Suns and Lakers in full tank mode, Brooklyn keeps winning. Trouble for us?

[mctyson]

Watching Laker game, first half.

Pathetic.

Silver should strip them of their pick, give it to Sixers.

S the only way Lakers can rebuild is fire smart people like Mitch and hire people who have no clue about team building other than tank and cross their fingers and hope Ball is the next Jason Kidd.

NBA needs to repair the way they give out draft rights.    Instead of playing for wins and title teams are playing to,loose and win draft lottery.     The his ismjust screwed up .

I disagree but also somewhat agree.  All sports allow the team with the worst record to draft first, which of course makes sense.  The only change the NBA should make would be to get rid of the lottery altogether and simply have draft position by record.  There wouldn't be much of a difference for the worst teams as far as tanking is concerned but you would have teams with no shot of getting in the top-5 outright tanking.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I still think BKN finishes with the worst record, but are they playing anyone halfway decent to close the season? Seems like they've been getting all cupcakes lately.

[MJohnnyboy]

I still think BKN finishes with the worst record, but are they playing anyone halfway decent to close the season? Seems like they've been getting all cupcakes lately.

Depends on your definition of half-decent. Off the top of my head, I believe their last six opponents are:

Atlanta
Orlando
Philadelphia
Boston
Chicago twice

Since Chicago seems to be making a late-season surge, and since the Celtics will probably try to do everything in their power to get the first seed I could see Brooklyn losing those games.

[colincb]

I still think BKN finishes with the worst record, but are they playing anyone halfway decent to close the season? Seems like they've been getting all cupcakes lately.

Depends on your definition of half-decent. Off the top of my head, I believe their last six opponents are:

Atlanta
Orlando
Philadelphia
Boston
Chicago twice

Since Chicago seems to be making a late-season surge, and since the Celtics will probably try to do everything in their power to get the first seed I could see Brooklyn losing those games.

Have to assume they beat ORL and PHI who at this late point S/B tanking. ATL has something to play for despite sitting in 6th place by two games as their remaining schedule after the Nets game tomorrow is a bear with BOS, CLE twice, CHA. and IND. CHI is technically in the 7th slot because of tiebreakers and has plenty of incentive to play hard as do we.

[CelticsElite]

Hawks are fighting to move up in seed. And Philly recently beat the nets. Philly will do it again

[footey]

Over their last 20 games, the Nets are 8-12. Projecting that .400 winning percentage to their last 6 games means they most likely win only 2-3 more games.

Meanwhile the Lakers are 2-18 over their last 20 games and project to win either 0 or 1 game the rest of the way.

Just don't see the Nets catching the Lakers. Especially given each team's schedule. My guess is the Nets end up 2 games behind LA.

No offense but these projections are worthless.

Why are they worthless?

Because it doesn't take into account the typically weird things that happen during end of season. For example teams that have a spot locked in playoffs who want to rest guys (e.g. ATL) and teams that may have nothing to play for the last couple of games (e.g. Chicago if they slide out of playoff contention).

Plus doesn't take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing (when they lose, it's barely) and how soft Lakers playing (pretty much getting blown out by 10 plus every game).

I'm just not confident until the game clincher. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Brooklyn beats us in our last game against them. That game is by no means a given.

[Alleyoopster]

I blame the owners for this repeated disgraceful behavior. If tanking were considered a criminal case they'd all be thrown in jail for letting this happen. Passive-aggressive accomplices.

Teams who blatantly tank two years in a row or more shouldn't be able to land a top 15 pick. If this pick is already spoken for, then alternate fines/punishments should be considered.

The NBA is becoming a rigged Fantasy League....totally pathetic!!! This discussion shouldn't be happening year after year. Are we going to see one more year of the 76ers' getting a top pick. Is LA going to go into tank more one more time? I'm fed up!

(Origin of the expression fed up .....http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fed-up.html ) 

[RockinRyA]

Over their last 20 games, the Nets are 8-12. Projecting that .400 winning percentage to their last 6 games means they most likely win only 2-3 more games.

Meanwhile the Lakers are 2-18 over their last 20 games and project to win either 0 or 1 game the rest of the way.

Just don't see the Nets catching the Lakers. Especially given each team's schedule. My guess is the Nets end up 2 games behind LA.

No offense but these projections are worthless.

