Tank Fest Update Around the League

[Mulhollanddrive]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

[King4Day]

Well with the Nets winning last night it means one of 2 things.

1. They might be able to win a couple more games than expected.
2. The Cavs truly are dysfunctional right now and even Philly could knock them off.

Hopefully it's the former and Brooklyn gets inspired by this win to take a few more.
The biggest turn in the race for #3 was when the Nets cut JJ. He would have won them a few games. I am surprised that Lopez hasn't been able to.

That said, the upcoming game against Minny will be huge. We can't get closer to them. If we hear KAT or Wiggins being "shut down", then we'll be in serious trouble to hold the 4th spot.

[nevetsov]

Didn't RHJ just return for Brooklyn? Maybe that inspired them. Hopefully they keep it up.

[nevetsov]

Can't wait till we finish third, BKN fourth, and they leapfrog everyone to the first pick. If only PHX tried harder, those BKN ping pong balls would say PHX instead!

[SSOL]

Can't wait till we finish third, BKN fourth, and they leapfrog everyone to the first pick. If only PHX tried harder, those BKN ping pong balls would say PHX instead!

All you can do is give yourself the best odds.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

Looking at the remaining schedules, I think Washington finishes at the 14th spot, going 8-3 over their remaining games, not quite enough to overtake Detroit. I think the Nets have a solid shot at winning 3 games, while I think we'll win somewhere between 2 and 4. We have a good chance at keeping or tying for third position. Pretty encouraging.

Hield's rise means, I think, that we'll likely be able to take Bender if we want to. No way to know what McD's thinking on that score.

Two of the recent risers on nbadraft.net look very good to me - Dejounte Murray and Malik Beasley. Murray looks like a better prospect than Chriss to me, and all three of these guys, I think, will go in the lottery.

This draft is going to be bonkers. Thin at the top, but soooo deep.

[TeamTragic]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

EXACTLY! Then he would get laughed at by literally every GM in the league and we would become an even bigger joke. Imagine McD trying to make a trade after that fiasco

[bwgood77]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

Not sure, but people could also criticize or say something like "serves him (or them) right for tanking" if we blatantly threw games to finish ahead of Brooklyn and then they (Boston) leapfrogged us.

Or maybe his big board is much different than everyone else's and he either sees the top 7 as interchangeable or has someone (or perhaps two guys) who most have ranked between 6-10 at #1-2.

You never really know who ends up being the best guy in the draft anyway. 99% of people had Rose/Beasley as #1/2 in 2008 (similar to this year) and Westbrook went 4th and Love 5th.

99% of people had Irving/Williams #1/2 in 2011 and Kawhi Leonard went 15th and Klay Thompson went 11th.

[MathiasPW]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

EXACTLY! Then he would get laughed at by literally every GM in the league and we would become an even bigger joke. Imagine McD trying to make a trade after that fiasco

Would you rather be laughed at by other GMs or by your own players, coach, fans and, you know, boss, who employs you ?

Point is, to lose games on purpose you have to make that message very clear across the organization. You have to tell the coach to make succky rotations, the players to put half assed effort, and so on. How do you think that sounds to soon who want to be employed next year?

In the end, McD may not even have that much of a choice. So to blame him, of all people, for us not losing is exagerated.

I blame him for us not winning, though. Even considering that injuries were the biggest reason for our downfall.

[bwgood77]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

EXACTLY! Then he would get laughed at by literally every GM in the league and we would become an even bigger joke. Imagine McD trying to make a trade after that fiasco

I think the much bigger laughter and focus would probably be directed at Brooklyn. However, if people are laughing at GMs for being dumb, wouldn't they be more willing to trade with us?

I also think they laugh more at the Laker pick for Knight trade when it comes to McD.

[MathiasPW]

Kieffer just left the Min @ Was game with a foot injury.

Might be the last nail on the coffin for the Wizards playoff hopes

[Moochthemonkey]

Someone is going to figure Golden State out and things will get more competitive soon. My money is on Pop. Once he figures it, everyone else will mimick it and Golden State will be back down with the rest of the league.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

There is.

You switch on Curry.... Never lose focus on the switch. Make him pass it. Or give him the lane then quickly take it away forcing him to do fancy stuff inside.

Rather Draymond Green or Barbosa or Rush attempting 5 plus 3pters than Curry... Or Klay. These guys embrace shooting long distances.... The others still have that mentality that 3s are high risk shots.

I remember the Bucks gave them real problems in both games (beating them once). Their length was a huge reason why.
I agree though that in time teams will figure them out.
Or, if they re-sign Barnes to max, then in a year or so when Curry is due a max deal, they'll need to decide how they want to maneuver their roster to not be paying the tax (assuming they won't want to).

Bogut's and Igoudala's contracts will expire around that time, freeing up around an extra 22million in capspace. Irregardless, I assume if the Warriors continue to be at least 75% as dominant as they are now the franchise will happily pay the tax to keep the team together.

