Philly the kings of tanking

[azzenfrost]

Yeah, I wonder about that too. Wyc mentioned that last season, TD had 98% attendance.

[MBunge]

Philly should go a long way to settle the tanking debate for all time.  They started tanking at the 2013 draft, kept tanking through the 2013-2014 season, tanked again at the 2014 draft and likely will continue through next season.  That's like 2 and half years.  I don't think any team will ever be able to tank harder or more intentionally than Philly.  If they don't get a title out of it, we should never have to talk about it again.

Mike

[mef730]

Yeah, I wonder about that too. Wyc mentioned that last season, TD had 98% attendance.

Probably true, but I don't know how many of those tickets were giveaways.  For instance, as a STH, if I am not going to use my tickets, I'll either sell them on the Celtics resale site or donate them.  I'm guessing the donated tickets always get used and the prices in the resale market were way down from the previous year.  I also got a 10% price decrease in my tickets for renewing early this year.

I have no doubt that Wyc is right about the 98% attendance rate, but I'm not sure that's the whole story.  My question would be something along the lines of what percentage of those attending actually paid full price for their tickets and comparing that to previous seasons.  I'm not sure the 98% number would look so good at that point.

And in no way do I begrudge Wyc for his statement.  He's trying to put his best foot forward and I believe that he wants to do what's right for the team long-term.  But there definitely is some short-term pain.  I'm okay with that.

Mike

[azzenfrost]

I think Wyc's point was not sales. It's that the C's sucked and the fans still went to the games.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Its very classless. They should not be rewarded for what they r doing.

why not? they are operating completely within the rules, nothing wrong with it. It has already hurt their ticket sales and I'm sure will continue to for at least another season, with no guarantee of long term success at all, so the 'reward' is relative

Good point. And if Noel and/or Embiid turns out to be a bust (whether due to lack of talent or too many injuries), they won't get much of a reward, will they?

[footey]

Philly took Embiid because he has tremendous upside, and is a much better prospect at the 5 than Noel.  Noel is very stiff, mechanical.  I don't think he will be a great center. Embiid will be, if he holds up.

I am jealous of the Sixers right now, but I won't pick on them for tanking better than us.  They completely stripped their roster mid season, and it sort of paid off.  Being 3 picks higher is the difference between Embiid (best NBA center prospect in many years, with injury question) vs. Marcus Smart (undersized two guard, but tough competitor). 

[bknova]

Philly took Embiid because he has tremendous upside, and is a much better prospect at the 5 than Noel.  Noel is very stiff, mechanical.  I don't think he will be a great center. Embiid will be, if he holds up.

I am jealous of the Sixers right now, but I won't pick on them for tanking better than us.  They completely stripped their roster mid season, and it sort of paid off.  Being 3 picks higher is the difference between Embiid (best NBA center prospect in many years, with injury question) vs. Marcus Smart (undersized two guard, but tough competitor).

I wanted Embiid on the C's as much as anybody and he is by far my favorite player in this draft, but lets get this myth very clear, he IS NOT the best center prospect in years.  He's never been labeled can't miss by anybody, and he certainly did not dominate college basketball.

Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, Greg Oden, and Anthony Davis were all rated significantly higher and considered can't miss.  Duncan, Oden, and Davis, dominated college basketball.  Oden aside, the other three have lived up to their can't miss hype.
Now I wanted Embiid bad, but I was not willing to pretend that he was can't miss, ergo not making him the best center prospect in years.  He has higher upside than Cody Zeller, but until proven otherwise, he certainly is no Anthony Davis.

[cman88]

eh, too early to declare Philly winners of anything. sure they have stocked up with alot of young lottery talent, but there is no way of knowing how that lottery talent will stock up.

two of their best prospects (noel/embiid) are coming off injuries and there is no telling how they will be in the NBA. for every all-star calibar player drafted in the lottery there are many guys who end up as busts or just role players.