If The Next Ten Games Are Like the Last Ten, Is It Tank Time?

[GreenlyGreeny]

This team is simply going nowhere fast. Today was embarrassing. Losing to Detroit was embarrassing. I say keep trying to salvage the season, maybe get a 1st or 2nd round exit if we’re lucky, but if the next ten games look like the last ten, at what point do we consider tanking considering we have our first and second rounders? And how much longer do we keep clinging to this hope that Kemba will return to form? He’s obviously not the player he was and is a horrible fit next to the Super Jay Bros., so let’s see if we can dump him before we find out he’s toast.

If we tank, we may want to consider a complete rebuild around Tatum, Brown and Pritchard. That would even mean shipping out Smart, Theis, and some of the younger pieces who are just never going to be good enough. Take on some bad 2021-2022 contracts in order to build up our picks again. Make sure we have cap space for Jokic in 2023. Additional thoughts?

[knuckleballer]

These games don’t matter much except for seeding.  The last ten games and the playoffs will matter.  When we’re rolling, all that is happening now will be forgotten.  Then we can rip Smart when he takes an ill advised shot forgetting how badly the team played without him.

[Kuberski33]

If they tank they risk Jaylen and/or Tatum asking to be traded.

[GreenWarrior]

I said this team was a borderline 7-8 seed before the season. That may have been a reach.

[PhoSita]

I think if things don't start improving, especially in terms of effort and focus, it will be time to start thinking that this may be a lost season.


That being the case, I think you go through and assess each player on the roster and ask if they are part of the picture of the team moving forward.  If not, try to get any value you can for them. 

If you can use the TPE to add a piece who could be useful and complementary for the next couple of seasons, then I say go for it.  Otherwise, you probably need to prioritize playing time for the younger guys on the roster and hope that they can show some improvement and learn to play better as a unit.  Maybe by next season you can rely on guys like Grant, Pritchard, Timelord etc to be the mainstays of your bench.

[Birdman]

Why tank? There really no one in draft who can be a team changer

[knuckleballer]

Why tank? There really no one in draft who can be a team changer

They’re not going to tank. That is absolutely absurd.  Jayson and Jaylen have led this team to the conference finals in 3 of the last 4 years and they’re better players now.  This has been a weird tough season for many reasons.  This team will be competing in the playoffs.  It’s really a matter of what Ainge is willing to give up to give them a chance to contend.  I hope he makes a move.  Barnes, Collins, A Gordon, I don’t know, but I hope and expect him to do something significant.

[blink]

I have a hard time believing that with 2 All-Star wings we are going to start tanking.  That isn't going to help keep them around.

[DocomoCelts]

Tanking will give Tatum the reason to ask for a move.  He's just got LA written all over him.

[ozgod]

No. People need to chillax. It's far from wrist slitting time. Some people are just finding it hard dealing with a few losses 

[boscel33]

Tanking will give Tatum the reason to ask for a move.  He's just got LA written all over him.

he just signed a big extension, he's not going anywhere.  But I feel of the two J's, Brown is the one escalating his game to the next level each year, while Tatum sometimes looks like he's just going through the motions.

[BringToughnessBack]

Maybe there is a correlation between teams that are young, covid social restrictions and win loss record.

I have a feeling that for younger teams like ours, the Covid restrictions are starting to impact our mental ability to be consistent and compete at a higher level.

I would be curious to see a chart of average age of teams and current win loss record.

This is not a normal time and for players in their low to mid 20’s I would imagine the continued restrictions while the vaccines get distributed could continue the up and down  performance. When they are properly  engaged with team they facing, I believe focus is better. Social interaction is huge though for young players.

Time will tell. We cannot tank unless you are prepared for trade requests from our two best players. Get into the playoffs healthy and let the focus return and let our two stars continue tomorrow  under the spotlight that they both crave.

[NKY fan]

We can straighten the ship and improve team defense in the next ten games. However team defense is not easy when Kemba, Tristan and Timelord use up so much time on the court.
Brad has to start demanding improvements from that trio or else we should seriously just ship them out for average defenders (ideally Horford)

[Big333223]

Why wait? Start tanking now. Brown's trade value is never going to be higher so we should definitely move on from him. Tatum, too. The return the C's can get on trading those guys will be really high so let's dump them and then we'll be excellent position for the draft which is, of course, the point.

[/sarcasm]

[footey]

I've felt since pretty early on that this season is one not to be a top seed.  Finishing 6 is pretty optimal, avoiding the play in, but getting a better draft pick.   The better the pick, the better our trade assets in the off season.