Beat the LA Lakers or higher draft position ?
- Thread starter Andriod_KiNg
- Start date
Its unfortunate that we have no wiggle room, but we don't, so we have to lose.
It would actually be the supreme irony, and not in a good way, for us to win a meaningless final game against the Lakers of all people and have it dim our future come draft day. Be a tough loss to pull off too given the at the Lakers look to be in full parade mode shutting everybody down awaiting the playoffs. But we still need it. One more loss one more time, and maybe if the pick and free agency are good enough to us, the last time we have to play this game until all of us have significantly more wrinkles than we do now and we are awaiting Reke's jersey retirement ceremony.
It would actually be the supreme irony, and not in a good way, for us to win a meaningless final game against the Lakers of all people and have it dim our future come draft day. Be a tough loss to pull off too given the at the Lakers look to be in full parade mode shutting everybody down awaiting the playoffs. But we still need it. One more loss one more time, and maybe if the pick and free agency are good enough to us, the last time we have to play this game until all of us have significantly more wrinkles than we do now and we are awaiting Reke's jersey retirement ceremony.
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Lose to LA. Beating them is not seeing the forrest through the trees.
Winning does not hurt LA one bit. It's not as it we would knock them out of the playoffs or even really hurt their odds of winning it all in any way.
However, winning does hurt us. We most likely lose ping pong balls. Let LA smack us around tomorrow and we can look forward to passing them in the next 2-3 years and being the best team in CA.
Winning does not hurt LA one bit. It's not as it we would knock them out of the playoffs or even really hurt their odds of winning it all in any way.
However, winning does hurt us. We most likely lose ping pong balls. Let LA smack us around tomorrow and we can look forward to passing them in the next 2-3 years and being the best team in CA.
Are we forgetting that we rooted for lins at the end of last season to get the most ping pong balls only to slip to #4 in the draft? It would probably hurt my feelings less than usual if we lost, but still...I'd rather root for Golden State, Washington and Detroit to win out than to root for the Lakers, even for just one game. And even with Golden State, there's still the issue of avoiding last place in the Pacific (I know that sounds pointless, and it probably is, but I was hoping we could avoid last place this time, and it would probably help Tyreke's ROY chances over Curry).
I think the fact that we lost so many games last season ensured us to get at least a top 4 pick.
In this case we get the 3rd worst record the worst pick we can get is the 6th (we have a better chance to get the 1st than the 6th btw)
If we end up around the 6th, 7th worst record we could be looking at the 9th pick.
We wont have any more chances to get another star in the draft, I think we just should pull everyone, hopefully PW tanks just 1 game for us.
In this case we get the 3rd worst record the worst pick we can get is the 6th (we have a better chance to get the 1st than the 6th btw)
If we end up around the 6th, 7th worst record we could be looking at the 9th pick.
We wont have any more chances to get another star in the draft, I think we just should pull everyone, hopefully PW tanks just 1 game for us.
Draft. Just means beating LA more in the long run. Considering we're tied with 2 (or is it 3?) other teams for position, a woss would be a very bad thing.
I told my friend this is going to be the ONE time I am rootin for the Lakers ever, let alone against the Kings. I'm gonna feel pretty dirty afterwords. Will probably need a loooooooong shower.
I told my friend this is going to be the ONE time I am rootin for the Lakers ever, let alone against the Kings. I'm gonna feel pretty dirty afterwords. Will probably need a loooooooong shower.
Just remember that you're doing the right thing 
I actually think our chances of linning have gone up with Bryant sitting this last game out. I feel bad for JT, but Pau is going to embarrass him.
Honestly, "moral" victories don't mean ish to me.They've beat us every game this season --and they're supposed to-- they're A LOT better than us.
I'd rather lose and get top3 pick and get a stud in the draft. Then we can beat the living holy hell out of the Lakers next year when we have another stud draft pick to go along with Tyreke.
I'd rather lose and get top3 pick and get a stud in the draft. Then we can beat the living holy hell out of the Lakers next year when we have another stud draft pick to go along with Tyreke.
better draft position...
and its not even close...
the right pick could put the kings a step closer to the playoffs, where meeting LA would actually matter, as opposed to the absolutely meaningless final game this season...
a rivalry without a pulse is not worth the damage a win could cause...
turner, wall, cousins, favors...
regardless of one's opinion of the pros, cons, and differences between each, those are the names that seem to matter the most in this draft class, and if the kings remain in the bottom three, the likelihood of drafting one of those names is pretty damn solid...
the opportunity to pick turner or wall, in particular, is incredibly enticing, and should the kings have such an opportunity, that meaningless game against the lakers tomorrow will barely register as a memory in the minds of kings fans everywhere...
LIN.
and its not even close...
the right pick could put the kings a step closer to the playoffs, where meeting LA would actually matter, as opposed to the absolutely meaningless final game this season...
a rivalry without a pulse is not worth the damage a win could cause...
turner, wall, cousins, favors...
regardless of one's opinion of the pros, cons, and differences between each, those are the names that seem to matter the most in this draft class, and if the kings remain in the bottom three, the likelihood of drafting one of those names is pretty damn solid...
the opportunity to pick turner or wall, in particular, is incredibly enticing, and should the kings have such an opportunity, that meaningless game against the lakers tomorrow will barely register as a memory in the minds of kings fans everywhere...
