Team Tank 2022-23

[msf4717]

1. Record since Jan. 16st, Hornets: 14-17, Pacers: 10-20

2. Hornets had literally nothing to play for. They can play to win, cause they are locked into the 4th seed.

3. Pacers play for ping-pong balls. They have the biggest incentive to tank from all the teams left that the Mavs play.

3a.) 5th to 8th odds are within half a game. 5th seed means 42% top 4 pick, 6th seed means 37% top 4 pick, 7th/8th means 29% each for top 4 pick.

3b.) So for the Pacers it really really matters whether they win or lose, and they are clearly trying to lose.

3c.) So if you are not equally committed to tanking a game, against a team that wants to lose, you are likely going to win, regardless of all your problems. Effort matters that much.

4. If the Hornets actually played to lose, we´d have won AT LEAST the 2nd game, when we took the lead.

4a.) The Pacers don´t play to win. I don´t even think Carlisle cares that much about the Mavs, but won´t mind that a Pacers loss also basically ends our season and hurts the Mavs/Luka even more.

I think fans get a little lost in the the "trying to tank" mentality.  Consider the movie "Major League".

A GM responsible for building a roster may hope the team loses to improve draft slots.

An organization may decide the sit star players generously to protect them from meaningless games.

The coach and the players on the court, however, are by nature competitors.  I won't believe for a second anyone will tell Luka not to try too hard or try not to accidentally beat the Pacers.  The same truths apply to Indianapolis.

Whoever steps on the court will be trying to win, perhaps with just a bit less fervor and motivation than a team more embroiled in a playoff race.  

That said, may the best team lose.

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Mavs going to win by 1 point against tanking Pacers.

https://twitter.com/calliecaplan/status/...73600?s=46&t=iwQP5yZoJF3Ulzfb9MH7Cg

And here is how a tanking organizations helps their team help themselves into the tank.