Everything 2021 Tank

[Axel]

Hard to figure out the bulls man.
1. You made win-now moves at the deadline (got vucevic)
2. You no longer have a pick, so no incentive to tank
3. You have quite a few teams around the same zone in the standings trying to tank
4. You have a ton of history in the nba, the 3rd largest city in the U.S., with the league and TV guys salivating for a chance to hype you.
5. You've had a lottery pick for 3 straight years.
6. And you're still struggling to get to 10th so you can swing the play-in for the last playoff spot

No wonder Markkenen is wilting a bit this year, must be tough to develop there. We should rescue him and bring him here.

Missing their best player in Zach LaVine is a big part of it, but also, their roster has issues.

[Demographic Shift]

As of the 1:30 Injury Report..

Freddy VV is out tonight.

Shocking.
SImply shocking.

[planetmars]

As of the 1:30 Injury Report..

Freddy VV is out tonight.

Shocking.
SImply shocking.

According to Blake Murphy, Trent, Boucher and Watson are out too. Harris is available though. Would be nice to see him get some reps with the big club.

[DanH]

Freddy getting that rest. The tank is very much plan A it seems. Though Fred does seem to be in rough shape. Either way, if they keep missing multiple top-7 guys every game (Trent, Boucher and FVV...) they should lose out this road trip and rest guys up to close the season. Need a strong showing on this trip (a few wins) to make a run in the final handful of games possible.

[Demographic Shift]

According to Blake Murphy, Trent, Boucher and Watson are out too. Harris is available though. Would be nice to see him get some reps with the big club.

Yes indeed... All 4 are out .. I expected the first 3 as they were on the 8:30 report from last night.
Watson with that 30 burger is just too much of a risk to play when you have the Stanimal to slot in for that critical 5 minute stint that can swing a game.
Freddy has been struggling since his 15 round slugfest with Covid. He looks tired and beat up. Guts gets you only so far.
Lets see what Flynn looks like playing the 2 beside Kyle.

[G__Deane]

The reality is you're not catching Washing with the tear they've been one (best in the NBA over the last 10)
All we need to focus on is winning a few games but staying below the Bulls, which might be difficult, seeing as they are out tanking us in the last 10 games.

But out tougher schedule and western trip is the ace in the tank hole.

Edit: watch for Kyle's toe to mysteriously flare up or other minor injury.....

[golden]

As of the 1:30 Injury Report..

Freddy VV is out tonight.

Shocking.
SImply shocking.

Does this hurt or help? He was commanding that tank beautifully vs. Brooklyn.

[Demographic Shift]

Freddy getting that rest. The tank is very much plan A it seems. Though Fred does seem to be in rough shape. Either way, if they keep missing multiple top-7 guys every game (Trent, Boucher and FVV...) they should lose out this road trip and rest guys up to close the season. Need a strong showing on this trip (a few wins) to make a run in the final handful of games possible.

As you can tell I've already forked them for this year. .
To me.. .its a business and at times to improve the overall health of the business you have to take a one time write off to clean up the balance sheet, take your medicine and position yourself to come out next fiscal with a plan that gets you back into the black so to speak. Ujiri won't have to sell hope if they can get a blue chip prospect in this years draft and if he is able to get a good return if it manifests itself with Kyle in the offseason. Not all games are won on the court.

The one game to circle is the mega bowl against the Bulls on Thursday May 13th against the Bulls. The anti Ben Uzoh game.
Just improving your odds.

[Demographic Shift]

Does this hurt or help? He was commanding that tank beautifully vs. Brooklyn.

The classic "are you still beating your wife question"

Regardless of where you are on Freddy and his place on the team.....his absence opens up more time for the stanimal, bembry and hood for periods of time that help with the one year #tampatank.

[golden]

The classic "are you still beating your wife question"

Regardless of where you are on Freddy and his place on the team.....his absence opens up more time for the stanimal, bembry and hood for periods of time that help with the one year #tampatank.

Or more minutes for Malachi, which could hurt the tank, since he's been playing great lately. It could go either way.

[Demographic Shift]

A good night for the tank... two for two.

[TrueTorontoFan]

Freddy getting that rest. The tank is very much plan A it seems. Though Fred does seem to be in rough shape. Either way, if they keep missing multiple top-7 guys every game (Trent, Boucher and FVV...) they should lose out this road trip and rest guys up to close the season. Need a strong showing on this trip (a few wins) to make a run in the final handful of games possible.

I'm excited to miss the playoffs we have had some long long years with these guys getting banged up and playing late into the seasons. With the quick turn around they have earned a bit of a rest.

[magoon]

At this point, the realistic best tank goal is seventh - trying to out-tank both Chicago (who aren't tanking but have issues) and Sacramento (who have started tanking hard). Everybody else is out of reach.

We have nine games left, finishing off this road trip from hell with the Jazz, Lakers, and Clippers, then the Wiz, the Grizz, the Clippers again, the Bulls, the Mavs and the Pacers. Only three teams with losing records, and we ideally want to control our destiny and lose the Wiz and Bulls games. Going 3-6 is very possible, which would give us a final record of 29-43.

The Wizards - who the tank demands we finish behind - have the Cavs twice, the Pacers twice, the Hawks twice, and singles with the Mavs, Bucks, Hornets and us. It's a pretty light schedule - four games against teams with losing records (not counting us) and probably one Hawks game where they rest guys for the playoffs, and only one killer team. Assuming they go 6-4 over their last ten, which isn't unreasonable, that should have them end up at 34-38, well ahead of us and guaranteeing us a lottery pick.

The Kings have Memphis twice, and Lakers, Mavs, Pacers, Jazz, Spurs - and three, THREE games against the Thunder, who are basically playing a JV league team right now. It's not a light schedule - I mean, it's the West - but out-losing them is doable. If they take all three of the OKC games and one more, that would give them a 4-6 record and we would tie for record if we go 3-6.

The Bulls have ten games left: the Bucks twice, the Nets twice, Pistons, Celtics, Hawks, Sixers, Hornets, and us. If they can win four of those games - and they will be trying - they should hopefully end up ahead of us by a game.

[saints91]

fingers crossed! I actually hate that 7-8 spot. You are close enough to the major talent and always miss out on the guy you really want. We missed out on Lillard, Barnes.

On the bright side Jamal Murray went 7th in 2016.... but then a huge drop off after that. Historically there have been a lot of great player in that 7-13 range, it's just nailing that pick. Which we need badly.

[Puffer]

I'm excited to miss the playoffs we have had some long long years with these guys getting banged up and playing late into the seasons. With the quick turn around they have earned a bit of a rest.

If they do miss the playoffs, it's a good chance for Boucher and Birch to get themselves right for the FIBA tournament in Vancouver.