Game 65: Phoenix Suns (29-34) vs. Dallas Mavericks (32-32)

[Knutsen]

I would prefer they make the play in.   We have spent so many years tanking and dry powdering, it turns into a life waster.

No way… The chances of winning the lottery are much higher this season than winning in the playoffs.

[Scott41theMavs]

I would prefer they make the play in.   We have spent so many years tanking and dry powdering, it turns into a life waster.

Well, that makes one of us.

Need plausible deniability for the league to gift us Cooper (or maybe Dylan) in return for gifting a young perennial MVP candidate to the league's marquee franchise.

[SleepingHero]

These next two games against the Spurs are going to be huge for the tank. If the Mavs can successfully come out of it 0-2, they will have a chance of finishing third-worst in the West.

That could give the Mavs a good shot at the 9th pick. Not sure we can get any higher but if we literally lose out there’s a chance.

Top 7 is all but out of reach. But 8 or 9 would be pretty big.

[myconsumerclub]

The tank is on

11 games left against teams that are in the play in or better. Only 6 games against lottery bound teams. We could definitely go on a long losing streak. I have my fingers crossed that is the case if so what do you think our lottery pick is likely to be?

If we get 17 losses that would give us a 50 loss season.

SAS .426 is a tougher team now maybe we can count on a couple losses here.
SAS Maybe one loss will lead to another we can hope
HOU L
PHI .339 but if size matters they have the advantage plus Grimes will want some payback
IND L
DET L
BKN .333 Maybe we can count on the Nets to give us an L
NYK L
ORL L
CHI L
BKN if they beat us once then a second win against us is possible
ATL L
LAC L
LAC L
LAL L
TOR .328 they may be unable to move down in the lottery and winning may be an option we can count on them to try
MEM L

BKN and TOR are the closest contests to predict but maybe we can endure another injury as well

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I would imagine this roster is going to have very few of the guys who played today here next year.

I imagine they're going to have to give Williams a full contract next year.

I think the way he's played, he deserves it. It's possible he makes Hardy expendable.

[mvossman]

I would prefer they make the play in.   We have spent so many years tanking and dry powdering, it turns into a life waster.

Not sure what this means?  We spent a lot of years dry powdering, but the only tanking I can recall was a couple games a few years ago.  One could argue the team didn't tank enough because of Dirk.  I have never been a fan of tanking, but if there was ever a time to do it, this is it.

[Scott41theMavs]

Not sure what this means?  We spent a lot of years dry powdering, but the only tanking I can recall was a couple games a few years ago.  One could argue the team didn't tank enough because of Dirk.  I have never been a fan of tanking, but if there was ever a time to do it, this is it.

These guys have pride, and will play their best. But we have neither a go-to guy nor a frontcourt. No need to deliberately tank - except for a handful of the opponents who are very deliberately tanking. Next two games especially.