Tank for the lottery? (merged)

[bigbadred00]

Kingsgurl it's definitely not a good year but you can't expect a team that has gone through all that to dominate. for instance the duncanless Spurs are a 1-3 team, even the best quote on quote teams struggle without there best players, we are no different. Mavs struggle without Dirk, Detroit struggled without Ben, Indiana without Jermaine and Artest, the list goes on and on. And compared to our struggles we have not done a bad job. Boo hoo, 7th best record in the league, boo hooo hooo.

 

[bigbadred00]

Brick-do you expect us to win 75% of our games when we are not that deep and have had so many injuries and so many changes. You have to be realistic. I love this team but I don't have super high expectations anymore because they are utterly impossible considering the multiple crap situations we have had this year.

 

[keflanag]

Here's why you don't tank at this point: We are a Dirk Nowitzki ankle sprain away from being the favorites to win in that series. With Duncan's recent injury, the Suns might pull of getting the #1 seed. Nash is not healthy right now. If we can win the remaining 2 regular season games against them, you put some serious doubt in their mind that they can beat the Kings. So it's not impossible that we could sneak our way into the Western Conference Finals. At that point ... anything can happen. I'm not saying it will, this is a highly unlikely scenario, but as long as your team has a shot, you don't tank.

 

[Warhawk]

tankings not my style. i can live with just not being good enough. go for it. if the kings lose, at least they know they tried.

Same here. You bust your *** every game and I am your biggest fan. I don't care if you are the Hawks - you are paid (quite handsomely) to play. All you have to do is play BBall. Yeah, I can see isolated letdowns in the regular season, but d*** it, bust your *** on the court to make the PO then anything can happen - TD going down and all of our injuries in past years are a prime example.

We may not make it out of the first round, but at least you can hold your head up when it is over. All the folks who are saying "tank it" should be ashamed of their attitudes.

Go Kings!

 

[bigbadred00]

You guys act like even though injured for the last 3 years playoffs series that we always went down tuff and always in max games (7). kings have always played their hearts out no matter the injury.

 

[Bricklayer]

Here's why you don't tank at this point: We are a Dirk Nowitzki ankle sprain away from being the favorites to win in that series. With Duncan's recent injury, the Suns might pull of getting the #1 seed. Nash is not healthy right now. If we can win the remaining 2 regular season games against them, you put some serious doubt in their mind that they can beat the Kings. So it's not impossible that we could sneak our way into the Western Conference Finals. At that point ... anything can happen. I'm not saying it will, this is a highly unlikely scenario, but as long as your team has a shot, you don't tank.

Talk about the eternal optimist.

 

[Bricklayer]

Thing is there IS an argument for tanking -- in certain situations its the same thing as being smart. But I've never been very good at it personally, and the cost/benefit in our particular situation just doesn't justify it. Its more important for us to salvage our pride than sacrifice a few games of dubious gains. This is fight the good fight time as much because there are no other realistic options as anything else.

Now you put Tim Duncan or Lebron in the draft and give us a legit shot at nabbing the #1 pick, I'll go try to summon up some angry Indian spirits myself.

 

[VF21]

Tanking sure didn't work out very well for the Spurs. They tanked the 96 season away and the poor fools ended up with Tim Duncan.

On a more serious note... What exactly are the Kings playing for right now? Miller is hurt, Bobby is hurt.... if either guy rushes back from the injury to get playoff-ready, we're risking further damage to their careers, and for what?

How many of you people give Sacramento a legitimate shot at a ring this year even when Miller and Bobby come back? Both guys will need time to shake the rust from sitting for so long, and that time isn't there.

Right now what we're doing is playing Mike Bibby 40 minutes a night and risking an injury to him, a player IMO we can't afford to mess around with.

Peja hasn't developed to any where near the level even most of the people that despise him thought he would be at with Webber gone.

Ok, I'm naming a ton of problems, here's my solutions...

The Forwards: Play Skinner, Kenny Thomas and Darius Songaila as many minutes as we can. We need to see what these three people have to offer us. At the very worst Skinner and Kenny Thomas have been putting up solid numbers which will only help their trade value if it comes to that. I'd rather see Darius benched because, he's had his chance in this system to prove what he's capable of. Might as well start Mr. Thomas and give him a chance to show what he can do. As it stands, most of this has basically been happening.

