1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. Watching NBA Action
    Come join Clutch as we're watching NBA Play-In Tournament action live ...

    LIVE: NBA Playoffs!
    Dismiss Notice
Welcome LIVE NBA ACTION

What exactly IS "tanking?"

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Trackball, Dec 12, 2011.

Tags:
Page 1 of 4
  1. Trackball

    Trackball Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    Messages:
    289
    Likes Received:
    24
    I know that it involves losing a lot of games, but...

    Think back to the 1982-83 season. Bad teams everywhere were losing games on purpose just so they could get the best shot at the #1 pick in the draft, and thus acquire Ralph Sampson. As you all know, we wound up with that pick by way of a coin flip between the two teams with the worst records, one of which was obviously us. We got Sampson, and had a few seasons of awesome until, like Yao Ming 20 years later, his body broke down way too soon.

    Incidentally, I heard from several sources, including ESPN, that Ralph was so desired, newspapers actually started listing the division standings upside-down (worst record on top) so as to keep track of "the race for Ralph." Did that actually happen? I've always wanted to know...

    Anyway, it was this series of deliberate failures that led to the institution of the NBA Draft Lottery in 1985...of course, we could say a lot of things about that first lottery, but that's neither here nor there. The point is that the lotto was put in place to prevent (or at least discourage) teams from losing on purpose just to get a higher pick in the draft--under the current system, the worst-record team only has a 25% chance, at best, of getting #1. At least once, the team with the WORST chance won it (1993, Orlando won and chose Chris Webber, and almost immediately traded him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway, the #3 pick...weird).

    The point is, if tanking means losing on purpose, wouldn't the NBA executives take notice of this, and lock us out of the lottery or something? I mean, there has to be a reason that no NBA team has ever gone 0-82 (the worst record to date was 9-73, by the Sixers in the early '70s). So, is there more to tanking than this?
     
    #1 Trackball, Dec 12, 2011
  2. CVcrew

    CVcrew Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2004
    Messages:
    1,081
    Likes Received:
    1,248
    No one's talking about "tanking". Some of us would just would prefer that we move Scola and Martin for younger players or picks so that we can begin with our "player development". If "player development" nets you a top pick, well then so be it! :grin:

    However, if we broke some league rules so be it. Not exactly like the league hasn't wronged this franchise.
     
    #2 CVcrew, Dec 12, 2011
  3. Raven

    Raven Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2002
    Messages:
    14,984
    Likes Received:
    1,024
    Tanking = trade your vets and play the youngsters.

    That's it.
     
    #3 Raven, Dec 12, 2011
  4. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Insufferable 98er
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2000
    Messages:
    67,752
    Likes Received:
    45,661
    Playing Thabeet and T-Will.
     
    #4 AroundTheWorld, Dec 12, 2011
  5. Trackball

    Trackball Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    Messages:
    289
    Likes Received:
    24
    Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't want to lose. It's just that there are so many so-called "fans" on here who have given up hope, and have thrown out the whole season before a single game has been played. Just like the Rockets gave up hope in Game 1 of the 1995 Finals when we were down by 20 in the second quarter. Isn't that right, Nick Anderson?

    I trust Daryl Morey. There's a reason he is the general manager and we're not. We may not have a Gasol, but who knows who could be the next Rocket. (And yes, screw David Stern. If I were the type to use profanity, I would be using it a lot here...)

    Anyway, all I wanted was a clear definition of tanking--I've never heard a clear definition of the word, other than "lose every game on purpose." Unless I missed something.
     
    #5 Trackball, Dec 12, 2011
  6. Big MAK

    Big MAK Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2008
    Messages:
    4,305
    Likes Received:
    322
    I'm not for intentionally losing a game by asking players to miss a shot at the end or anything.

    To me, tanking means playing our young guys more and develop them for the future. Trade older players that wont be here in 3-5 years for picks and/or freshman and sophmores. The young players arn't going to be winning the same amount of games as we would with Martin and Scola playing 35 minutes, so we lose more and develop them. Win win
     
    #6 Big MAK, Dec 12, 2011
  7. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    89,561
    Likes Received:
    43,134
    You don't have to trade away Martion or Scola. Just cut their minutes to half or minimum.
     
