Michael Carter-Williams: Don't Talk to Me About Tanking

[Endless Paradise]

Pretty cool and insightful piece from MCW that some of you might find worth a read.  He even calls out Stephen A. Smith:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/michael-carter-williams-dont-talk-to-me-about-tanking/

[D.o.s.]

The Players Tribune is pretty empty stuff, by design, but a lot of people don't take into account this aspect of tanking, particularly on this blog. Good post.

[Endless Paradise]

... but a lot of people don't take into account this aspect of tanking, particularly on this blog.

Absolutely.

[jpotter33]

Very cool article. He really seems like a kid that loves his basketball.

[GetLucky]

He'll be gone by the end of the month.

[celticsclay]

Unfortunately for him, his team's owner has done everything possible to create an environment where for the forseeable future the outcomes of his games will be what he hates most. If I was a player I wouldn't want to play for this team. If I saw my team saving money and cutting away players that were my teammates and really solid players because they may actually help us win, that would be so infuriating.

The 76ers are already 0-7 and are about to play all 3 texas teams on the road. They have already lost 5 games by double digits including their most recent one by 32 points.

They are an embarrassment to the NBA and are actively killing interest in professional basketball in a major city and a history of some really great teams.

If we believe MCW is any good what are the chances he is going to want to continue playing for this team when in the last year of his rookie contract they may finally be ready to win 30 games?

[Endless Paradise]

If I saw my team saving money and cutting away players that were my teammates and really solid players because they may actually help us win, that would be so infuriating.

Luckily, this has never happened.

[MBunge]

MCW sounds delusional.  Nobody thinks players tank.  Teams tank by making moves to ensure the players they put on the floor aren't as good as the other team.

MCW might not win 60 games in his first THREE SEASONS in the NBA.  If his team isn't tanking, he must really suck.

Mike

[Endless Paradise]

MCW sounds delusional.  Nobody thinks players tank.

People on these very forums have floated the ludicrously stupid idea of players actively helping their teams tank as part of some inane tacit agreement.

[Eddie20]

Well, he's going to have to get used to losing because they're going to be doing the same next year and a lot of their future hinges on Embiid's health.

[BleedGreen1989]

That was actually a pretty cool read.

Agree with DOS. People really don't take this stuff into account with their "pro tank" jibber jabber.

[get_banners]

Yeah, players don't tank. Management does. Now lets see if the Philly doctor clears MCW to play before the ASG.

[Endless Paradise]

He's already playing tonight.

[fairweatherfan]

Really good article.  It's true the impact on the players is rarely considered, especially the fact that when the roster's full of D-Leaguers, you've got a lot of guys playing for their basketball lives. 

I always wonder what the long-term effect of this kind of thing is.  A lot of great players had some bad teams along the way, but being part of something that's considered deliberate and becomes THE storyline about your team?  That's gotta be rough.  Add a relative lack of veterans and it seems like a pretty good way to derail some young careers.

[Endless Paradise]

Really good article.  It's true the impact on the players is rarely considered, especially the fact that when the roster's full of D-Leaguers, you've got a lot of guys playing for their basketball lives. 

I always wonder what the long-term effect of this kind of thing is.  A lot of great players had some bad teams along the way, but being part of something that's considered deliberate and becomes THE storyline about your team?  That's gotta be rough.  Add a relative lack of veterans and it seems like a pretty good way to derail some young careers.

I think it works both ways.  As MCW was getting at in the article, he HATES losing.  So being on a bad team just motivates him to find ways to help his team win.

Essentially, it comes down to the individual player's mental make-up.  You'll have some guys who take losing early on in their career as learning experiences and motivation for success.  You'll have others who'll have their careers derailed because they don't know how to deal with it.