Tank Thread

[theBigLip]

So the regular season decides the number of ping pong balls we get. Regardless of where we end the season, hopefully we'll finally get lucky in the lottery. But more ping pong balls the better. Where will we end up?

It really looks like New York, Philly, Minnesota and the Lakers are all tanking well. So I would assume they get the top 4 spots.

Orlando, Sacramento, Denver and Brooklyn (as well as the Pistons) seem to be in a scrum for slots 5-9. Hollinger's record predictions are as follows:

9. Brooklyn 33-49
8. Detroit 31-51
7. Sacramento 30-52
6. Denver 29-53
5. Orlando 26-56

I don't see much of an incentive for any of these teams to go on a big win streak, but a few unexpected wins would certainly move a team a few slots. Looks like the best we could end up is 6th.

[Kilo]

Brooklyn doesn't keep their pick, so they have no reason to try and tank. I just hope the last game of the season versus the Knicks is meaningless to the standings because it will suck hard if the win moves us a slot or two worse in the draft. So whatever the standings are heading into the last game, I hope were 2 games worst than the team directly above us in the standings and a game better than the team we're directly ahead of and they lose.

Looking at Hollinger's predictions, for example it will blow if our 31st win is versus the Knicks, and it moves us from a tie in the standings with Sacto(and a coin flip for the higher slot) to a pick behind them.

[DETermination]

2003 is the last time the Pistons had a top 3 pick and 1970 is the last time the Pistons had the number 1 pick. The Cavs have had the number 1 pick 3 times in the last 4 years and before that had the number 1 pick in 2003 and drafted a guy named Lebron James. Just once please just once could the pistons get some luck and get the number 1 pick or at least a top 3 pick.

[theBigLip]

Here's what I figure we'll do the rest of the year. Looks like that Hollinger guy was looking at my spreadsheet

Fri, Mar 13 @ Portland Loss 23 42
Sat, Mar 14 @ Utah Loss 23 43
Tue, Mar 17 vs Memphis Loss 23 44
Wed, Mar 18 @ Philadelphia Win 24 44
Sat, Mar 21 vs Chicago Win 25 44
Sun, Mar 22 @ Boston Loss 25 45
Tue, Mar 24 vs Toronto Loss 25 46
Fri, Mar 27 @ Orlando Win 26 46
Sun, Mar 29 @ Miami Loss 26 47
Tue, Mar 31 vs Atlanta Loss 26 48
Wed, Apr 1 @ Charlotte Loss 26 49
Fri, Apr 3 @ Chicago Loss 26 50
Sat, Apr 4 vs Miami Win 27 50
Wed, Apr 8 vs Boston Win 28 50
Fri, Apr 10 vs Indiana Win 29 50
Sun, Apr 12 vs Charlotte Win 30 50
Mon, Apr 13 @ Cleveland Loss 30 51
Wed, Apr 15 @ NY Knicks Win 31 51

[theBigLip]

Looking at this again, I'm not sure if we can expect to win home games against Boston, Indiana or Charlotte. This could be an ugly finish.

[DETermination]

Looking at this again, I'm not sure if we can expect to win home games against Boston, Indiana or Charlotte. This could be an ugly finish.

Lets hope it is

[Snakebites]

Obviously we're not in the playoff hunt, but to be perfectly honest I'd still rather see us show some progress towards the end of the year.

If we fall far enough to get a lot of lottery balls it means an ugly finish comparable to the start we had. Nobody should want that for the team or the players. It doesn't bode well for the future.

[theBigLip]

Obviously we're not in the playoff hunt, but to be perfectly honest I'd still rather see us show some progress towards the end of the year.

If we fall far enough to get a lot of lottery balls it means an ugly finish comparable to the start we had. Nobody should want that for the team or the players. It doesn't bode well for the future.

I do like the thought of creating a winning atmosphere, and that will help us long term, but so will a top 3 pick. Bottomline, we will still need some luck in the lottery no matter what record we end up with.

[DBC10]

Honestly, none of our guys have IT to really carry us for the future like a star can. Dre will likely never be Ben Wallace nor an offensive juggernaut inside. KCP is just a decent starter as his ceiling and maybe all-star if his shooting % goes up year over year and we make the playoffs. And Monroe will likely leave.

We literally don't have the one true star on this team, more like great complementary pieces for a superstar. I'm hoping that we somehow squeeze top 3 in the draft and get us a future star or so. Whether that be Mudiay, Russell, or Towns.

[bballnmike]

It's interesting, in the past few years I was very much against tanking. I wanted us to gain some momentum and build a winning culture. But this year, after having our best shot at the playoffs in a while, even tho we eventually faded, I'm more ok with tanking. I think since the team actually fought this year, and they have a general direction for the future, which I trust with SVG, I don't mind losing a few at the end to help us get a top draft pick.

[DETermination]

Crazy Idea that probably wont ever happen but what if we got the number 1 pick and say drafted Okafor, would you think about trading Drummond for another top 5 pick and then draft Russell,Mudiay,Johnson or something. I love Drummond but would seriously consider this if we were to draft Okafor. Although I would probably go with KAT if we got the number 1 pick.

