07-04-2021, 01:40 PM
(07-04-2021, 11:19 AM)Hogmelon Wrote: The Mavs should have Luka AND Zion.
On April 7, 2019, in one of the worst tanking jobs in the history of the world, the Mavs defeated the Grizzlies 129-127 in Memphis in overtime, "improving" Dallas' record to 32-48 (while dropping Memphis' record to the very same 32-48). Two days later, on April 9, the Mavs won again versus the pathetic Phoenix Suns (who, by the way, are currently doing pretty well in the NBA Playoffs), which put an end to the Suns' dismal 19-63 season. The next day (April 10, 2019), the Mavs somehow managed to lose their final game of the season (versus San Antonio), finishing with a record of 33-49. Then, two days later ...
On April 12, 2019, the NBA draft tiebreaker took place, determining the Mavs' preliminary order ahead of the May 14 lottery. Dallas, New Orleans, and Memphis were all tied with a 33-49 record. The Pelicans won the tiebreaker, the Grizzlies finished second, and the Mavs third. New Orleans' pre-draft slot was #7, Memphis was # 8, and Dallas was #9.
On May 14, 2019, the NBA draft lottery took place. The team in the #7 pre-lottery slot (where the Mavs easily could have been), "won" the lottery (i.e., the 33-49 New Orleans Pelicans were awarded the first pick in the 2019 draft). The team in the #8 pre-lottery slot [33-49 Memphis Grizzlies] won the second pick in the draft. The team in the #1 pre-lottery slot [17-65 New York Knicks] won the third pick in the draft. The team in the #11 pre-lottery slot [37-45 Los Angeles Lakers] won the fourth pick in the draft. The team in the #2 pre-lottery slot [19-63 Cleveland Cavaliers] won the fifth pick in the draft. The team in the #3 pre-lottery slot [19-63 Phoenix Suns] won the sixth pick in the draft. Etc.
Because the Mavs drew outside the top 5, their pick (#10) was conveyed to the Atlanta Hawks (WOOHOO --- go Luka!!!) ....
If the Mavs would have lost two of their final three games in April of 2019 (instead of winning two out of three), then their record would have been 32-50, exactly the same as the Washington Wizards. Would the Mavericks have "won" a tie-breaker with the Wizards? Would the team in the #7 pre-lottery slot still have nailed the #1 pick on May 14, 2019? Have you ever heard of the Butterfly Effect? How much wood could a woodchuck chuck (assuming optimal woodchucking conditions)?
RC's coaching in those last games ANGERED me SO MUCH. It was the final straw for me. You don't ask the players to lose, but the coach should have done his part to help the franchise be in the best draft position.