Move over Demarcus Cousins, Hasan Whiteside need a seat in the hate wagon...

[guava_wrench]

Why wouldn't the Heat tank this season, though? All their major players will still be there next season, after all.

Philly has their 1st rd pick (top 10 protected) via Cleveland (James trade)

You are missing the point my friend. That is why they would tank. To not lose the pick to Philly...

Precisely. Top 10 protected means exactly the opposite of what Eddie20 seems to think it does.

I just don't see any way they dont lose the pick, aside from them not making the playoffs and having lottery luck.

Eddie I am not sure if you are joking or not, but for some reason your post made me laugh out loud in my office. They currently have the 12th pick in the draft. They have 1 less loss than Boston and the Nets. If they happen to lose two more games than those two teams over the next 20 by sitting their veterans they keep their pick. Is there really no way you can see them losing a few more games than teams they are virtually tied with over the course of 20 games? It really isn't very hard to imagine...

No, I'm very serious. The Heat, regardless of whether Bosh is there or not, have too much talent to fall that far. More than likely, they make the playoffs finishing in the 7th or 8th seed and it's the 15th or 16th pick that's conveyed to Philly.

Riley isn't going to tank. I think that whole premise that he would is pretty absurd.

This is the same guy who completely gutted his team in order to have the opportunity to sign two other max players... a move that wasn't nearly as much of a done deal as you might want to believe.

Gutted his entire team? Quick, name the 3 best players of all those "casualties"? Regardless, they were a 5th seed the year before the James and Bosh signings. Not exactly tanking.

Agreed. Gutting the team in the offseason by having a team of expiring deals is not tanking.

[Eddie20]

If it is not even close why are they behind those teams 60 games into the season?

I'll make a bet with u. 10 TP's for me if they make the playoffs. 10 TP's for you if they keep their pick and land in the top 10.

[celticsclay]

If it is not even close why are they behind those teams 60 games into the season?

I'll make a bet with u. 10 TP's for me if they make the playoffs. 10 TP's for you if they keep their pick and land in the top 10.

Sure you got a deal. I really am not understanding why you think they are suddenly going to play better the last twenty games of the season than they did for the first 60 after losing their best player (Bosh). It is also not like they have been playing much better with dragic. Just don't really get what you are seeing.