Let say we get 8th seed. Then by some miracle we beat GSW then lose in the second round. Would it be worth it?
How bad can we suck and get humiliated and still lose our draft pick? Utah collapse, we back into the 8th seed and get swept by a 20-point average? Mr. Murphy says that's what'll happen.
Utah @ Denver today: Utah has a huge incentive to win and Denver has quite the incentive to lose today as well...but will they? Get this 11. 34 45 Orlando Magic 9. 33 47 Denver Nuggets 8. 32 47 Milwaukee Bucks 7. 32 48 Sacramento Kings 7. 32 48 New York Knicks They are one game from the 7th pick, and one game from the 11th pick. I guess PHO gaves us one though, because their win allowed the Nets to pass them for the fight for the 3rd pick.
A 24% chance of happening according to Basketball Reference simulations of the last 3 games of the season: http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/playoff_prob.cgi
It would absolutely be worth it to spoil the media darlings best season ever and simultaneously turn the Rockets into the most hated team of all time. It would be worth it a thousand times over.
Tough call for the Nuggets. Lose and aim for pick #7, in which case you settle for the Rockets' 2nd rounder next year, or win and hope Utah's loss nets you the Rockets' #14 pick, which you could package with your #11 to move up. Occam's razor says that call is so close you might as well do the right thing and try to win the game. Unfortunately we have to player the Lakers first. Let's see how far Morey can throw.
slight correction ... You mean our 15th pick (should Denver get it by virtue of us making the playoffs). Also, from our side of things...Washington just beat Charlotte, so we are currently in the "driver's seat" for the 12th pick...1/2 game up on WAS
Yeah, sorry, 15th. In this draft, if I'm Denver, I think I'd rather have pick #7 than picks #11 and #15.
Making the playoffs is extremely important for free agency. If we want a good free agent, we've got to show we still have that competitive edge when it counts. Free agency > Late Pick in the first round