Rockets @TANKATHON - 2022

We tend to do that here from time to time.

 

8% is a bit subpar.

 

probsbly looks pretty skewed for us too based on us winning games in bunches both years . I don’t remember when our win streak happened ... but when you have a streak that accounts for like 1/3 -1/2 of your wins... it will weight the #’s

 

That's some masterful tanking

Not to mention they have collected 1st round picks from what seems like half the NBA.

 

As of today.

Magic strength of schedule #13
Pistons strength of schedule #16
Thunder strength of schedule #19
Rockets strength of schedule #29
Blazers strength of schedule #30

We have "easier" opponents, the tank effort needs to be more deliberate.

 

Banchero-

 

If it is Presti we are talking about, we know what he does best.

Worst finishers, best tankers.

 

Only way Rockets end up with worst record is if they pull all their starters now.

 

That's not the only way. OKC also plays the Blazers twice and the Pistons once. Pistons have the Wiz, Pacers, and OKC left. Magic have the Wiz and Kings. The Rockets could go 4-5 and still end up worst or tied for worst.

Plus, when you are a bad defensive team like the Rockets your ability to lose games is limitless. They can't stop anybody from scoring and even bench guys in the NBA can get buckets if you don't defend them. Throw in the mess that is the Rockets offense and they are likely losers on almost every night.

 

Keep in mind that the games that the worst teams play one another - one team has to lose so it's unlikely if the Rockets go 4-5 they will finish with the worst record. Most likely we will be in the top 3. Also keep in mind that most of the teams will likely lose the last game of the season as it's an easy excuse to pull starters and give bench players a chance to show what they can do.

That's why I advocate the Rockets saying to Christian Wood, Gordon, and Schroder that they will only play limited minutes so to give other guys a chance to show what they can do. I would also reduce KPJ's and Tate's minutes.

 

The Houston Rockets are the worst team in the league who will end up with the worst record. nothing has changed at all

 

Let's run through it.

1. Say the Pistons win tonight since they are favored. That puts them at 21 wins. Then they beat OKC. They are at 22 wins.
2. OKC has 21 wins and loses to the Pistons. They still have the Blazers twice and finish the season against a Clippers team that is locked into the 8th seed. They just have to win 1 of those games to get to 22 wins.
3. Magic have 20 wins. They play the Kings, Wizards, a Knicks team that will likely be eliminated, and finish the season with Miami who may or may not have the 1 seed locked up. They can get 2 wins but they are the team that probably put up the best fight against getting 22 wins.

A two game cushion with 9 games left is a decent lead for a team as bad as the Rockets. I'd bet on them finishing 3-6 or worse which means the Magic and Pistons would have to go winless for the Rockets to not finish last.

 

Very much doubt this with the way our schedule shapes up and how much other teams are tanking.

 

Rockets have 5 games against crappy opponents, 3 against decent ones, and an end of season game where ATL is likely to rest players since it is locked in. If they do something stupid, they could win 6 games. If they go full tank, maybe they win 3. But let's say they win 4 to get to 22 like your scenario.

OK is an expert tanker. But let's say they win 2 of their remaining games, one against portland and one against the magic so they are at 24.

Now, the pistons have Wizards, Thunder, Pacers and Knicks - let's say they win half those games - that puts them at 22.

The Magic have Thunder (which we said they lost already in our scenario), Kings, Wizards, Knicks - the rest of the teams are good or fighting for playoff position. Let's they they win one of those and get to 21.

So in that scenario, we finish tied with the 2nd worst record. We certainly can get the worst record, and we can certainly finish out of the top 3. But even though we have a 2 game lead, we have one of the easiest schedules left, and a coach that wants to win games with a team that is playing better.

So yeah, my prediction is we finish with the 2nd or 3rd worst record in the league but the Magic are going to over take us for the worst.

 

when you're the worst team in the league, it doesn't matter. This tanking idea really has people all confused. You literally just suck. You lose anyway despite trying. You doubted dallas without luka and they got smacked. It'll be no different in these last 9 games.

You of all people would be one of the last I would think to worry about this. But You can continue to worry for whatever reason

people talking about the likes of orlando/okc losing out. Not even close. Both already proved that notion wrong instantly this week

 

Trying to remember how they break lotto ties.

 

I mean the overall talent level matters much less when one team is trying to win and the other is trying to lose.

If one team sucks and is playing their 8 best players and the other team sucks less but is playing their worst 8 players, the first team can win games they otherwise should lose.