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

EXACTLY! Then he would get laughed at by literally every GM in the league and we would become an even bigger joke. Imagine McD trying to make a trade after that fiasco

Yes, other GMs would laugh at McDonough for making the game winning 3 pointer against the Clippers in the final game of the season. What exactly can McDonough do at this point to ensure the Suns lose? Are GMs allowed to force players to rest? (Would actually be a clever subtle way to tank, Booker's being playing many 40 minute games so the rest here would be justified)

[Moochthemonkey]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

Not sure, but people could also criticize or say something like "serves him (or them) right for tanking" if we blatantly threw games to finish ahead of Brooklyn and then they (Boston) leapfrogged us.

Or maybe his big board is much different than everyone else's and he either sees the top 7 as interchangeable or has someone (or perhaps two guys) who most have ranked between 6-10 at #1-2.

You never really know who ends up being the best guy in the draft anyway. 99% of people had Rose/Beasley as #1/2 in 2008 (similar to this year) and Westbrook went 4th and Love 5th.

99% of people had Irving/Williams #1/2 in 2011 and Kawhi Leonard went 15th and Klay Thompson went 11th.

if I was to speak from an unbiased, non-Suns fan perspective, then Brooklyn (Boston) deserves more lottery balls as we are relatively equal teams and they beat us twice. Otherwise, Brooklyn's/Boston's draft chances be damned.

[TeamTragic]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

EXACTLY! Then he would get laughed at by literally every GM in the league and we would become an even bigger joke. Imagine McD trying to make a trade after that fiasco

Would you rather be laughed at by other GMs or by your own players, coach, fans and, you know, boss, who employs you ?

Point is, to lose games on purpose you have to make that message very clear across the organization. You have to tell the coach to make succky rotations, the players to put half assed effort, and so on. How do you think that sounds to soon who want to be employed next year?

In the end, McD may not even have that much of a choice. So to blame him, of all people, for us not losing is exagerated.

I blame him for us not winning, though. Even considering that injuries were the biggest reason for our downfall.

I would rather this organization not be laughed at by anybody Mathias. Is that alright with you?

[MathiasPW]

EXACTLY! Then he would get laughed at by literally every GM in the league and we would become an even bigger joke. Imagine McD trying to make a trade after that fiasco

Would you rather be laughed at by other GMs or by your own players, coach, fans and, you know, boss, who employs you ?

Point is, to lose games on purpose you have to make that message very clear across the organization. You have to tell the coach to make succky rotations, the players to put half assed effort, and so on. How do you think that sounds to soon who want to be employed next year?

In the end, McD may not even have that much of a choice. So to blame him, of all people, for us not losing is exagerated.

I blame him for us not winning, though. Even considering that injuries were the biggest reason for our downfall.

I would rather this organization not be laughed at by anybody Mathias. Is that alright with you?

Now you are just being utopic

[bwgood77]

Here's a point in isolation.

Why would Ryan McDonough open himself up to criticism by winning an extra game than Brooklyn and Brookyln winning the lottery with the extra balls we gave up.

He'd be sweating bullets for 1-2 months until the lottery absolutely needlessly, makes no sense to me.

Not sure, but people could also criticize or say something like "serves him (or them) right for tanking" if we blatantly threw games to finish ahead of Brooklyn and then they (Boston) leapfrogged us.

Or maybe his big board is much different than everyone else's and he either sees the top 7 as interchangeable or has someone (or perhaps two guys) who most have ranked between 6-10 at #1-2.

You never really know who ends up being the best guy in the draft anyway. 99% of people had Rose/Beasley as #1/2 in 2008 (similar to this year) and Westbrook went 4th and Love 5th.

99% of people had Irving/Williams #1/2 in 2011 and Kawhi Leonard went 15th and Klay Thompson went 11th.

if I was to speak from an unbiased, non-Suns fan perspective, then Brooklyn (Boston) deserves more lottery balls as we are relatively equal teams and they beat us twice. Otherwise, Brooklyn's/Boston's draft chances be damned.

If we are pretty equal and they beat us twice, proving they are better and we were worse, why would THEY deserve MORE lottery balls?

[TeamTragic]

Would you rather be laughed at by other GMs or by your own players, coach, fans and, you know, boss, who employs you ?

Point is, to lose games on purpose you have to make that message very clear across the organization. You have to tell the coach to make succky rotations, the players to put half assed effort, and so on. How do you think that sounds to soon who want to be employed next year?

In the end, McD may not even have that much of a choice. So to blame him, of all people, for us not losing is exagerated.

I blame him for us not winning, though. Even considering that injuries were the biggest reason for our downfall.

I would rather this organization not be laughed at by anybody Mathias. Is that alright with you?

Now you are just being utopic

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

I'm thinking there's a better chance than not that we'll deal our pick if we don't go top 2. We can hold one of Hield, Dunn or Murray hostage and get an asset we prefer. I wonder what we could shake out of Philly... Saric and the Laker pick, perhaps? Denver must want that pick. Basically anyone with a need at guard would (and that's a lot of teams). I think we could put ourselves in position to benefit from a bidding war.

[TeamTragic]

Wolves win in OT. Beat the Wizards ironically. Kieff out with a foot injury. Hopefully Lakers win and we take a loss

[Mulhollanddrive]

That's a big double win for us!

Minnesota now 4 in front of us with 10 to play.

Washington 3 behind playoffs with 10 to play.