The ONLY tanking discussion for 2009-2010 (split from never-ending thread)

[Sptsjunkie]

The sky's the limit. I hope we beat Houston tonite.

Lol, either way it's nice to have everyone excited enough about the team's prospects that we are all cheering for the team to win and not debating tanking again this season. That right there might be the greatest gift Havoc and company have given us so far this year.

 

[fnordius]

not debating tanking again this season.

I don't think there's any point in debating it, since this team shows no sign of giving up any games without a fight. We'll still be a lottery team, but no way are we going to threaten NJN's #1 spot.

However, if last year proved anything, it's that when you lin more games than anyone else in the NBA, the payoff can be very good. If we had it to do over, would you want to have gotten an extra 10 wosses and picked 6th or 7th? I wouldn't.

 

[swisshh]

Tanking is not good. Getting the 8th seed isn't either. Still need more young guys. I'd rather draft a Terrico White/Willie Warren/Sanders or higher than the normal borderline starter you normally get at middle picks.

 

[Bricklayer]

Tanking, or at least sucking, paid off in absolute spades for us. I don't ever EVER want to hear any of that anit-tanking nonsesne again. It may have saved the franchise.

That said barring Reke going down for the season or some other disaster I don't see any reason to bring it up at this point with this crew. Maybe in the last few weeks of the season if we get eliminated from the playoffs and a few extra losses can get us some more ping pong balls. But between now and then I don't think we're even in the conversation for those top picks. Our tanking/sucking year did its job and netted us that big star -- now its time to try to win.

 

[VF21]

I agree with Brickie, although I fought the whole idea vehmently and passionately right up until the end.

Having said that, I'll clarify why I split this off into its own thread: I knew people would bring it up and there's no reason for it to be a topic anywhere but in one thread.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

Tanking, or at elst sucking, paid off in absolute spades for us. I don't ever EVER want to hear any of that anit-tanking nonsesne again. It may have saved the franchise.

That said barring Reke goign down for the season or some other disaster I don't see any reason to bring it up at this point wiht this crew. Maybe int he last few weeks of the season if we get eliminated from the playoffs and a few extra losses can get us some more ping pong balls. But between now and then I don't think we're even in the conversation for those top picks. Our tanking/sucking year did its job and netted us that big star -- now its time to try to win.

I fully agree. You might remember I was a play the kids and suck/lin fan here last season. My general point was not that we should not have tanked last season, it's that it is nice we have enough young talent and promise that at this point we are actively cheering for them to improve and produce wins, instead of hoping for the lins to pile up. At a certain point your team has to cross that threshold (I mean you don't want them to tank indefinitely). At this point it appears we have our superstar and good young role players and would like to see them develop and start winning together and forming good habits and then hope to get lucky in the lottery.

 

[M_Barragan]

We need another solid player on this team. JT and Hawes are backups not starters we still need to shore up the inside and add another player that can score when the defense gets tight.

 

[6th]

I fully agree. You might remember I was a play the kids and suck/lin fan here last season. My general point was not that we should not have tanked last season, it's that it is nice we have enough young talent and promise that at this point we are actively cheering for them to improve and produce wins, instead of hoping for the lins to pile up. At a certain point your team has to cross that threshold (I mean you don't want them to tank indefinitely). At this point it appears we have our superstar and good young role players and would like to see them develop and start winning together and forming good habits and then hope to get lucky in the lottery.

Nice point and I especially like, and agree with, the highlighted part.

 

[kingsnation]

We need another solid player on this team. JT and Hawes are backups not starters we still need to shore up the inside and add another player that can score when the defense gets tight.

I disagree. JT is a starter. Spencer has the potential to be one.

 

[VF21]

We need another solid player on this team. JT and Hawes are backups not starters we still need to shore up the inside and add another player that can score when the defense gets tight.

I'm confused. How does that relate to the topic at hand?

 

[vikinginferno]

I don't think this team in this city could live through another bottom dwellar season. We're not gonna be a playoff team this year, but we also have to be a team that tries to win every game and isn't the team that takes the butt of jokes.

 

[xrzn]

I'm confused. How does that relate to the topic at hand?

I'm guessing he wants another solid player from the draft, so he wants the Kings to tank? Not sure.

I'd be happy if the Kings can start winning now, but I still want John Wall. =x

 

[VF21]

I'm guessing he wants another solid player from the draft, so he wants the Kings to tank? Not sure.

I'd be happy if the Kings can start winning now, but I still want John Wall. =x

That was my take...

As far as John Wall goes, I'm not going to be greedy. Last time around, it all went by very quickly and I promised if it ever happened again, I'd make sure to thoroughly savor every step of the journey.

