Game 68: Lakers @ Suns

[RunDogGun]

Wang, the Utah Jazz have already openly admitted tanking this season which pretty much screwed us out of our Laker pick.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/226646/Jazz-Willing-To-Take-Step-Back-Next-Season-For-Better-2014-NBA-Draft-Pick

multiple sources say that general manager Dennis Lindsey expressed a willingness to take a step back next season to get a better pick in the strong 2014 NBA Draft.

Absolute rubbish MBiO. Zero quotes of any source, or GM in that piece of crap. So sad that this has been used as a source by multiple people here. For someone that is so into science, I'm surprised that you posted this.

[mybloodisorange]

Dude relax it was an article that appeared here on realgm and no I dont know if its true or not. But when you look at how the Jazz have underperformed recently it isnt exactly a stretch. I never claimed it to be 100% empirical fact so please lay off the snarky comments. But trust me if they are in fact tanking and messing with our Laker pick..... I would rather not think about how angry this makes me.

[King Of Wang]

Wang, the Utah Jazz have already openly admitted tanking this season which pretty much screwed us out of our Laker pick.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/226646/Jazz-Willing-To-Take-Step-Back-Next-Season-For-Better-2014-NBA-Draft-Pick

multiple sources say that general manager Dennis Lindsey expressed a willingness to take a step back next season to get a better pick in the strong 2014 NBA Draft.

Yeah I saw that and not surprised at all, I've been following them a lot this season on league pass. Early in the year they were dominating and playing like a legit 5-6 seed......now they are playing like straight TRASH!! It has a lot to do with the coaching too, they run terrible plays now and their go to play now is MO WILLIAMS ISOLATIONS!!! I mean c'mon, if they are not tanking, then they should be suspended from the league for being so terrible with legitimate talent. It's disgraceful

Wang, the Utah Jazz have already openly admitted tanking this season which pretty much screwed us out of our Laker pick.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/226646/Jazz-Willing-To-Take-Step-Back-Next-Season-For-Better-2014-NBA-Draft-Pick

multiple sources say that general manager Dennis Lindsey expressed a willingness to take a step back next season to get a better pick in the strong 2014 NBA Draft.

Absolute rubbish MBiO. Zero quotes of any source, or GM in that piece of crap. So sad that this has been used as a source by multiple people here. For someone that is so into science, I'm surprised that you posted this.

I've been reading your recent posts man, and you continually discredit every potential tank job by saying there is no proof because the team hasn't come out and blatantly announced that they are tanking. That is not a valid argument to make because NO TEAM EVER will come out and announce that they are tanking. That is a ludicrous assessment to make. If a team blatantly came out and said they are tanking then Stern would unleash his fury on them and everyone knows that. It's common sense. If a thief is planning to rob your house, you think he is going to come out and tell you about his plans before-hand?????

C'mon RDG you are better than that, you should know that no team would be stupid enough to admit it point blank and face severe repercussions from Stern. You yourself have acknowledged many times that Stern has an agenda against tanking teams. So PLEASE explain to me why they would do so and risk his wrath....and we all know first-hand how evil Stern can be

I'm not saying Utah is tanking for sure, but it is completely mindless to assume that no team ever tanks, like you say, just because they don't come out and admit it before-hand. Phrazbit actually gave you plenty of quotes of players and coaches on previous teams that admitted that their teams were tanking and you called him a liar and claimed that was "still no proof" Just be a little more open-minded and realize that tanking actually does exist. In the case of Utah it's not a fact yet, but if you just watch them play before and now (also same time as that article was leaked), then tanking is definitely is a possibility

[mybloodisorange]

Trust me Rundog I feel your anger as this summer is going to be huge as far as the rebuild goes. I changed the original post so it wont upset you as much.

Nice post Wang.

[rsavaj]

Let's please not turn this into a "does tanking exist?" argument again...it's so tired.

[RunDogGun]

Dude relax it was an article that appeared here on realgm and no I dont know if its true or not. But when you look at how the Jazz have underperformed recently it isnt exactly a stretch. I never claimed it to be 100% empirical fact so please lay off the snarky comments. But trust me if they are in fact tanking and messing with our Laker pick..... I would rather not think about how angry this makes me.

I just find it sad that this is being used as a OPEN ADMISSION, when no one has said anything openly. I'm not mad at you, just disappointed. I expect more from you, and feeding the kids junk food none the less.

[RunDogGun]

Let's please not turn this into a "does tanking exist?" argument again...it's so tired.

