Tankers coming into focus
Many lottery-contending teams likely to reveal their hands
soon on intentions
Updated: December 16, 2013, 3:52 PM ET
By Chad Ford | ESPN Insider

We've been using the word "tank" quite liberally. Clearly
every team on this list isn't up to the same things. Some
GMs have deliberately shaped their rosters in a way to get a
high pick. Others have actually tried to put together a
contender, only to find out that the on-court product
(whether thanks to injuries or just bad management) hasn't
performed as they had hoped.

Six weeks into the season, we are starting to get a clearer
look at who intends to try to win — and who doesn't. Here's
our weekly look at where the worst teams in the NBA with a
shot at the lottery stand in their quest for the No. 1 pick
in the draft.

1. Milwaukee Bucks | Status: Tanking? | Record: 5-19 (past
week: 1-3)

The Bucks have been in the "trying" category all season, but
there are signals that they are finally embracing the
inevitable. Not only is Larry Drew finally giving big
minutes to his young players, such as John Henson and
Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks have been steadfastly
rejecting trade offers (for players such as Rudy Gay and
Omer Asik) that would make them better now.

It's looking clearer that management might finally have
owner Herb Kohl on board with the idea that one bad season
could lead to many, many good ones.

(Last week: 1 )

2. Philadelphia 76ers | Status: Tanking | Record: 7-18 (past
week: 0-4)

After the Sixers' 3-0 start, they have gone 4-18, which is
much more in line with what new GM Sam Hinkie envisioned
when he put together this club. Injuries have played some
part in that, but it appears the early Sixers flurry was
just a fluke.

The fact that Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Thaddeus Young
are being heavily shopped also means the Sixers have no
intention of trying to get better this season. They're
apparently trying to figure out how to get worse.

(Last week: 3 )

3. Utah Jazz | Status: Tanking | Record: 6-20 (past week:
2-2)

We had a pretty good idea that a healthy Trey Burke was
going to make the Jazz more competitive. They have won five
of their past 11 games now that they have their point guard.
His past five games, Burke is averaging an impressive 7.2
assists per game and committing just 1.8 turnovers a game.
His shooting woes are an issue, but overall the Jazz are
pleased with what he's bringing to the team.

The best news is that, although Burke's play has improved
the Jazz, it seems unlikely that any team will be worse than
them in the West, almost guaranteeing Utah a top-five spot
here all season.

(Last week: 2 )

4. Toronto Raptors | Status: Tanking | Record: 9-13 (past
week: 2-1)

Rudy Gay's absence hasn't had the tanking effect GM Masai
Ujiri had hoped for. In fact, the Raptors are 3-1 since the
trade. That's why Ujiri is out working hard to move more
veterans, such as Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Lowry should
be pretty easy to move. DeRozan will be tougher.

GMs are even more interested in trying to pry away Jonas
Valanciunas and Amir Johnson, I'm told. Valanciunas is
virtually untouchable, and it would take a pretty high draft
pick to pry away Johnson, who is playing the best ball of
his career right now (averaging 20 points and nine rebounds
in his past five games).

(Last week: 8 )

5. Orlando Magic | Status: Tanking | Record: 7-17 (past
week: 1-3)

The Magic are another team that seems committed to tanking,
and, of all the teams looking to unload veterans, they might
have the most success.

Arron Afflalo has been amazing this season. The Magic
resisted trading him over the summer, thinking his stock
would rise as the season went on. They were right. Afflalo
is having an epic year and might land the Magic another
asset (a young player or a draft pick) that they covet.

(Last week: 5 )

6. Sacramento Kings | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 7-15
(past week: 2-2)

The Kings are 1-1 with Rudy Gay in the lineup. It's too
early to tell, but it is quite possible that his arrival
won't actually move the needle much in the competitive West.

Unless the Kings have more moves up their sleeves (sources
say they are on the market for a pass-first point guard),
they aren't making the playoffs and still might end up with
a pretty high draft position. Although that's surely not
what owner Vivek Ranadive envisioned when he agreed to take
on Gay's huge deal, he might get what the Kings need despite
his efforts to win now.