LIN.
It's simple.
This draft will be the last time the Kings have any sort of opportunity to acquire elite, and potential super-star talent cheaply.
If we somehow end up drafting Turner/Wall we are one defensive big-man away from being in the mix for Western Conference Champions year-in and year-out for the next decade. (Perkins in 2011 anyone?)
If we somehow end up with Cousins/Favors, we are probably on track for the playoffs in 2012, and hopefully championship contention in 2014 and beyond.
Remember that we have a ton of capspace, so the better the player we can pick up in the draft, the more likely we'll be able to convince a high-tier free-agent that the situation is worth coming over for.
If we end up picking outside the top 5 or so, the road to the play-offs and especially championship contention gets far, far more difficult.
So, don't let the Lakers stop the Kings from being the best team they can be. If we lose to them tomorrow, then we get the last laugh.
I don't care what we have to do tomorrow, but the only sane thing from a Front-Office and coaching standpoint is to lose the game. If we have to play a line-up of Udoka, Garcia, Nocioni, May, and Brockman for 30 minutes tomorrow, then do it.
Tomorrow I don't care about player development, or ending on a good note or anything. Tyreke got his 20-5-5 now all that matters is securing the best possible draft position.
I want tomorrow to be the absolute last time for the next 10-15 years that I root for my team to lose. And if we get the loss tomorrow, there is a very good chance that I'll get my wish.
This draft will be the last time the Kings have any sort of opportunity to acquire elite, and potential super-star talent cheaply.
If we somehow end up drafting Turner/Wall we are one defensive big-man away from being in the mix for Western Conference Champions year-in and year-out for the next decade. (Perkins in 2011 anyone?)
If we somehow end up with Cousins/Favors, we are probably on track for the playoffs in 2012, and hopefully championship contention in 2014 and beyond.
Remember that we have a ton of capspace, so the better the player we can pick up in the draft, the more likely we'll be able to convince a high-tier free-agent that the situation is worth coming over for.
If we end up picking outside the top 5 or so, the road to the play-offs and especially championship contention gets far, far more difficult.
So, don't let the Lakers stop the Kings from being the best team they can be. If we lose to them tomorrow, then we get the last laugh.
I don't care what we have to do tomorrow, but the only sane thing from a Front-Office and coaching standpoint is to lose the game. If we have to play a line-up of Udoka, Garcia, Nocioni, May, and Brockman for 30 minutes tomorrow, then do it.
Tomorrow I don't care about player development, or ending on a good note or anything. Tyreke got his 20-5-5 now all that matters is securing the best possible draft position.
I want tomorrow to be the absolute last time for the next 10-15 years that I root for my team to lose. And if we get the loss tomorrow, there is a very good chance that I'll get my wish.
We are trying to win...in the long run.
Ever play chess? Ever sacrifice a pawn to set up a mate? This is that. Not losing. Being smart and winning the important prizes.
Players don't tank anyway. At least not in the way the word implies. Not in their best interests since it makes them look bad. But orgnaizations can help it along, set a tone, make playing time decisions, decide to take it 100% seriously or just go along for the ride. The only way the Lakers can "beat" us tommorow is by losing to us. The only way they can damage our future, make us feel bad, get the last laugh, is by losing the game to us. If I were a Lakers fan and still carried the old hate I'd be advocating just that -- hey, let's screw them over, let's lose it. As a Kings fan I want none of that. I want to mazimize our chances at beating them in games that matter in the upcoming years, not killing our future over a glorified end of the season scrimmage with the Lakers not even playing their main guys.
Except that sacrificing a pawn is not dishonest and throwing a game is. I'm not deluded about the level (if there is such a thing) or gravity of the transgression but it's dishonesty nonetheless. I guess I believe in playing hard every game and letting the pieces fall where they may. Maybe some good karma will help those pieces fall in the right places.
I've been a Kings fan too long to believe that good karma is any advantage in the NBA.
And its not black and white anyway. Kobe is going to sit this one out. Why? Is he hurt? No he's not. He's going to sit it out so he can rest for the playoffs. He, and the Lakers, have made the choice that upcoming games matter a lot more than this one. Is that trying your absolute best to win this game? No its not. Similarly I will guarantee you that none of their main cogs will break 30min. Maybe an Odom or something off the bench just to give them a little stability. But they aren't going to run their main guys into the ground trying to win it. They have bigger fish to fry. Same reason that LeBron is sitting over in Cleveland and has been this last week. "Dishonest"? No. Just have their values straight. And our situation is exactly the same -- we too have more important games coming up in future years. We too have no important goals to reach in this game. Its no more dishonest for us to take it easy in this one than it is for the Lakers to do so. This is not intentionally missing game winning FTs we are talking about. Just...take it easy. Compete, lose, go home in best possible position for next year with smiles on our faces. Dream big dreams.