I was just trying to nip it in the bud before it turned into anything. However, this is the third time this article and saying the Jazz are tanking have been spewed around here.

[King Of Wang]

Dude relax it was an article that appeared here on realgm and no I dont know if its true or not. But when you look at how the Jazz have underperformed recently it isnt exactly a stretch. I never claimed it to be 100% empirical fact so please lay off the snarky comments. But trust me if they are in fact tanking and messing with our Laker pick..... I would rather not think about how angry this makes me.

I just find it sad that this is being used as a OPEN ADMISSION, when no one has said anything openly. I'm not mad at you, just disappointed. I expect more from you, and feeding the kids junk food none the less.

Let's please not turn this into a "does tanking exist?" argument again...it's so tired.

I was just trying to nip it in the bud before it turned into anything. However, this is the third time this article and saying the Jazz are tanking have been spewed around here.

Yes, everyone on this board is children because everyone but you believes and knows that tanking exists and there is a strong "possibility" that Utah is as well. But you are God and if you say it doesn't exist then that is Gospel. We get the point. Let's move on now and not have another thread locked with this pointless argument. Thanks

[mybloodisorange]

1) Most rumors arent true; just people talking and speculating.
2) Utah's play has taken a noticeable turn for the worse recently (noticeable before knowing of said rumor)
3) When teams decide to tank they dont publicly admit or cop to it. Therefore there are never anything more than rumors regarding tanking yet we know that tanking still exists.
4) Some ESPN writer i've never heard of wrote an article stating claiming that "multiple sources say that general manager Dennis Lindsey expressed a willingness to take a step back next season to get a better pick in the strong 2014 NBA Draft." For all I know the writer could be a liar and he might end up getting fired next week...who knows.

I mentally weighed those factors over about 20 seconds and then simply decided that it might be possible. Just because someone likes science doesnt mean they have the time to (or even want to) fact check everything in life. But to assert that I am "feeding the kids" junk food while you at the same time are so certain that tanking is an absolute impossibility despite the above listed factors seems a bit hostile and wierd. You don't know that they arent tanking and I can't be certain of either but at least I can admit that both are possible.

I understand tanking talk makes you angry but you need to realize that you arent "nipping anything in the bud"; to the contrary, you are dragging out this topic which would have otherwise ended a page ago...the other parties are all in agreement and yes we understand that it is just a rumor.

[mybloodisorange]

Yes, everyone on this board is children because everyone but you believes and knows that tanking exists and there is a strong "possibility" that Utah is as well. But you are God and if you say it doesn't exist then that is Gospel. We get the point. Let's move on now and not have another thread locked with this pointless argument. Thanks

Agree who really cares its just a rumor. I was just pissed because if it is true then the Utah FO just basically screwed us and turned our potential Laker pick into the last pick in the first round via the heat.

[RunDogGun]

I mentally weighed those factors over about 20 seconds and then simply decided that it might be possible. Just because someone likes science doesnt mean they have the time to (or even want to) fact check everything in life. But to assert that I am "feeding the kids" junk food while you at the same time are so certain that tanking is an absolute impossibility despite the above listed factors seems a bit hostile and wierd. You don't know that they arent tanking and I can't be certain of either but at least I can admit that both are possible.

I understand tanking talk makes you angry but you need to realize that you arent "nipping anything in the bud"; to the contrary, you are dragging out this topic which would have otherwise ended a page ago...the other parties are all in agreement and yes we understand that it is just a rumor.

Wow, wasn't expecting all that while joking around about the "junk food". You said they openly admitted something, not me. I was just pointing out that the article has no one openly admitting to anything.

I also never said I was curtain no team lose games on purpose, I just have yet to see any real proof of it. Nor do I understand players (who's whole drive to make it to the competitive NBA) would purposely lose games. Damn it, sorry Rsavaj, I got caught right back in it. I'm done.

My bad MBiO, believe whatever you want, post whatever you want, feed whoever you want, but please don't post things as fact that are not. Thank you.

[King Of Wang]

Yes, everyone on this board is children because everyone but you believes and knows that tanking exists and there is a strong "possibility" that Utah is as well. But you are God and if you say it doesn't exist then that is Gospel. We get the point. Let's move on now and not have another thread locked with this pointless argument. Thanks

Agree who really cares its just a rumor. I was just pissed because if it is true then the Utah FO just basically screwed us and turned our potential Laker pick into the last pick in the first round via the heat.