(Last week: 7 )

7. Cleveland Cavaliers | Status: Trying | Record: 9-14 (past
week: 1-1)

From the sound of things, the Cavs are still trying to find
a way to make the playoffs. They've been active in trade
discussions with an eye toward improving their roster now.
Our Marc Stein has mentioned Luol Deng and Asik as possible
acquisitions.

The Cavs have played better of late, winning five of their
past seven. If they can make a deal, they should be able to
find a way into the playoffs in the East.

(Last week: 6 )

8. Charlotte Bobcats | Status: Trying | Record: 10-14 (past
week: 1-3)

Charlotte got its first solid win of the season last Monday
against Golden State and is on target to reach its goal of
making the playoffs. And I don't think the Bobcats' aim is
going to change.

From what I can gather, all of the Bobcats' phone calls are
about making this team better now. I'm even hearing
rumblings that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be on the table
when he returns from injury.

(Last week: 8 )

9. Boston Celtics | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 11-14 (past
week: 1-2)

Rajon Rondo is returning in January, and we probably won't
know what Danny Ainge's real intentions are until February.
GMs around the league are split as to what Ainge has up his
sleeve. Some believe he'll ride it out with this team.
Others believe he'll continue to blow it up and tank.

The team is playing surprisingly well. With a healthy Rondo,
the Celtics are probably a playoff team. That's what Ainge
says he has wanted all along. If Rondo is traded, however,
along with Jeff Green or Gerald Wallace, then we will know
the truth.

(Last week: 9 )

10. Chicago Bulls | Status: Trying? | Record: 9-13 (past
week: 1-3)

The Bulls are just 3-9 since Derrick Rose went down, with
losses to plenty of bad teams, including the Jazz, Bucks and
Knicks. They were blown out against the Raptors on Saturday
and barely squeaked by the Bucks on Friday.

If the Bulls start trading players such as Deng or Carlos
Boozer in an attempt to get assets, Tom Thibodeau will throw
a fit. But, with the Knicks in pursuit of Chicago's coach
(hat tip to Marc Stein), maybe there's a deal to be made to
make everyone happy.

(Last week: 10 )

את האימפריה הירוקה שכחנו היום?

לא יכול לחכות

מצטער, אבל הדיון כאן על ה- "טנקינג" הוא כל-כך עקר וחסר תכלית שאני חייב להגיב באופן חריג.

מנחם ודדי, אני מאמין ששניכם תוכלו להסכים על הפסקה הבאה:

בישיבות ההנהלה של קבוצות רבותNBA, איכות הדראפט הצפויה תהיה קריטריון חשוב בכל דיון בנושא כניסה לתהליך "הצערת הקבוצה" ו/או "בנייה מחדש" (מה שלא אומרים המונחים האלה בליגה שרוב הקבוצות בה לא לקחו אליפות מעולם…).
בדראפט מעורר פנטזיות כמו הקרוב, הסבירות שתתקבל החלטה על מהלך כזה, בלא מעט קבוצות, גבוהה במיוחד בדיוק בגלל הקריטריון הזה.

אז בואו נקרא לקבוצות שכל המהלכים שלהם מסוף/אמצע העונה הקודמת מצביעים על כניסה לתהליך כזה, קבוצות שעושות ירידה לצורך עליה. דדי רוצה לקרוא לזה TANKING, מנחם רוצה לקרוא לזה YOUNGING, זה כבר עניין סמנטי.

העניין הוא שלא רק הטאנקיג קיים ב NBA והוא קיים באבו-אבוה. אבל זה כלום בהשוואה לשחיתות שרצה שם כבר שנים בפלייאופים. ככה שלא הבנתי למה נתפסתם דווקא על העניין השולי הזה.

מעניין אם הם גם יבכו אחד על כתפו של השני אחרי שאינדיאנה ילמדו אותם היום תרגל או שניים

ד"ר איזה מזל יש למומי
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