Bob Cousy says he'd rather tank/draft than get stuck in the middle of the pack.

[D.o.s.]

Tommy disagrees. I agree with Tommy.

That is sort of a shady way to build an organization.  The basketball gods will punish you. Just look at the 76ers

[Celtics18]

Tommy disagrees. I agree with Tommy.

That is sort of a shady way to build an organization.  The basketball gods will punish you. Just look at the 76ers

I don't think it would be fair to say that the Rockets tanked for Olajuwon.  They lost their superstar, Moses Malone, to the Seventy-Sixers in free agency the year before they had one of the worst records in the league and landed Hakeem in the draft. 

[D.o.s.]

Yeah that was just the first Rockets picture I could find that I liked.

[slamtheking]

Let's see here:

Pro-tankers love this commentary -- Check
Anti-tankers don't agree with this commentary -- check

about sums it up

[tankcity!]

Tank for Simmons

[Celtics18]

Well, regardless of Cousy's opinion, it doesn't look like Danny Ainge has set this team up to continue tanking next year or into the coming years.

Even if you are one of the fans that leans towards Cousy's philosophy on how to rebuild, it's got to help that we have a plethora of draft picks in the near future that are going to be coming from other teams.

Wherever those picks fall, they are going to aid in the rebuild in one way or another.   

[Celtics18]

Tank for Simmons

I would say that you have a considerably higher chance of being disappointed than those of us rooting for this team to make the playoffs. 

[furball]

Tommy disagrees. I agree with Tommy.

That is sort of a shady way to build an organization.  The basketball gods will punish you. Just look at the 76ers

I don't think it would be fair to say that the Rockets tanked for Olajuwon.  They lost their superstar, Moses Malone, to the Seventy-Sixers in free agency the year before they had one of the worst records in the league and landed Hakeem in the draft.

Houston Tanking to get Olajuwon is the reason the league put the lottery in.  So at the very least they though it was tanking. 

[Csfan1984]

Tank for Simmons

No way.. tank for Lab.

And people it's never too late to Tank.

[Csfan1984]

Tommy disagrees. I agree with Tommy.

That is sort of a shady way to build an organization.  The basketball gods will punish you. Just look at the 76ers

Can we get a Robinson and Duncan pic?

[Celtics18]

Tommy disagrees. I agree with Tommy.

That is sort of a shady way to build an organization.  The basketball gods will punish you. Just look at the 76ers

I don't think it would be fair to say that the Rockets tanked for Olajuwon.  They lost their superstar, Moses Malone, to the Seventy-Sixers in free agency the year before they had one of the worst records in the league and landed Hakeem in the draft.

Houston Tanking to get Olajuwon is the reason the league put the lottery in.  So at the very least they though it was tanking.

Fair enough. 

[Hemingway]

It's so easy guys:

Year 1: tank get a superstar
Year 2: tank get another superstar
Year 3: Tank get a 3rd superstar
Years 4-10: Win titles
Year 11: tank get a superstar
Year 12: tank get another superstar
Year 13: Tank get a 3rd superstar
Years 14-20: Win titles
Year 21: tank get a superstar
Year 22: tank get another superstar
Year 23: Tank get a 3rd superstar
Years 24-30: Win titles

It's so easy guys.

[Hemingway]

Tommy disagrees. I agree with Tommy.

That is sort of a shady way to build an organization.  The basketball gods will punish you. Just look at the 76ers

I don't think it would be fair to say that the Rockets tanked for Olajuwon.  They lost their superstar, Moses Malone, to the Seventy-Sixers in free agency the year before they had one of the worst records in the league and landed Hakeem in the draft.

Houston Tanking to get Olajuwon is the reason the league put the lottery in.  So at the very least they though it was tanking.

Interesting, I had always heard to lotto was put in place because of Ewing. But I think you may be correct as Ewing was the first number 1 pick taken in the first lotto year, but Akeem was the last number 1 taken before the lotto.


People are always talking about ways to fix the lotto. Here is my idea, replace the numbered ping pong balls with numbered basketballs!

[D.o.s.]

This is a good article on the 1984 Rockets, but the system was adjusted (IMO) because they tanked to get back to back #1 picks -- something the NBA hates unless its Cleveland.

http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2007/05/thank_the_198384_rockets_for_t.html

[PhoSita]

Well, regardless of Cousy's opinion, it doesn't look like Danny Ainge has set this team up to continue tanking next year or into the coming years.

Even if you are one of the fans that leans towards Cousy's philosophy on how to rebuild, it's got to help that we have a plethora of draft picks in the near future that are going to be coming from other teams.

Wherever those picks fall, they are going to aid in the rebuild in one way or another.

For better or for worse, our hopes lie with the Nets picks, and to a lesser extent the mavs pick