    #7 daywalker02, Dec 12, 2011
  8. RedNation

    RedNation Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2010
    Messages:
    19,721
    Likes Received:
    708
    We aren't going to tank. Les won't let us tank. I don't want us to tank. Do you guys pay attention to the tanking/rebuilding astros. Oh that's right, no one wants to watch a team who stinks it up and loses all the time, which is what would happen if we had a lineup of lowry/young sg/twill/ppat/thabeet.
     
    #8 RedNation, Dec 12, 2011
  9. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    89,561
    Likes Received:
    43,134
    Our approach to tanking is not giving up. Tanking nowadays does not mean we don't give effort. It is much more a controlled version of player development.
    So what if we lose 5 or 6 more games.
     
    #9 daywalker02, Dec 12, 2011
  10. H-Town Rockets Guy

    H-Town Rockets Guy Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2010
    Messages:
    481
    Likes Received:
    463
    Tanking is losing games with the purpose of getting a higher pick in the draft. You can either trade away your veteran players and get picks or younger players or let the rookies and our younger players play and we will lose games
     
    #10 H-Town Rockets Guy, Dec 12, 2011
  11. CCorn

    CCorn Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2010
    Messages:
    21,427
    Likes Received:
    21,210
    Minny every season. This will be a crazy year...
     
    #11 CCorn, Dec 12, 2011
  12. daywalker02

    daywalker02 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    89,561
    Likes Received:
    43,134
    I think that is why we brought in McHale. No matter what the outcome is.
     
    #12 daywalker02, Dec 12, 2011
  13. RedNation

    RedNation Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2010
    Messages:
    19,721
    Likes Received:
    708
    It means playing younger guys and watching them develop. Like what the astros are doing. You think if we take out scola/martin we will only lose 5 or 6 more games? I think wed lose 15 or 20 more games. They give us most of the scoring. I think management knows if we play young guys who won't win games, not many people will come to fill up the seats. See some of the other rebuilding teams.
     
    #13 RedNation, Dec 12, 2011
  14. RedNation

    RedNation Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2010
    Messages:
    19,721
    Likes Received:
    708
    I can guarnatee you les didn't bring in kmac to let young players play and lose games. Why do you think we made a push for gasol? We are trying to win now, and even with this lineup they will continue with that approach.
     
    #14 RedNation, Dec 12, 2011
  15. raining threes

    raining threes Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    12,680
    Likes Received:
    8,329
    How was Hakeem aquired?

    Answer: Tanking

    Ralph Sampson: Tanking

    Rodney McCray: Tanking

    See a trend and while Ralph and Rodney picks didn't work out as planned they were able to trade them for pieces that contributed to a championship. Tanking probably would've worked if not for drug suspensions/ Ralphs knee problems.
     
    #15 raining threes, Dec 12, 2011
  16. Trackball

    Trackball Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    Messages:
    289
    Likes Received:
    24
    That's the problem. The draft is a crapshoot. Way too many unknown quantities.

    Hel, Calvin Murphy was a second-rounder and he's in the Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, Michael Olowokandi is probably sitting at some desk job...to say nothing of LaRue Martin.
     
    #16 Trackball, Dec 12, 2011
  17. daeyeth

    daeyeth Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    Messages:
    1,140
    Likes Received:
    28
    it's when your team sucks and try to pat yourself on the back by saying it's ok because it's on purpose
     
    #17 daeyeth, Dec 12, 2011
  18. WNBA

    WNBA Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2002
    Messages:
    5,365
    Likes Received:
    404
    fire Adelman and sign McHale.
    get Nets players.
    trade for busts.
     
    #18 WNBA, Dec 12, 2011
  19. Haymitch

    Haymitch Custom Title
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2005
    Messages:
    27,980
    Likes Received:
    23,171
    For the current Rockets team, tanking amounts to starting Hasheem Thabeet.
     
    #19 Haymitch, Dec 12, 2011
  20. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    13,739
    Likes Received:
    10,211
    Playing the 09 busts BIG minutes as I've said before so you can tank, see if they're worth keeping, and showcase them for tradebait.
     
    #20 Phillyrocket, Dec 12, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 4

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now