[Notanoob]

I'm not really in love with Okafor or Towns like most people are and don't love Russel or Mudiay (just low on PGs in general as real game-changers). I don't really care for us to tank this year simply because I'm only really interested in nabbing one of the SFs, and I'm sure we'll get a good one if we're just 7th in this draft due to the depth at the SF position and the guys likely to go ahead of them.

If we landed a top 3 pick, I'd be looking to trade down honestly. Pick up an extra first in this year to grab depth player like Portis or Grant, or get a future pick. Having two contributors on rookie deals would go a ways to making up for the money we're going to be paying Josh Smith.

[DBC10]

Crazy Idea that probably wont ever happen but what if we got the number 1 pick and say drafted Okafor, would you think about trading Drummond for another top 5 pick and then draft Russell,Mudiay,Johnson or something. I love Drummond but would seriously consider this if we were to draft Okafor. Although I would probably go with KAT if we got the number 1 pick.

Honestly, I might. Drummond is great, but I honestly fear he will never reach his potential and just be Deandre 2.0.

Okafor/Towns and then get a top 5 from someone to draft a stud PG or wing, and I think we are good to go.

[MotownMadness]

Crazy Idea that probably wont ever happen but what if we got the number 1 pick and say drafted Okafor, would you think about trading Drummond for another top 5 pick and then draft Russell,Mudiay,Johnson or something. I love Drummond but would seriously consider this if we were to draft Okafor. Although I would probably go with KAT if we got the number 1 pick.

Honestly, I might. Drummond is great, but I honestly fear he will never reach his potential and just be Deandre 2.0.

Okafor/Towns and then get a top 5 from someone to draft a stud PG or wing, and I think we are good to go.

I don't get the Deandre comparison, maybe a little bit because a lot of their strengths and weaknesses are the resemble each other. But Drummond has already shown more touch and even that hookshot which is something Jordan has never shown, especially not at 21. Drummond is a better prospect then Okafor in my opinion. Actually I view Okafor a lot like Monroe. They are great under the rim players who excel from getting into position through great footwork. But the NBA is a lot more athletic and bigger. Drummond is one of the biggest and most dominating players in the paint in the league. And while he still needs to develop better awareness his size and athleticism gives him a much higher ceiling in the NBA but that's just my opinion.

[princeofpalace]

Deandre Jordan is a great defensive player, great rebounder, and very efficient scorer. Comparing Andre to Jordan isn't an insult, we need Andre to become that type of defender- but hes got a looooong way to go. Hell, Rudy Gobert is one of the rawest players in the league and he's looking like the best rim protector already- wish Drummond had those instincts.

[DBC10]

Crazy Idea that probably wont ever happen but what if we got the number 1 pick and say drafted Okafor, would you think about trading Drummond for another top 5 pick and then draft Russell,Mudiay,Johnson or something. I love Drummond but would seriously consider this if we were to draft Okafor. Although I would probably go with KAT if we got the number 1 pick.

Honestly, I might. Drummond is great, but I honestly fear he will never reach his potential and just be Deandre 2.0.

Okafor/Towns and then get a top 5 from someone to draft a stud PG or wing, and I think we are good to go.

I don't get the Deandre comparison, maybe a little bit because a lot of their strengths and weaknesses are the resemble each other. But Drummond has already shown more touch and even that hookshot which is something Jordan has never shown, especially not at 21. Drummond is a better prospect then Okafor in my opinion. Actually I view Okafor a lot like Monroe. They are great under the rim players who excel from getting into position through great footwork. But the NBA is a lot more athletic and bigger. Drummond is one of the biggest and most dominating players in the paint in the league. And while he still needs to develop better awareness his size and athleticism gives him a much higher ceiling in the NBA but that's just my opinion.

As it stands, I think the comparison is more like Deandre 2.0 + a Hookshot. They both fail miserably often on defensive rotations and aren't court aware a lot of times. Both go for blocks rather than proper containing. Although, I do give the edge to Dre because he's a bigger body while Deandre is strictly a leaper since he's all legs. If Dre shows more and improved defensive IQ, then no doubt I see him as a star in this league. As of now, he's just a great starter in my book.

[theBigLip]

It's all about expectations. Drummond has proven that he can get 20rpg and clean up the offensive boards. That's pretty awesome. Look at every other roster in the league and figure out how many other centers you would rather have them Drummond - I don't think that list is very long.

That being said, I don't think he is going to be the next Hakeem. He should get better since he is still young, and should get some basic offensive moves. And maybe we'll get a better team around him so he can get some more lobs. Is that worth a max contract? Close, but maybe not max.

So going back to a trade - maybe. Is it #5 or is it #2? Makes a difference. Getting Towns and Mudiay would be a nice start, and they would be on rookie deals from the old CBA. And we wouldn't have to pay Drummond the big contract he will soon get. Monroe walks, we let RJ walk and avoid a near max deal he is expecting. So all of a sudden, we would have a ton of cap space, and two solid starters as our core. KCP can still hang around as an average starter, and then we could blow some big cash on a stretch 4 and a superstar SF.

[ComboGuardCity]

Two years ago, Deandre was a terrible defender fwiw


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[DETermination]

Two years ago, Deandre was a terrible defender fwiw


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Yeah I really hope Drummond develops into an elite paint protector in the next few seasons.

[princeofpalace]

Two years ago, Deandre was a terrible defender fwiw


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true true, hopefully drummond improves on that end- he definately has the physical tools