Beat the LA Lakers or higher draft position ?

[Sparky6string]

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.

Come on Brick those situations are nothing alike. Sitting Kobe a few games before the playoffs is not the same as throwing a game, but it is more comparable to sacrificing a pawn. Look I'm not judging you I'm just stating why I can't get behind that philosophy. What you suggest is probably best for the team, and yall should just be glad I'm not coach.

 

[Rookie]

Lose the battle but win the war.

It's not about the game, it's about the season. We didn't throw the season away but now that we have lost, with no way to fight back, let's retreat and strategize for next season.

Letting the Lakers win is a retreat move not a giving up move. We'll be better equiped for next season to fight back and fight back hard.

 

[sono]

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.

That's what we had been doing for the last decade, except the last season. Enough with that mediocrity.

 

[Sparky6string]

That's what we had been doing for the last decade, except the last season. Enough with that mediocrity.

If they've done it honestly I'm very proud of that mediocrity.

 

[pilot305]

If anyone is gonna to do a tank job, its the Lakers. Thus, look at what they did to the Blazers a couple days ago. Tanked the game probably so they wouldn't have to play the Blazers again in the first round. They can be dangerous in a 1-8 matchup...

 

[mac]

If they've done it honestly I'm very proud of that mediocrity.

Sad to say, mediocrity leads only to more mediocrity.

If you think about the good teams from when we were good (right before mediocrity), only the Spurs and the Lakers are still good. Even the Lakers hit mediocrity until they traded a McDonalds ice cream voucher for Pau Gasol. The Spurs found gems late in the draft (ginobili, parker) and have a humble superstar in Duncan who actually is willing to get paid less.

Other than that... don't expect to become a contender if you're always picking late

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I generally haven't advocated tanking at any point this season except the past week. The last 2 years I was on board because I didn't think we had any long term players that would be tainted by a season or two of it, this year was different as we had lots of guys that I hope stick around and I didn't want them to accept losing. And most of the season they did not go down without a fight, but ultimately they fell. But this is one measly game that could be all the difference from the inside presence we've been banging our heads over for the past 6 years and 4 more years of Hawes like frustration knowing we let another one get away.

 

[Warhawk]

This is why I hate having the Lakers as the last game of the season every year. (or at least it seems like we do)



And I will be pretty upset if we lose the game, get a better draft position because of it, and the team behind us in the draft moves up because of the bouncy balls in the lottery.

 

[Jose]

And I will be pretty upset if we lose the game, get a better draft position because of it, and the team behind us in the draft moves up because of the bouncy balls in the lottery.

^^ You can't control what the ball do !!!!

 

[cstorm]

There isn't much joy in beating a team that could care less if they lost.
Now if the Lakers needed to win this game and wanted a win badly...then I want the win despite any lottery ramifications.
If we win this meaningless game and lose a chance at a star that can help us beat the cr#@ out of the Lakers for years...

 

[TTown Kings]

It's all about beating the Lakers 4 times a year a few years down the road. Not once in a season that means nothing at this point. I don't care about tonight, especially with Kobe out. I want the Lin and a guarantee of at least a 3-way tie for the 3rd spot in the lotto.

 

[kupman]

The fact that this is even being discussed shows that the league has a serious problem. You can't have the temptation of winning through losing without messing with the integretity of the game. It ranks right up there with players and coaches betting on games in Vegas.

Stern needs to clean this mess up.

 

[pshn80]

But. If we win, it could deal us a huge blow in terms of our development back to being a contender. The draft IS that important at the top positions

Yes, and it might not deal us a huge blow in terms of development. Last year we could have picked the unmentionable one (because I can't remember his name). You all want the Kings to lose tonight and get a higher draft pick and each of you wants to use it to draft a different player. Just win the game and leave the rest to the Kings. We might even be better off. Think about it.

 

[piksi]

as usual you make no sense

 

[pshn80]

Come on Brick those situations are nothing alike. Sitting Kobe a few games before the playoffs is not the same as throwing a game, but it is more comparable to sacrificing a pawn. Look I'm not judging you I'm just stating why I can't get behind that philosophy. What you suggest is probably best for the team, and yall should just be glad I'm not coach.

Sparks, my feelings exactly. Tell the players to beat their butt and show what we begin with next year. Odds are that the Lakers can beat us even without Kobe. But tell the team that if they win the Maloofs will serve champagne (to those over 21) on the flight home. Go Kings.

 

[pshn80]

There isn't much joy in beating a team that could care less if they lost.
Now if the Lakers needed to win this game and wanted a win badly...then I want the win despite any lottery ramifications.
If we win this meaningless game and lose a chance at a star that can help us beat the cr#@ out of the Lakers for years...

Which star?

 

[rainmaker]

Yes, and it might not deal us a huge blow in terms of development. Last year we could have picked the unmentionable one (because I can't remember his name). You all want the Kings to lose tonight and get a higher draft pick and each of you wants to use it to draft a different player. Just win the game and leave the rest to the Kings. We might even be better off. Think about it.

I thought about it....
Still don't agree with you. Lose, lose, lose. Thats how I feel. Lose tonight, no matter what, and call it a season.

