Like, does the NBA actually have 1000s of ping pong balls in a hopper and choose from that? Or do they use some kind of computer program, like the lotto generator CC.net uses?
There are not literally ping-pong balls with team names on them, no. It is a series of numbers like the (Texas) Lotto, and teams are given ranges of numbers accordingly.
It goes by combinations. If memory serves, it's a 6 digit (or 7 digit?) combination with 1001 possibilities. One combination is a dead one (.1% chance, if it's pulled, they re-draw), and the 1000 combinations are then divided based on the poorest record. I *think* the number combination is pulled, but I may be wrong. 2 years ago, CD said that the Rockets missed the #1 pick by the last number in the combination. OUCH! nba.com ran a story about it before the lottery last year, if someone cares to search for it.
Was that the Kenyon Martin lottery? Boy, this team would be different. I think alot of us would love him, while others would hate him vehemently. Well, kind of like the rest of our players.
Then we don't get the first rounder last season from the Bucks for trading them our pick, and we dont get Eddie Griffin EG > KM
