I've changed my tank/don't tank opinion so many times that I can't keep track, but it's been one of those kinds of seasons. 20 games left, and I have to come down on one side or the other: Don't tank. If we had a chance of a 1-3 pick, it would be one thing, but we're looking at a 10-11 pick. Meh, I might as well enjoy the last 20 games and root for the wins.
Having said that, I don't think it's going to happen this year. I think it'll be close but no shamrock. A lot of it is simply math: With each passing game, it becomes incrementally more difficult to catch up, and the size of those increments accelerate as we get toward the end of the season. We need two, possibly three games to catch Indy/Charlotte. That's actually a lot, with only 20 left to play. Assuming we do catch one of them, the first tie breaker is head to head, where we are 1-2 against Charlotte YTD and 1-1 against Indy. Our last game against Charlotte is there and we have home and away against Indy. I'm not actually as worried about a better Indy team with Paul George possibly returning. It will take him the rest of the season just to shake off the cobwebs. Obviously, we have to pass Miami, also.
There's one other big wild card, and that is how the standings look. Atlanta will obviously have a chance to rest some players, but if Cleveland/Toronto (and maybe Chicago) are still battling it out, they won't. Our last four games include two against Cleveland and one against Toronto.
Reality, however, will not stop me from rooting for wins.
Mike