Why are they worthless?

Because it doesn't take into account the typically weird things that happen during end of season. For example teams that have a spot locked in playoffs who want to rest guys (e.g. ATL) and teams that may have nothing to play for the last couple of games (e.g. Chicago if they slide out of playoff contention).

Plus doesn't take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing (when they lose, it's barely) and how soft Lakers playing (pretty much getting blown out by 10 plus every game).

I'm just not confident until the game clincher. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Brooklyn beats us in our last game against them. That game is by no means a given.

It does take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing and how soft the Lakers are playing. Unless you think Brooklyn has been half assing it in their 8-12 record last 20 games.

[Green-Bananas]

Over their last 20 games, the Nets are 8-12. Projecting that .400 winning percentage to their last 6 games means they most likely win only 2-3 more games.

Meanwhile the Lakers are 2-18 over their last 20 games and project to win either 0 or 1 game the rest of the way.

Just don't see the Nets catching the Lakers. Especially given each team's schedule. My guess is the Nets end up 2 games behind LA.

No offense but these projections are worthless.

Why are they worthless?

Because it doesn't take into account the typically weird things that happen during end of season. For example teams that have a spot locked in playoffs who want to rest guys (e.g. ATL) and teams that may have nothing to play for the last couple of games (e.g. Chicago if they slide out of playoff contention).

Plus doesn't take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing (when they lose, it's barely) and how soft Lakers playing (pretty much getting blown out by 10 plus every game).

I'm just not confident until the game clincher. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Brooklyn beats us in our last game against them. That game is by no means a given.

It does take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing and how soft the Lakers are playing. Unless you think Brooklyn has been half assing it in their 8-12 record last 20 games.

The Nets faced some very good teams in the early part of those last 20 games. I think the last
10 games is a better model. They went 5-5 against teams who were either borderline playoff
caliber to tankers. If Atlanta can just do their part and give them another loss, that would allow
for the Bulls to rest the final game. Course, that assumes the Celt's doing their part.

[nickagneta]

Over their last 20 games, the Nets are 8-12. Projecting that .400 winning percentage to their last 6 games means they most likely win only 2-3 more games.

Meanwhile the Lakers are 2-18 over their last 20 games and project to win either 0 or 1 game the rest of the way.

Just don't see the Nets catching the Lakers. Especially given each team's schedule. My guess is the Nets end up 2 games behind LA.

No offense but these projections are worthless.

Why are they worthless?

Because it doesn't take into account the typically weird things that happen during end of season. For example teams that have a spot locked in playoffs who want to rest guys (e.g. ATL) and teams that may have nothing to play for the last couple of games (e.g. Chicago if they slide out of playoff contention).

Plus doesn't take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing (when they lose, it's barely) and how soft Lakers playing (pretty much getting blown out by 10 plus every game).

I'm just not confident until the game clincher. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Brooklyn beats us in our last game against them. That game is by no means a given.

It does take into account how hard Brooklyn is playing and how soft the Lakers are playing. Unless you think Brooklyn has been half assing it in their 8-12 record last 20 games.

Exactly. Over the last 20 games Brooklyn has made a push to win against all sorts of team in different scenarios. In the last 20 games LA has done everything to lose. Both team's records indicate this over the last 20 games so using their winning percentage during that span as a wsy to gauge the last 6 games is very pertinent.

[Neurotic Guy]

Heart pounding -- Lakers up 2 vs. Memphis with less than 2 minutes to go. 

I know what is going to happen -- but can't help hoping.  Would be huge.

UP 4:  1:07 left.

Update:   UP 6 with 50 seconds left

[hpantazo]

Looks like the Lakers just put this one away! Huge win for the Nets pick.

[Neurotic Guy]

Looks like the Lakers just put this one away! Huge win for the Nets pick.

I still see 56 seconds left. Up 6, Lakers can still blow it.  Yes, it's now 3.

[Neurotic Guy]

Big FT by Randle.  NOT OVER.  Randle of course misses the 2nd.   Lakers by 4 with 28 seconds to go.

[Neurotic Guy]

Naturally, 2 3's by Conley puts Memphis down only 1.  Foul with 11 seconds.  Lakers can (will) blow it.

2 FTs made by LAL.  11 seconds to go. Now for the tie with a 3rd straight 3.