Okay, I don't get it???

[DesertDweller]

Fourteen ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14 are placed in a drum. There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection. Prior to the Lottery, 1,000 combinations are assigned to the Lottery teams based on their order of finish during the regular season. Four balls are drawn to the top to determine a four-digit combination. The team that has been assigned that combination will receive the number one pick. The four balls are placed back in the drum and the process is repeated to determine the number two and three picks. If the one unassigned combination is drawn, the balls are drawn to the top again.

Let's say the first four-digit combination of numbers drawn was assigned to Boston. they would then have the first pick in the draft, right???  so what happens if the second group of numbers drawn is also a combination assigned to Boston???   

[Roy H.]

so what happens if the second group of numbers drawn is also a combination assigned to Boston???

They re-draw for the second position.

It's one of the reasons why the lottery wouldn't be that exciting if televised.

[Fafnir]

so what happens if the second group of numbers drawn is also a combination assigned to Boston???

They re-draw for the second position.

It's one of the reasons why the lottery wouldn't be that exciting if televised.

I remember on of the years' (Yao draft?) they had to redraw many times for the second pick.

[freshinthehouse]

They re-draw for the second position.

It's one of the reasons why the lottery wouldn't be that exciting if televised.

Roy, are you saying that this wouldn't be must-see TV?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKI-fToATpQ

You can feel yourself aging as you watch this.

[Moranis]

so what happens if the second group of numbers drawn is also a combination assigned to Boston???

They re-draw for the second position.

It's one of the reasons why the lottery wouldn't be that exciting if televised.

Plus you lose the suspense of going in reverse order.  I have no problem with how the tv is done, I just think after it airs they should release video of the full lottery drawing process.  It would really eliminate a lot of the speculation and conspiracy theories and frankly it wouldn't harm anything (it isn't like are state secrets going on in the room).

[D.o.s.]

I don't think you'll ever be able to convince people that there isn't a conspiracy -- that's kind of the hallmark of conspiracies, after all.

[LarBrd33]

They re-draw for the second position.

It's one of the reasons why the lottery wouldn't be that exciting if televised.

Roy, are you saying that this wouldn't be must-see TV?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKI-fToATpQ

You can feel yourself aging as you watch this.

Oh man... I always knew this was how it was done, but I didn't realize they had released video.  That had always been one of the critiques from the conspiracy theory nuts... "Why don't they show video of the actual drawing and put this to rest?"...

That solves that. 

[LarBrd33]

I'd love for one of the conspiracy nuts to watch that video and tell me if they still think it's fixed.

[D.o.s.]

I'd love for one of the conspiracy nuts to watch that video and tell me if they still think it's fixed.

They'll probably go on about weighted balls, frozen envelopes, and other double entendres in waiting.

[LarBrd33]

I'd love for one of the conspiracy nuts to watch that video and tell me if they still think it's fixed.

They'll probably go on about weighted balls, frozen envelopes, and other double entendres in waiting.

So is that the theory... that they'd make the 8 weighted in a way so that it would always pop up first... so that the team that owns all the combos beginning with an 8 has a best shot at #1 pick?

Don't really buy it.  It would be fishy if every drawing always had #8 pop up first over and over and over and over and over again.   

It's not fixed. 

[D.o.s.]

I agree, but, again, that's what makes a conspiracy theory a conspiracy theory -- the end result ends up being the same, regardless of the evidence brought forth.

[heitingas]

Are team excecutves (like Celtics) allowed to leak to the media when their pick is settled ? In other words will there be news on twitter as each teams draft order will be determined ?

[fairweatherfan]

I'd love for one of the conspiracy nuts to watch that video and tell me if they still think it's fixed.

You can't reason something out of something they were never reasoned into in the first place.

Still, didn't know that video was out there.  Probably a good policy even though it'll never stop the conspiracy-minded.

[LooseCannon]

Are team excecutves (like Celtics) allowed to leak to the media when their pick is settled ? In other words will there be news on twitter as each teams draft order will be determined ?

I'm pretty sure they sequester the team representatives who witness the drawing (and do things like confiscate cell phones) until after the results are unveiled on television, so the team reps on TV have no idea how their team did.

[D.o.s.]

Are team excecutves (like Celtics) allowed to leak to the media when their pick is settled ? In other words will there be news on twitter as each teams draft order will be determined ?

I'm sure there will be an army fighting over who can tweet the order out as fast as possible.