has any team OFFICIALLY 100% ever TANKED a season?
Can anyone give me 97% proof of this (I won't say 100% since you'd have to be a insider to know that). I mean what's the understanding of something like this, do the coaches pretty much say something like,
"ok don't forget, we're taking this season, so please try not to win tonight, pleasssssee."
So who exactly is in on this? I can't see an entire roster of 12 players WILLINGLY going along with this, there's gotta be at least a couple players that say, "man, F that crap, you think I'm gonna give a half-ass effort?"
I can't see that happening. But I do remember constantly thinking during the year of the Lebron draft that the Cavs were tanking, I can't prove it but I just had a feeling from watching them.
Has a team in any sports league blatantly tanked a season?
i dont think teams try to tank the season. they probably give up after the allstar break but any coach will not allow his reputation to be tarnished in order to get a high draft pick. reason being, if there is enough complains he might be fired or the fans might protest resulting is loss revenue for the owner. i doubt any coach or owner would risk that.
even when d-rob and sean elliot were injured in '96, the spurs signed D-wilkens to carry some scoring load. the spurs were the third worst team but just got lucky in the draft. thats another reason why teams try not to tank because its not guarenteed that you will recieve the first pick. last year toronto was not trying to tank, nor were they the worst team but got lucky in the draft.
another thing, players have big egos, and they hate to lose. if management came to the players and asked them to tank, you know a few of the stars would ask for a trade, especially if they are in their twilight and looking for a ring.
It happened a few times in the early 80s. Worst was in the 83-84 season when it was so bad and obvious that they changed the system after that year. The Bulls, Rockets, and I think Pacers and Clippers tanked so clearly the league was embarrassed. They all wanted Hakeem and back then the worst record in each conference got into a coin flip for #1 pick.
Similar things happened with Ralph Sampson years before.
But in 84 the Bulls traded the one time franchise player and lost like 16 of 17 as the other best tanking team lost about 15 in a row.
NBA wouldnt let it happen again. Thats why we have a lottery now.
1) 2002 Nuggets: Nuggets basically gave away players for capspace and a shot at a high draft pick. Nuggets regular rotation the year they did it included Junior Harrington and Vincent Yarborough. It was a tank by design.
2) 2003 Magic: They got Dwight Howard. It was worth it.
3) 2002 Cavs: Sold their soul for a chance to get LeBron. They allowed Davis and Miles to ballhog to their hearts content as long as an L was put in the record column.
4) 1999/2000 Bulls: Dynasty ended and Krause decided to throw a few seasons to accumulate high draft picks and get a few "full boat" free agents. It didn't work out too well for Jabba as he screwed himself in his efforts to get a 'star' player.
Didnt the lottery start after Pop quit and D Rob was out for the season so the Spurs pretty much tanked that season to get Timmy.
no dude, the spurs werent even the worst team that season. that year was also pops first year as head coach, we had sign D-Wilkens to fill in sean elliots role when he got injured. DRob also didnt fake the injury like some suggest to get a lottery pick, because it was obvious he wasnt the same player after that season.
edited so i can refrain myself from calling others names. sorry.
Last edited by SsKSpurs21 : 01-20-2007 at 02:07 AM.
no dude, the spurs werent even the worst team that season. that year was also pops first year as head coach, we had sign D-Wilkens to fill in sean elliots role when he got injured. DRob also didnt fake the injury like some suggest to get a lottery pick, because it was obvious he wasnt the same player after that season.
Edit: Thank you for editing that **** out cause it was completly uncalled for, and retract my previous statment if you had a chance to read it. All I did was asked a question no need to get touchy over it, and yes that team was pretty damn bad which is why they got the 1st pick that year.
Last edited by millencolin735 : 01-20-2007 at 02:11 AM.
has any team OFFICIALLY 100% ever TANKED a season?