 

[Revrag]

Sorry if someone mentioned this already but...

I wouldn't be surprised if the Lakers did everything in their power to lose tonight just to screw us over.

 

[Grawlix]

Beat LA. There is no win more satisfying.

A win to end the season, a rookie of the year award, a coach that management wants to be here, and a winning mentality will carry us further than an additional ping pong ball.

 

[hoopsfan]

I'll be at the game.

Me too.

 

[Rookie]

Beat LA. There is no win more satisfying.

A win to end the season, a rookie of the year award, a coach that management wants to be here, and a winning mentality will carry us further than an additional ping pong ball.

I rather have that EXTRA CHANCE to get another ROY then to win a meaningless game.

Knocking the Lakers out of the playoff is a lot more satisfying then beating them while they rest their best player.

 

[kennadog]

I expect whoever plays will play to the best of their ability. But let's face it. We should lose to the Lakers, even if we do play hard. I just won't be really upset about it, if we lose this meanaingless game tonight.

I know I'll have to give up the chance to say to Lakers' fans, "Yeah, so what you're in the playoffs, but remember we beat you that last game!

I guess I can give up that juicy retort for good of the team.

 

[Merdiesel]

I'm truly dissapointed in you guys...

Screw more ping pong balls. Like that crap has ever gone our way in the first place (we're so damn lucky Tyreke was still there at the 4 spot). There is no way in hell I could ever root for my team to lose to the ***** *** Lakers. I'd much rather our young team beat down our RIVALSgoing into the off season than a few more ping pong balls. Thats pethetic. ::shakes head::

 

[rhythmless]

It's just really pathetic at this point that the Lakers are on the radar when draft position is on the line.

We mean absolutely nothing to them. The best we can do is focus on improving our team the best way we can. The fact that it is the "Lakers" should mean nothing. Picking one sided fights is a sure way to stay at the bottom, picking fights to sniff the top.

edit: We haven't been rivals for a long time. It's only a rivalry when both teams recognize it. Otherwise, it's just losers trying to big themselves up, and failing.

 

[LWP777]

We need to lose tonight and it's not even close. The game is completely meaningless for the Lakers so even if we did win it's not real anyway. This could be the difference between getting a top 4 pick and a 6-8 pick, which is huge.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I'm truly dissapointed in you guys...

Screw more ping pong balls. Like that crap has ever gone our way in the first place (we're so damn lucky Tyreke was still there at the 4 spot). There is no way in hell I could ever root for my team to lose to the ***** *** Lakers. I'd much rather our young team beat down our RIVALSgoing into the off season than a few more ping pong balls. Thats pethetic. ::shakes head::

If this game was even a week ago it would be totally different, but here we are talking about a direct cause and effect, win this game and almost certainly go from a very realistic shot at a top 3 pick to a likely 5-7 pick. The talent differential is overwhelming.

 

[xrzn]

Lose - fakers aren't even going to be playing their main guys and Kings shouldn't either.

I'll be at the game.

I was suppose to go but it doesn't look like it's going to work out. I'm kinda glad actually because the game really is meaningless. I just wish I could've saw Reke play at least once this season.

 

[rhythmless]

I'm truly dissapointed in you guys...

Screw more ping pong balls. Like that crap has ever gone our way in the first place (we're so damn lucky Tyreke was still there at the 4 spot). There is no way in hell I could ever root for my team to lose to the ***** *** Lakers. I'd much rather our young team beat down our RIVALSgoing into the off season than a few more ping pong balls. Thats pethetic. ::shakes head::

You do realize that the only way we got that 4th spot was a direct result of being unable to fall any lower? If we dropped 3-4 spots in the standings (as this game could do to us), we could have picked 7th or 8th? Can you comprehend that what you said contradicts itself? A very large part (and certainly the largest) of our young team that you want to root for is a direct cause of getting the worst pick, and getting no worse than 4th?

 

[rhythmless]

I'm truly dissapointed in you guys...

Screw more ping pong balls. Like that crap has ever gone our way in the first place (we're so damn lucky Tyreke was still there at the 4 spot). There is no way in hell I could ever root for my team to lose to the ***** *** Lakers. I'd much rather our young team beat down our RIVALSgoing into the off season than a few more ping pong balls. Thats pethetic. ::shakes head::

If we finish 3rd worst, we have a 69.5% chance of getting Wall, Evans, Cousins, or Favors.

If we finish 6th, we have a 21.5% chance of getting Wall, Evans, Cousins/Favors.


Do those discrepancies strike you as a "few?"

 

[FaStRmAn]

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'm not rooting for the Fakers to win EVER! I am just hoping that the Kings do not risk wining this game. It will do NOTHING for them if they win, but it will really screw them if they do. Nothing bad happens if they lose. In fact there is a good chance something good will happen if they lose. So WHY on EARTH would they win that game? Just do it in a very slick way in order to preserve face and not make it look like we are trying to lose. Like playing the reserves a bit more than usual. Sit our regulars longer than normal, that kind of thing. We can lose one more! The need to lose is greater than the desire to win.

You can see that the fans are 3 to 1 in favor of a loss. EVEN against the Fakers!! The fans understand that the future is more important than the present.