire.

If you want an example of how to draft, look at the Spurs. It's almost embarrassing how much better they are than other teams. Seriously, they haven't had a lotto pick in over a decade.

Outside of Dragic, I've been disappointed with our recent draft days decisions.

I'd rather have an outside shot at a decent post season run than an outside shot of a potential bust.

I agree with you for everything you've said, except for the last part.

You see, good scouts could help find the right players to fit the team (in the Spurs case)
Average scouts could for least see the potential.
Lottery players are mostly potential players, and our scouts should be able to handle that.

I'd rather suffer through a few years of suckage than a decade of barely making it to the playoffs. I think a shot at drafting an actually decent player is higher than that of making a post season run.

I agree about drafting and potential, etc.

I guess what I mean to say is the following:

Playoff Run + PHX 1st (#17 - #24) + ORL 1st (#24 - #30)

is better than:

PHX 1st (#10 - #16) + ORL 1st (#24 - #30)

That, and I'm not convinced we can't move up in the draft as it stands. Both 1sts + that Cash from ORL could get you into the lottery, in my opinion.

[RunDogGun]

I didn't mention OKC because they just benefitted from Boston trying to tank to get Oden. In turn they traded Ray to get #5 Green. They haven't seemed to tank yet. They weren't good enough at first, so that's how they got Harden, but we gave them Serge, and they made some smart trades.

[MrMiyagi]

But a few years of sucking could be like the GSW, who have only been to the playoffs six times since 1978. The grass is always greener on someone elses yard. Tanking only works for teams like Spurs, Cavs, and maybe NY. At this point, Suns fans should be happy that Stern hasn't taken our team away from us and give it to another state. We just need to make some decent trades and we will be competitive again.

The best way to rebuild IMO is do what the Spurs are doing. They're core guys are old now, but they have acquired some nice pieces that can contribute now with their core, and eventually fill some of that void. Although DeJuan Blair, James Anderson, George Hill and Taigo Splitter are no Parker, Manu and Duncan, they have a nice little group in place for when they are no longer a championship team, they are only a few pieces away from getting back because they all fit the system.

The only problem for us not being able to do this is we only have Dragic and Lopez. I guess you might count Duds and Gortat, but they seem more like off the bench guys. Lopez isn't even that great of a starting 5. So really we have Dragic. Our window is basically closed for a ring so lets consolidate our assets and turn them into big potential young players and draft picks and pray for an OKC type outcome. I don't want us to flat out tank, but we'd be like OKC when it was Durant's first two seasons, except it'll probably take longer because to get to their level.

[TXSun]

do we really wanna tank now? 3 wins in a row with games against CLE, WAS, and DET coming up next.

[MaryvalesFinest]

Yeah too late now, they will probably win the next three games.

[JasonDaPsycho]

Here we go again... A huge run at the end of the season.
Gentry will immediately be "right up there" with Pops if he can somehow grab the eighth spot on the team. To be honest however, I'd rather SA wins it this year.

[BurningHeart]

Tanking is for losers.