There has never been a better time to tank

I'll give you the Lakers but they got EXCEPTIONALLY lucky with Kobe forcing his way to LA. The Pistons are a good example and probably the model the Rockets should use.

How do you think the Rockets got Dream, Spurs got Duncan, Bulls got Jordan and Mavs got Dirk???

 

That tactic failed us last season

 

Just do it.

 

And Robert Traylor was the 6th pick in the draft...need a high pick either way.

 

The Rockets won the coin flip which no longer exists. In the same draft the Bulls get lucky that portland takes Sam B. But honestly why bring up a once in a life time draft that yielded 2 of the best 10 players of all time, I dont care how good this draft looks, it doesnt offer that.

The Spurs had an extremely timely injury of their best player along with some tanking. BUT they still weren't the team with the highest odds for the 1st pick that year and were extremely lucky.

Mavs traded Robert Traylor the 6th pick in a deal for the then 9th, I repeat 9th pick in a pretty terrible draft.

The real fallacy of all the tanking talk is pointing out the very few instances that worked out as proof that tanking = succes, yet totaly dismiss the much higher percentage of times all the other teams who were terrible those years who thought they were going to get their savior only to be left Kwame Browns and Michael Olowokandis and the like.


Why anyone is up for a long term project with minimal probability of working out as easily as everyone is making it out to be is beyond me. The odds aren't with you to "win" the lottery and until we are in a position where a top 5 pick season is inevitable, I don't see the point in intentionally putting yourself there.

 

Look at every Western Conference and Eastern Conference contender and count how many acquired their superstar through high draft picks(draft day trades included) and which traded for their star player.

Oh and please don't compare NY and Miami to Houston...not going to work.

 

You guys forget how they ended up with Dirk Nowitski. Look at their 1996-1997 season before they drafted Dirk.

 

I would not lose on purpose but I would play all the young players a lot and let the chips fall where they may.

DD

 

I'm usually strictly against tanking.

But I have to say that I am extremely tempted this year to be in favor of it.

 

Sooooo #14 pick overall AGAIN it is.

 

If they really wanted competitive balance, they need to "re-systemize" the draft.

Each lottery team gets an even chance at the first 3 picks. Then go by record thereafter.

 

The problem with tanking is that it does not guarantee a good pick. If you get a top 5 pick, odds are that the player will not be a superstar or gets that he gets injured.

A better strategy would be to try to injure Amare when we play the Knicks.

 

I understand that they sucked before they got them. What you don't seem to understand was that there were several more teams that also sucked that didn't get them. And then they sucked equally again and then the draft wasn't as good or the lotto didn't turn out in their favor or any of the other crazy crap that can happen.

The lotto is not a fool proof way to success, it has worked for SOME but not MOST.

 

You tank by trading Luis and K-Mart for picks and expiring contracts. Then you work on developing your young players, but this has to be done before the season begins, not at the deadline. If you want a top three pick, you need to start losing immediately.

And I have been on record since the LA series that we need to tank. As far as I'm concerned, we've already delayed the inevitable for two years and have little to show for it.

 

This thread deserves:

 

First, you're assuming all teams are equally competent. Teams tend to be in the lottery repeatedly because they're dumb, badly run teams that do things like bonering high lottery picks, not because high lottery picks aren't valuable. The Rockets organization has consistently shown a good eye for talent with their later picks and there is no reason to assume this would not apply to high picks as well.

Second, you're assuming all drafts are equal. They aren't. While it's still too early to know for sure who will be entering, this is expected to be a draft extremely deep in star power. A 7 or 8 pick might be all you need to grab your franchise cornerstone.

Third, you're assuming we have to use and keep the pick. We could just as easily include it in a trade for an established superstar, before or after the draft. Derrick Favors might be a bust, but his potential was intriguing enough that the Jazz gave up Deron Williams for him.

I'll concede that lottery players bust or become injured. I'll even concede that it happens frequently enough to give any tanking team pause. But that doesn't make it a bad strategy. That's like saying you don't want to be dealt two aces in a Hold 'Em game because they're not favored to win if 8 other players stay in the hand. A move doesn't have to be likely to work to be correct. It just has to be more likely to work than any of the alternatives, and the Rockets don't have many better alternatives.

 

Just like in 2003 for the Cavs, Pistons, Nugs and Raptors? Tanking got them the top 4 picks in a top loaded draft. 0 Rings 0 players still on the team that drafted them.

Or more like in 2004 when Orlando, Charlotte, Chicago, LA and Washington got there guy who they groomed and built around? 0 rings and soon to be 0 players still on the team that drafted them.

Should I play the game again for 2005? Only real players of note, Deron Williams is already gone from his team and Chris Paul isn't that far behind.

Nothing is guaranteed people.

 

Great lets tank two weeks into the season for an inknown commodity not smart!

 

No let's not tank another season as the #9 seed would be wonderful in that enviable position as best team not to make the playoffs and getting that coveted lowest lotto pick.

THREEPEAT BABEEE!!!