Young guys: Play KMart and Mo Evans more and Cuttino and Bibby less. Cuttino is a very nice player, Bibby is an absolutely terrific player, we know this. So, what can the two other young guys do? Well, we pretty much know about Mo, but KMart doesn't get a lot of time out there. I think it's time this changed. The only way I think KMart shouldn't get minutes is if he's not going to stay on the Kings for long. From what I've heard this isn't the case, so... play him.

Peja: Make a million plays for Peja to see what it takes to get him going. Run everything we can through him, and see what he can do. Right now, he's not doing anything worth while. I'd personally sacrifice the rest of this season to find out exactly what we have in Peja. I think I already know what we have in this guy and I've wanted him traded ever since he asked for one, regardless... since he's on this team, we might as well try everything we can to get him going. Even if it costs us games. Yeah, I think Peja licks goat testicles.

Injuries: Here's an idea, instead of guys playing through injuries for the playoffs, rest them. See you next year Miller and Bobby J, I'm sure you guys will be great then. Just rest up, we're not winning anything this year anyway.

Since we pulled off the Webber trade and "mailed in the season." We might as well follow through with it. Hey, maybe if Peja gets going and some of the new guys we picked up figure out a way to contribute way beyond what anyone thinks they're capable of, we scare a few teams in the playoffs, it could happen.

Anyway, this isn't meant to be a knock on Adelman. I think he's one of the best coaches in the league, period. Regardless, I don't think playing Mike Bibby and Cuttino Mobley 40 minutes a night is a smart move for the future of this team. Both of these guys play hard and play through pain, and risking an injury to either one is foolish at this point IMO. Cut back their minutes and all is well.

(First, glad to see you posting again!)

Now, about your comments. They're interesting. I agree now would be the perfect time to answer those nagging questions and find out just how much these guys can give us. I would love to see Kevin get more minutes and everything done to give Peja a chance to redeem himself.

It would certainly give SOME value to these remaining games...

Interesting to ponder.

 

[Packt]

teams would kill to have our record. we lose one game and the fans give up on the team! FUNNY STUFF!

I don't think it's based on just one game. It's that age-old adage of "better for us in the long run". :\

I'm personally not for tanking the season. If not for city pride and continuity (perennial play-off team) than at least to play possible spoiler. However, I am for playing Bibby less, and playing certain others more.

 

[KingKong]

Time to call it quits? ....... No way is it time. I'm gonna wait till the sound of that last buzzer in the playoffs.

 

[Twix]

I hope the players don't have the same attitude like a few of the fans here....


(read my signature)

 

[Bricklayer]

I hope the players don't have the same attitude like a few of the fans here....


(read my signature)

They appear to be somewhere in between. They are not fans, and are more realistic than thinking belief alone will get it done. I don't think they DO believe they can win it, and Mike especially looks frustrated and exhausted about that. But on the other hand, since it their pride on the line, I also don't see them willing to just lay down. So I expect them to fight on. Without much hope, and more to save face than in any push to win it all or anything, but I think they will try. Danger is that the frustration mounts and a fractured team of strangers turns on each other under the pressure.

 

[mikebibby1034]

We're already dead hahahaaha!

okay what kind of quote is if you first dont succeed give up. you dont give up you try again until you succeed. and were not dead were struggling theres a HUGE difference.

 

[Folsom Al]

Here's One For Ya ...

Picture this:

A stork or heron type bird wading the shallow part of a pond.

The bird is looking skyward with it's head tilted-up and is attempting to eat a frog. The bird has the frogs head in it's beak .... the frog's rear legs are swaying up in the air ... BUT, the frogs' front legs/hands have a choke-hold on the storks neck, preventing the stork from being able to swallow him.

the caption of this cartoon: NEVER GIVE UP !!!!

 

[FullAB]

It's a shame that Golden State isn't tanking considering they are completly out of the playoff picture.....maybe we would have a couple more wins......

 

[BigWaxer]

Most athletes have to much pride to tank things. Right now the teams in the lottery are just trying to end on a positive note for next year. If the teams tank then the players may not have a job the next year.

 

[PixelPusher]

BLNINJA that is a horrible, horrible , horrible atittude

Not to mention a horrible, horrible idea. You want to tank the rest of the season (3 weeks) so the Kings can get a 11th or 12th pick in the draft?

 

[KP]

Dam!

