The point is that Isiah tanking will not lead to good things! The aura of negativity directly emanates from his presence. It wreaks!

KING...I agree with you! No one is saying that a lottery pick, a VERY high one, is not beneficial...but the way Isiah is literally throwing games, is an insult to the integrity of sports. Its no different than Spygate or steroids in baseball...losing deliberately to gain a competitive advantage, similar to taping other teams' gameplans or using chemicals to enhance your body. Its an UNNATURAL course and a very bad one to take.

There is NO LUCK surrounding Isiah Thomas...I am surprised how much of a LOSER he is.

Who cares what the ramifications are for Isiah tanking at this point? As long as he's gone and the entire roster is eventually traded or released, none of it will matter in the long run.

I will be the first to say Beasley is no Hakeem, or Duncan. Beasley isnt going to be as good as Durant or Melo in this league. He is a three and gets in foul trouble every game. He cant guard a three and I dont believe in losing games. Dont play the guys at all and play the young guys. How about give the young guys meaningful minutes earlier in the year and then maybe we wouldnt be losing games on purpose. Would love to know San Antonio record of the last 15 games of the season. One player isnt going to help us win we need three and get rid of Steph and anyone that has Chicago ties coaches and players.

You guys are so wishy-washy. No matter what, Isiah just cannot win with any of you guys (and gal). Kill him for dragging this organization through the mud with scandals, losing seasons, millions of wasted dollars, squandered draft picks, totally ineptness (is that a word?)...etc.

But to kill him for doing what we have all been screaming about is absurd. How long have we been screaming about being a middle of the pack team that will go nowhere? Now that we have a chance to get a top 3 pick, (which we killed him for giving away our number 2 pick two years ago) you guys (gal) are still unhappy. Dont single Isiah out for tanking which has been going on for years in this league. Isiah isn't going about it any differently than the other teams who have doen the same.

The Celtics clearly tanked last year. That tank job earned them the right to be the best team in the league this year.

The Spurs tanked for Duncan.

What Riley is soing in Miami trumps Isiah is doing. Riley, the Icon, the man who hates losing more than life itself is not only in full tank mode, but the man has left the bench to go out and scout players. R U serious! Imagine if Isiah dared to even mention he wanted to leave the bench to scout players. He would be hanged in efigy by the press.

As Simrud mentioned, the Cavs tanked for Lebron. And dont tell mw that aint no Lebrons or Hakeems to be had in this draft. teams tank every single year even when the Bogats and K Marts are the best players available.

Now, can someone tell what would be the right way for Isiah to go about helping this franchise get a high pick without tanking?

[Edited by - bigbeast on 22-03-2008 6:48 PM]

Posted by simrud:

Lets be real here, we have been complaining about being a middle of the pack, not good enough team to compete but not good enough to get a high pick team for years.

Now we are finally doing the right thing.

SA tanked big time the yea Robinson was hurt to get Duncan. Now they are the most respected organization in the league.

Rockets benched that big guy who used to shoot real well to tank so they could get Hakim back in the day. I forget his name, but he was the predecessor of all the Euro shooting big men, and he was American, too.

Cavs tanked to get Bron, now they are golden.

The way the system is set up, you must tank to get out of being a middle of the pack crappy team.

If IT ensures a top 3 pick position, regardless of the bounce of the balls, this will be the first good move he has done with his tenure with the Knick.

So tank, tank, tank away!!!

that's what i'm talkin' about!

Posted by King1:

My problem is dont play Lee. Crawford, and Nate and then when it gets close take them out for the rest of the game.

Agreed. Why even play them at all? So the team doesn't lose by 50? You realize we scored 40 pts in the third quarter last night. Too much for Zeke! Its funny because, likely, those are the three players the team is keeping for next year...why not play them with some of the younger guys so they can at least adapt to each other.

Isiah is treating the team like two separate entities. But starters and bench players play together at many points in games, losing season or not. Lee and Nate come off the bench for the most part and they have played plenty with Jamal and the rest.

Plus a guy like Lee is still working on developing his game...he could use the extra time on the floor working on the jumper, which is getting better. Nate could work on passing the ball to him rather than jacking. These are young guys too.

But a line-up of Mardy, Balkman, Jeffries, Morris and Chandler...I mean, c'mon! At least put someone out there to "coach" since Isiah is very allergic to X's and O's.

Briggs I agree with what your saying but why would you trade Lee. What guarantees that Randolph aka Stromile Swift or McKale will be 14-12 players that dont need shots in this league. If you re did the draft of David class he probably goes about 7th or 8th in that draft. This draft doesnt have a paul, or Williams and not a great draft IMO. Lee hasnt had a coach for three years and has learned everything on his own. Give him someone to teach him something and he will get better.

Posted by King1:

They dojnt need to play these guys I will give you the rundown
Collins- Cant play dead in a John Wayne movie.
Jeffires- Could score in a whorehouse with a fistful of fifties
Balkman- No work ethic off the floor and no skills marginal player at best inconsistent
Chandler- Has a chance to be a rotation player
Morris- Should be arrested for impersonating a pro basketball player.

that's too bad to hear about balkman. he has quite a skill set.



i think it's fine to see what morris, chandler and mardy have to offer for the rest of the year. one thing to remember about tanking - the year the spurs got duncan, they weren't doing the worst tank job. boston was. they had something like 11 wins and tanked in ridiculous fashion to nab duncan. they wound up with the 3rd pick in the draft. so, we'll see what we get. it does seem like a weak draft though.

the organization was a farce well before the tanking.

I totally agree but I think you need to trade Lee with a bad contract is better than taking an uproven player. Lopez will struggle in the pro because his lack of athleticism. I am an SEC guy and we will disagree on Randolph. If they are going to go big trade down and take Thabeet a defensive minded player.

you really have faith we will make the right pick?