I can't believe the lottery outcome, and yet I CAN believe it if that makes sense. The Celtics had a less than 40% chance of getting either #1 or #2, so it was hardly a lock regardless of how many games they tanked last season. The worst part is that they have been "significant" lottery players three times in the last 20 years and the best thing they have to show for those "entries" is an obituary.
As far as the outcome goes, the Celtics obviously lost out big time (I think their marketing slogan for next season should be "We're screwed"). A potential front line of Al Jefferson, PP and Oden would have been pretty nice. But the NBA also lost out as well. The two biggest stars/names to come into the league in a few years will be playing the majority of their games in the sleepy Pacific NW - thats too bad. The fact that the three teams with the worst records ALL got shut out of the top three is pretty amazing, which brings me to the system.
The system doesn't seem to accomplish what they are trying to do. The lottery was put in place in the 80s after Houston blatantly tanked games to get Olajuwon (or was it sampson???) Anyway, after that they came up with a lottery system to protect the integrity of the game. So, now that the lottery is in place nobody tanks games anymore right??? Um, well not exactly. The three people that saw the Bucks Celtics game this past season wouldn't have a problem answering that question. Both the C's and the Bucks were pathetic and obviously tanking games down the stretch.
Some could argue that some justice was delivered with the lottery results. Since all of the tankers were shut out, its hard to argue against this point. However, the whole reason for the lottery is to prevent tanking and it IS NOT HAVING AN EFFECT. What effect is it having?? Well, the worst teams aren't reaping the benefits of the higher picks, which is EXACTLY WHAT A DRAFT IS SUPPOSED TO DO. The draft is a means for lousy teams to improve right???
I know what you are thinking - "Jay F you and your sour grapes!! Just enjoy the Pats off-season spoils, and the Sox' best record in baseball!!". Well, again hard to argue THAT point either. But I have a solution to fix the lottery! Here is how we fix it.
After 70 games you take a look at the standings and take the three worst teams. Those three teams will pick no lower than three in the upcoming draft. Whoever finishes with the BEST record over the final 12 games gets the #1 pick, second best record gets #2, last gets #3. Those three teams now have something to play for instead of just playing out the string and looking at the ping pong balls. Now, if you truly care about the integrity of the game this help to solve that problem. You also get to help the worst teams by allowing them to pick higher in the draft. Just a thought.
The Celts really are screwed now. I think you have to trade Pierce now, while he still has some value. How about Pierce to Dallas for Howard and Devin Harris? If you keep Pierce and add someone with the #5 pick (Green from G-town, Brewer from FLA?) the best case scenario is that you win 35 to 40 games TOPS. As any wizard fan would tell you, that is a path to nowhere. Crap. Anyway, you have to shake it up somehow, and pray you can get lucky in the draft at some point. Good news is Vin Baker's contract is finally off the books this season!! Ha, thanks Chris Wallace you fat bastard (also responsible for Kedrick Brown and Joe Forte in 2001)!!
2 comments:
Let's see, I think a quote from Drew Carey sums it up best.
Oh, you hate the management of your favorite team*? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.”
*- actual quote is "job", but same thing applied here.
Another quote from Dilbert's Wally, when the intern realizes what kind of job he really has signed up to work for:
"Welcome to Hell, Kid".
and this quote of yours takes the cake:
Well, the worst teams aren't reaping the benefits of the higher picks, which is EXACTLY WHAT A DRAFT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
Well then, by that logic, the Browns should have won the Super Bowl 3 times now will all those draft picks they had in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002....
Quit bitching about your management because they suck. It's a fact of life.
1. Jay, I really don't think that you can fix the integrity of teams and the league by changing the system of the draft. It doesn't make a difference what you come up with, teams with no integrity will come up with a way to cheat the system. Trust me, I know. I used to work with a bunch of cheaters. A question you have to ask is why you don't see this in baseball or football? Is it because teams have integrity in those leagues? Or is it that the league does not accept this type of behavior. To fix this, you need to come down hard on the teams that tank their season to get the #1 draft. If they can come up with a way to solve this, then you can have a normal draft.
2. Why is it the sleepy NW? Why is it too bad? The West is the premier conference right? And now they add two more talents to the conference. If you are saying that it is bad because the Eastern Conference is on the verge of being unwatchable because of the poor talent and they needed these two guys to get some energy, then I understand, but I'm not too sure that is what you meant.
3. If Boston didn't tank, would they have been one of the 3 worst teams? The 3 worst teams got shut out. Really?? I'm getting tired of that argument. Are they really the 3 worst teams or are they the 3 teams that tried their hardest to tank. I'm sure if Boston got the 1st or 2nd pick we wouldn't be hearing you talk about changing the rules of the draft around.
And by the way, is Rashee
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