Do they have to tank it at this point? I think whether they want to or not they may fall out, as good as Memphis, Denver, and Houston have been playing. Maybe we'll hang on but we are overmatched nearly every night especially with all these injuries. 16 assist nights are becoming the norm instead of the exception. We still get outrebounded and outscored in the paint nearly every night as well. I can't Believe Duncan is hurt again... I won't even say what I'm thinking.. it'll just pee people off.

 

[VF21]

This team will NOT tank. They might not win a lot of games, but they aren't going to tank.

 

[KP]

This team will NOT tank. They might not win a lot of games, but they aren't going to tank.

Exactly.^

 

[love_them_kings]

Do they have to tank it at this point? I think whether they want to or not they may fall out, as good as Memphis, Denver, and Houston have been playing. Maybe we'll hang on but we are overmatched nearly every night especially with all these injuries. 16 assist nights are becoming the norm instead of the exception. We still get outrebounded and outscored in the paint nearly every night as well. I can't Believe Duncan is hurt again... I won't even say what I'm thinking.. it'll just pee people off.

only those who haven't thought of it themselves.

 

[SacTownKid]

We do still have the 7th best record in the league, but the fact of the matter is that we've been a sub-.500 team for the last two months: 6-8 in Feb, 5-6 in March -- 11-14 might be the worst 25 game stretch this franchise has seen this millenium. You stretch that pace out to a 82 game season and we're 36-46.

Kinda like the end of last season huh? Remember that. And we weren't facing anything near the problems we have now.

To even be .500 right now is amazing. Playoffs are totally different. If these guys play with the heart that I know they have, and with the fire they will get back just knowing BoJax and Brad are fighting right beside them, THAT will get them through.

 

[lil rob]

Wow the Knicks beat the Spurs tonight.
shows how good they are without Timmy

 

[BigWaxer]

Wow the Knicks beat the Spurs tonight.
shows how good they are without Timmy

Thats a perfect quote for us and a good quote to prove how well RA has done. Look at the suns without Nash or the Spurs without Duncan.

Before some of our roster turnover this year when we had injuries we still competed if our top player or 2 was out. No Nash, No Duncan both teams are history.

 

[Bibby_Is_Clutch]

Throw away the playoffs for the lottery?

Dont get me wrong. I am not saying we should do this but I just want to hear everyones updated opinion since there was a thread about this before.

We all know there is no realistic shot at winning the title this year. We are only slipping in the standings and well, seeing is how we may lost Mobley and or Peja during the offseason, should we throw away the playoffs and enter the lottery and try to get a high draft pick?

We are in a rebuilding stage... the playoff times and title contention times are over and we must all understand that. That doesnt mean we cant get back to those times within several years with our great coach, GM, and of cource Owners but we need to look at the big picture and not the small one.

When is it time to call it quits and rebuild?

Im sure this thread will bring plenty of debate... have fun!

 

[SacTownKid]

You play the game to win.

 

[acisking]

^^true that

 

[chelle]

While the chances of our winning it all this year are very slim, there is ALWAYS a chance. What many are seeming to forget is that we have not had a game in a long time, if at all, where all of our players have been healthy. Everyone's time tame to come back is right before the playoffs. If we have everyone, and there is that possibility, just think of the damage we can do! No team will be prepared for us, because they will have not seen us play at full strength. We are not expected to do do anything in the playoffs. Wouldn't it be great to shock a few people out there? As for the tanking . . . I hope that this team has more pride than that. I can deal with the team falling short this year. If there has been any year where that would be understandable, it would be this year. As a fan of MANY years, I could not deal with them quitting. No fan should want that.

 

[Bibby_Is_Clutch]

But there comes a time when we must rebuild. We cant contend with the lineup we have, so we should play with it for what reason? The goal of the franchise is to bring a championship to Sacramento and all Kings fans, not to play hard every night and win some games. (GS over past few years)

If we cant win anything meaningful by playing now, then its time to look at the future.

 

[PixelPusher]

BLNINJA started a similar thread, and I think that even if the Kings were to fall out of the playoffs and by some miracle (or David Stern's whim ) get the first pick in the draft, It would not be a guarantee that we would catapult back to elite status. The NFL has a lot of worst to first teams these days, but in the NBA it's still easier to go from "pretty good" to "Champion" than it is to go from "lottery team" to "Champion".