 

[vikinginferno]

And in the end, it is what it's called: a lottery.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

That was my take...

As far as John Wall goes, I'm not going to be greedy. Last time around, it all went by very quickly and I promised if it ever happened again, I'd make sure to thoroughly savor every step of the journey.

Love this. As much as I can't wait to be contenders again, I'm also savoring every moment of watching these young men grow and develop both as individuals and a team. Actually winning the championship goes by in a second. However, as they say, it's the journey and not just the destination. And I think the championship is appreciated more when you can live through and enjoy all that comes before it and what has been built along the way.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

The last few seasons we were hopeless, now that we've got a young stud and some other quality young guys I want this team to battle every night and not accept losing with a smile. We're probably getting a decent lotto pick either way but now its about forming the attitude and cornerstone of the new look Kings.

 

[IDidntDoDat]

Tanking is for nut jobs

 

[AriesMar27]

we dont need to tank, we can lose all on our own....

 

[Big Cuz 15]

last year, i was all for tanking bc that was the only way we'd get a high enough pick to get a impact player. we got that player in reke. now, its time to move the vets so the youngsters develop and get yet another nice pick. if we score another star level player through the draft we will be sitting pretty for the foreseeable future.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

last year, i was all for tanking bc that was the only way we'd get a high enough pick to get a impact player. we got that player in reke. now, its time to move the vets so the youngsters develop and get yet another nice pick. if we score another star level player through the draft we will be sitting pretty for the foreseeable future.

You know, I'm sorry, but I only partially agree with you. I think a team of all young, undisciplined players would be a mistake. I like having strong, professional, hard working veterans around who don't mind being a part of a maturing team. Now I think we both agree that we do not want to see the vets playing 40 minutes a night at the expense of the young players growth, but simply jettisoning them so we have 5 players with limited experience on the court at all times would be a mistake.

 

[TheWileyVet]

We will do just poor enough to get a decent draft pick this year and play just well enough for our youngsters to keep developing and give us hope. We may get lucky and jump up in the lottery, but if not it will still be somewhere around 10 - a position where we can easily get another valuable piece to the puzzle.

 

[Gary]

We need another solid player on this team. JT and Hawes are backups not starters we still need to shore up the inside and add another player that can score when the defense gets tight.

I would give JT a starting nod right now.. Hawes not so much.. I do get tired of JT's constant crying over calls.. Pisses me off to no end. But JT has put up solid numbers this year and seems to mesh well with Evans.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

We will do just poor enough to get a decent draft pick this year and play just well enough for our youngsters to keep developing and give us hope. We may get lucky and jump up in the lottery, but if not it will still be somewhere around 10 - a position where we can easily get another valuable piece to the puzzle.

You know, we have been so unlucky in the lottery too, maybe this is our year to get lucky. No reason we can't be the team to have the 8th worst record but get a top 3 pick. We finally have some good karma on our side (furiously knocks on wood).

 

[Geoff]

You know, I'm sorry, but I only partially agree with you. I think a team of all young, undisciplined players would be a mistake. I like having strong, professional, hard working veterans around who don't mind being a part of a maturing team. Now I think we both agree that we do not want to see the vets playing 40 minutes a night at the expense of the young players growth, but simply jettisoning them so we have 5 players with limited experience on the court at all times would be a mistake.

Eh? How do you expect a team of young undisciplined players to BECOME strong professional hard-working veterans if they aren't working it out on the court?

 

[Prince_XY]

We need another solid player on this team. JT and Hawes are backups not starters we still need to shore up the inside and add another player that can score when the defense gets tight.

Just like the 2nd post after you, I beg to disagree. JT will be a quality starter soon. He may not become the top 3 power forwards, but I am pretty sure his all-out effort approach on his games will lead him to becoming a very special player.

As for Hawes, I also agree he's got potential right now. The potential to be another softy center - a Raef LaFrenzt at best.

Going back to the topic, I'm glad we got the highly potential-Superstar in Evans during the last draft. And NO, I don't want another bad year of seemingly tanking games. This team is still inexperience enough to take care of losing anyways. The only difference with last year is that we definitely now have a crystal clear hope of improving when we added Evans and Nocioni.

 

[Prince_XY]

we dont need to tank, we can lose all on our own....

I definitely agree , especially if Hawes won't give the manly help that JT needs at the frontline.

 

[JerN820]

I would give JT a starting nod right now.. Hawes not so much.. I do get tired of JT's constant crying over calls.. Pisses me off to no end. But JT has put up solid numbers this year and seems to mesh well with Evans.

Agreed. JT has played well enough to be a starter. Spencer on the other hand has been very inconsistant. But you really have to give the guys a few years. It took Gerald Wallace 3 years in the league to become a decent player.