Yep exactly. It's bs that Utah is screwing us like that, it's obvious if you just watch them play earlier and now with the same exact team. Either the players just gave up on the coach or the coach was told to Iso Mo Williams all day so they could start their tank for next year and be in the Wiggins sweepstakes. Obviously RDG does not allow us to have opinions and so we just have to try to ignore people like that and not feed them because that is what he wants. The only way anything is considered valid to him is if an owner blatantly tells the league "WE ARE TANKING!!!" hahahaha obviously that will never happen so RDG can never be appeased. I don't like putting anyone on my ignore list because I like to hear everyone's opinions always, but RDG is really making me re-consider that policy lol

[mybloodisorange]

I've personally witnessed too many back room dealings that "never happened" in my life to discount it. I was operating under the assumption that we all understood that it was just a rumor and I made the mistake of thinking it went without saying. Plus lets be honest, everyone on this board has been tense the past couple months after this incredibly craptasitc season. I have nothing but love for everyone here.

Getting back to the thread topic, at least we blew out the Lakers and I got to see old man Scola dominate Howard in the 4th quarter. It may not be much but at least it was something; I was grinning from ear to ear.

[sunskerr]

Well, we'll still have another pick I guess. Could be worse, no?

[RunDogGun]

Well, we'll still have another pick I guess. Could be worse, no?

I wouldn't mind seeing if Cleveland would want to keep the Miami pick, if the Lakers make the playoffs, in exchange for the 32nd and 34th (or wherever they are today). They traded three picks for one last year, so I don't see why they will want to add four more rookies this offseason. Or maybe just buy one or both from them, and combine those with the Miami pick to a team looking to add Rookies and not big salary like Utah.

Hopefully we are looking at our options, and scouting well just incase.

Overall, I do like your attitude, it's rather refreshing.

[Ghost of Kleine]

Well, we'll still have another pick I guess. Could be worse, no?

I wouldn't mind seeing if Cleveland would want to keep the Miami pick, if the Lakers make the playoffs, in exchange for the 32nd and 34th (or wherever they are today). They traded three picks for one last year, so I don't see why they will want to add four more rookies this offseason. Or maybe just buy one or both from them, and combine those with the Miami pick to a team looking to add Rookies and not big salary like Utah.

Hopefully we are looking at our options, and scouting well just incase.

Overall, I do like your attitude, it's rather refreshing.

That's not a bad idea run, But I'm a little hazy on where we sit currently with our 2nd round picks for this year and next? How many do we really have exactly this year and where were we figuring they might be slotted come draft day?

I do like withey alot for our center needs late in the first( he's currently developing quite the nice offensive game to compliment his superior defensive skills. Also as kerrsed mentioned....Jamal Franklin as well. Could be quite a sparkplug defensively off the bench! Like a poor mans gerald wallace I think?

Also,Mike muscala is quite productive for a 6'11 big.As well as http://www.nbadraft.net/players/alec-brown .

All these guys good be bargains to be had.

[RunDogGun]

GoK, a few of the draft sites have us with the wrong picks. As far as I understand, we have our first, either the Laker or Miami first(lotto or 30th, respectfully), and Denver's second. I think we traded our second rounder this year for Morris. Nbadraft has us with the Nets second rounder in the Johnson trade, but when you hit the link they provide, it never mentions that pick, just the Minny/Memphis first from this year, but Minny has to make the playoffs or the 14th pick for us to get the worst of the two this year. And that isn't happening.

So as of today, we have the 5th, 30th, and 55th picks.

Next year, if Minny is thirteenth or better, we get their first, and if they stay healthy that could be a strong possibility.

[King Of Wang]

GoK, a few of the draft sites have us with the wrong picks. As far as I understand, we have our first, either the Laker or Miami first(lotto or 30th, respectfully), and Denver's second. I think we traded our second rounder this year for Morris. Nbadraft has us with the Nets second rounder in the Johnson trade, but when you hit the link they provide, it never mentions that pick, just the Minny/Memphis first from this year, but Minny has to make the playoffs or the 14th pick for us to get the worst of the two this year. And that isn't happening.

So as of today, we have the 5th, 30th, and 55th picks.

Next year, if Minny is thirteenth or better, we get their first, and if they stay healthy that could be a strong possibility.

Yes, barring injuries I think we will get their pick. The east is a joke so getting 13th pick only would require them being 10th seed in the west. I like those odds