The 2012 NBA Draft: 6th & 11th picks, and some random 2nds.

[DusterBuster]

Yep, the Cavs have officially tanked their way out of the 22 win club by losing to the Wiz tonight. Their final game will be tomorrow night against the Bulls. Baring some miracle, they're going to stay at 21 wins.

Golden State plays the Spurs tomorrow. Popp has officially said that he's resting his Big 3 for the rest of the season, so this isn't as much of a foregone conclusion at is would have been otherwise, but considering how awful the Warriors have been, they can easily lose to the Spurs B-Squad.

Kings play a home finale against the Lakers. They play the Lakers pretty tough in Sac, much like the Blazers do at the RG. Plus Ron Ron will serve his first of 7 game suspensions. That's a 50/50 tossup honestly. I can see it going either way.

Then obviously you have the Nets @ Raptors game. Because it's a home game, I want to give it to the Raptors, but the Nets, even without Deron, will be fielding a superior roster that night. The Raptors are down to DeRozen, Ed Davis and D-Leaguers. The Nets should still have Wallace, Green, Brooks and Humpries.

I'm going to predict that the Warriors and Raptors lose tomorrow, whereas the Kings and Nets win. This means the Kings and Raptors end up doing a coin-toss for 5 and 6 and the Nets and Warriors do a coin-toss for 7 and 8.

[The Sebastian Express]

Bulls have clinched first in the East, and San Antonio is sitting their starters tonight and tomorrow as well as Popovich himself. Could totally see the Bulls sitting everyone important tomorrow and the Cavs being unable to tank.

[Norm2953]

Chicago might sit their starters but Cleveland will do the same. Chicago's
bench playing at home, is likely going to beat a Cavs team determined to
lose.

[DusterBuster]

Turns out the Nets are only playing 8 players @ Toronto tonight. Deron, Wallace and Hump will be out. So that will be a much closer game than I thought. I can easily see the Raps getting the win now. That would put them in the tie for the 5-6 pick if the Kings get their win.

Sounds like every starter for the Lakers but Kobe will be out tonight. Kobe may sit too, but if he plays and can score 38pts, he'll win the Scoring Title, so it's 50/50 on him playing.

[Walton'sBeard!]

10 games tonight that start at 5:00. I don't remember ever seeing so many games at the same time. Should make 7:00 - 7:30 (when all those games are finishing up) very intense.

[fishnc]

Go Raptors and go Spurs and go Kings and go Cavs

And go Blazers

[Billy]

The level of tanking this year has been magnificent.

[Blazinaway]

The level of tanking this year has been magnificent.

Yep, Rommel and Patton would have been proud of the battle plan!

[Blazinaway]

The level of tanking this year has been magnificent.

Yep, Rommel and Patton would have been proud of the battle plan!

[BballFanAddict]

Make your predictions!

I am predicting NJ loses and ends up 6th.

LA Lakers at Sacramento = Sacramento L – (Kobe going for the scoring title – it seems LA starters are not resting)

New Orleans at Houston = New Orleans L – (This is more a toss-up than the Sactown game above – going with the Home team)

New Jersey at Toronto = Toronto W – (Another toss up that I am praying for the Home team to win)

Cleveland at Chicago = Cleveland L – (Not sure if CHI sitting starters – doubt it matters as CHI probably wins with its entire 2nd team)

Draft Result:

1. Charlotte
2. Washington
3. Sacramento (Tied w/ NO & Clev)
4. New Orleans (Tied w/ Sac & Clev)
5. Cleveland (Tied w/ Sac & NO)
6. Portland (Via NJ)

[DusterBuster]

BBFA, Mike Brown has already said he plans on resting the starters tonight and all the reports suggest that The scoring title isn't that important to Kobe, so there's even a chance he rests.

[BballFanAddict]

BBFA, Mike Brown has already said he plans on resting the starters tonight and all the reports suggest that The scoring title isn't that important to Kobe, so there's even a chance he rests.

Oh, cool, I hope that comes to pass.

[DusterBuster]

Apparently it's official that Kobe will sit out tonight against the Kings.

http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/04/kev ... ing-title/

It's now entirely possible the Kings get the win tonight.

[RoyalWun]

1st pick: Kendall Marshall
2nd pick: Tyler Zeller

I mean...why not?

[Blaze01]

1st pick: Kendall Marshall
2nd pick: Tyler Zeller

I mean...why not?

lol....I mean horrible, just horrible 2 selections...but hey, it is just the sort of thing Buchanan would do....pass superior talent over reaching for a need....

[Walton'sBeard!]

I believe Marshall to be superior talent. But I would hope he falls to the 11 spot.

I wouldn't use a lottery pick on Zeller.

[The Sebastian Express]

The level of tanking this year has been magnificent.

You're telling me. It always amused me that there is more tanking in the NBA with a lottery system than there is in the NFL.

[cucad8]

The level of tanking this year has been magnificent.

You're telling me. It always amused me that there is more tanking in the NBA with a lottery system than there is in the NFL.

It's easier to trot out replacements in the NBA that have no business being on the court. In the NFL, for one, guys can't really afford to go less than speed, because of risk of injury, but also, can't imagine a team just benching a better QB for a complete scrub, and how the other players on the roster would react to it.

[DusterBuster]

For those playing at home, here are the players who are sitting for teams who are playing against the lottery contenders we're concerned about.....

Lakers: Kobe, Artest (suspended), Bynum, Gasol and Barnes are all officially out.

http://twitter.com/#!/LakersReporter

Bulls: Rose, Deng and Korver officially sitting out, expected limited minutes for other starters too.

http://twitter.com/#!/ESPNChiBulls

Cavs: Irving out.

Nets: Humpries, Williams and Wallace out. They're starting DeShawn Stevenson at PF...... smh

http://twitter.com/#!/andy_vasquez

Raptors: Bargnani, DeRozen and Calderon all out.

http://twitter.com/#!/andy_vasquez

Holy hell. If you happen to be in or near one of these arenas tonight, but a jersey, walk onto the court and start playing with the teams, I seriously doubt anyone even bats an eye.

Somewhere David Stern is privately sh*tting bricks. No way he can be happy with THIS many teams mailing it in. I doubt there's a single team who gives a crap about their game tonight. Maybe the Kings since they'll have basically their full roster and the Lakers C-squad in town.

[DusterBuster]

With these new "rosters" (if you can even call them that), here's my new predictions.....

LA Lakers at Sacramento = Sacramento W – It's always an emotional game for the Kings when the Lakers are in town. It's their home closer and against a rival, they'll be up for that game, even if it is a shell of the actual Lakers.

New Orleans at Houston = Hornets L – This is a hard call. I can't find anywhere who might be out for the Hornets. A couple of key guys will be out for the Rockets though. I guess it will depend on if Gordon plays. If he does, I think the Hornets W, if not, it's a L.

New Jersey at Toronto = Toronto W – I'm cheating a bit here since that game has just started and the Nets are already down double digits half way through the 1st quarter. It's currently 15-2 with only 4 minutes gone in the game. Not a good start.

Cleveland at Chicago = Cleveland L – Bulls are sitting a LOT of guys, but Thibs is a great coach and Cleveland is apologetically tanking their asses off right now. No reason to expect that to change.

That means a final pre-lottery positioning of......

1) Bobcats
2) Wizards
3) Cleveland
4) Hornets
5) Kings
>>>>>>>> Tied
6) Nets
7) Raptors
>>>>>>>>> Tied
8) Warriors