Tank for the lottery? (merged)

[PFFFT!!]

Some of you guys are losing it. Look, there is life out there. I know we are all Kings fans and to be honest the season is a dissapointment, but come on. Just enjoy the games, lower the egos back to ground zero and look forward to keeping the team in town and see what happens in the summer. I knew from the beginning of the season we wouldn't go far, so I didn't bother to post as much as I used to so as to not "ruffle peoples feathers". The team was and is beat up and going nowhere. We do have a chance at the playoffs at least and perhaps going to the 2nd round. Beyond that would be "lucky" at best.

 

[Brewer16]

no way

i still think, if we're healthy, we can make some noise in the playoffs

 

[teamdimechampionship]

Oh boy we could get the twelfth pick in the draft instead of sixteenth. It's not like we would actually get a top 3 pick

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

what a horrible and stupid thread ...

 

[Stojakovic]

BL, alcoholic ... you disappoint me !

You've fallen into alcoholic depression. Wake up and cheer this team on, we need ya !

 

[Kingsgurl]

Of course you don't go out an intentionally try to lose games, but Catalyst makes some good points. What, exactly, do we have to lose if we rest Mike a couple more minutes a game so his legs don't fall off by the play offs, if we play Kevin Martin extended minutes so he can establish a rythm, if we let Cat heal fully before he comes back? We aren't going to make it to the lottery, and we aren't going to get home court either.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Of course you don't go out an intentionally try to lose games, but Catalyst makes some good points. What, exactly, do we have to lose if we rest Mike a couple more minutes a game so his legs don't fall off by the play offs, if we play Kevin Martin extended minutes so he can establish a rythm, if we let Cat heal fully before he comes back? We aren't going to make it to the lottery, and we aren't going to get home court either.

Hey I am all for letting the injured fully heal and NOT putting Mike into a death march, but several posters seem to think the purpose of such a move is to improve lotto chances IF the Kings can fall out of the play offs. I am very skeptical that even looseing every game woud acomplish this, but more importantly I despise the mentality that says looseing a season can help a team. That kind of thinking belongs in LA this year.

I see the purpose of letting the injured heal and giving Mike rest to make the BEST play off run possible. Match up is a serious concern but in the end a strong rested and healthy 7th or even 8th seed might well be better than a beat up burned out 4th. I have no illusions about the teams chances but I WANT Evans, Skinner, Martin and Cat and the rest of the team to get play off experience with the Kings for NEXTseason. I also want a team that sees it's self as warriors not loosers waiting to be bailed out by new blood from the lottery.

 

[Kingsgurl]

That was my point, Celt. Not tanking, but taking a prudent route and getting the young guns some run isn't 'tanking'

 

[Bricklayer]

Hey I am all for letting the injured fully heal and NOT putting Mike into a death march, but several posters seem to think the purpose of such a move is to improve lotto chances IF the Kings can fall out of the play offs. I am very skeptical that even looseing every game woud acomplish this, but more importantly I despise the mentality that says looseing a season can help a team. That kind of thinking belongs in LA this year.

I see the purpose of letting the injured heal and giving Mike rest to make the BEST play off run possible. Match up is a serious concern but in the end a strong rested and healthy 7th or even 8th seed might well be better than a beat up burned out 4th. I have no illusions about the teams chances but I WANT Evans, Skinner, Martin and Cat and the rest of the team to get play off experience with the Kings for NEXTseason. I also want a team that sees it's self as warriors not loosers waiting to be bailed out by new blood from the lottery.

I think "tanking" to the degree it goes on, rarely ever involves the players themselves not trying. The decision is made higher up, and its really just more about altering substitution patterns etc., not rushing guys back from injury, and in general not doing absolutely everything you can to win every game. Be very odd for the players to be involved though -- the franchise could legitimately have a stake in losing today to win tommorow, but as a rule the players have no such interest.

I think its important in our situation to maintain as much of our dignity as we can, even if I have real doubts about how many of these guys will even be back to benefit from the experience. But as I mentioned above, if the situation were actually "tank" + draft LeBron or fight it out and get beat in the first round, order me up one Grande LeBron please.

 

[16to93]

i say we try to get the sixth spot in the west
so that way we would have to play seatle instead of dallas in the first round

personally,
i would rather pay seattle

 

[quick dog]

This will seem like silly thread after we get a few players back and start winning some serious games. Furthermore, I really doubt that anyone in the Kings organization would consider tanking the season at this point.

 

[HndsmCelt]

I think "tanking" to the degree it goes on, rarely ever involves the players themselves not trying. The decision is made higher up, and its really just more about altering substitution patterns etc., not rushing guys back from injury, and in general not doing absolutely everything you can to win every game. Be very odd for the players to be involved though -- the franchise could legitimately have a stake in losing today to win tommorow, but as a rule the players have no such interest.

I think its important in our situation to maintain as much of our dignity as we can, even if I have real doubts about how many of these guys will even be back to benefit from the experience. But as I mentioned above, if the situation were actually "tank" + draft LeBron or fight it out and get beat in the first round, order me up one Grande LeBron please.

More or less agreed. The only teams I can remember that can actualy be accused of Tanking are the Spurs and Denver... posibly Cleavland, but sisnce tanking in my book is dumping good players, and sitting guys who could make a difference not sure I would include Cleavland in that mix.

 

[Gargamel]

More or less agreed. The only teams I can remember that can actualy be accused of Tanking are the Spurs and Denver... posibly Cleavland, but sisnce tanking in my book is dumping good players, and sitting guys who could make a difference not sure I would include Cleavland in that mix.

Houston did in 83.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

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.

i agree with this move. we should look towards next season and pray that we get a top 3 pick. let the lakers sneak into the playoffs and watch them get ousted in the first round

 

[BigWaxer]

I agree with what you said Brick. I just can't bring myself to believe that players tank on purpose.

For those saying we should tank our season I don't agree with. The teams(owners) make a lot of money by being in the playoffs.

We could get into the second round and I think a lot of people here would agree. If Miller and Bobby get back into 75% or so by then (that would be 2-3 weeks into the playoffs) we could make a run at going to the WCF. I think IMO its a long shot but ya never know. One thing nobody knows about is when injuries will happen. I don't wish injuries on anyone or team but they do happen and they do change the game. You never know whats going to happen.