What Are Your Reasons For Being an Anti-Tanker at This Point of the Season?

[yinoma2001]

Not a troll thread at all. At this point, I have a difficult time understanding an anti-tank stance. I get that prolific and long-enduring tank jobs do stain the culture of the franchise. But our two past seasons are the direct results of catastrophic injuries (Kobe, Nash, Randle to name a few). I think it's fair to question the FO's decisions, but it is what it is. At this point, it makes no sense to try to win games and jeopardize a top 5 pick.

For those who take the principled position of being an anti-tanker, I would genuinely like to know the reasons behind the principle.
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Don Draper]

Last year I was an anti-tanker until the end, mainly because I thought the top 10 picks were all around the same talent level and that we gained nothing but loss of prestige by trying to lose more and pick higher.

This year though, we've already lost all the prestige we could possibly lose, and unlike before, we have no chance at a pick lower than the top 5. So there was no reason for me not to get behind the Abrams this year.

[Omar Little]

At this stage the die is cast. No real benefit to a few more wins.
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“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel

[yinoma2001]

I certainly do not have the stomach to be a pro-tanker next year. It's really warped my fandom of the Lakers. For the first time in my life I found myself cheering for a Celtics win this Sunday. Never have I even contemplated this.
(I said 3 Magic Johnson baby-hook shot Hail Marys as penance).

I hope we can get back to cheering for the team and rooting for wins again. This has been a terrible 2 years to be a Lakers fan. Yet, we're still here!
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[City_Dawg]

As usual because I can't make up my mind I'm sort of in the middle. I certainly understand the need to tank (draft pick, cheap talent, etc). But I'll never go down the rabbit hole of actively rooting for losses or getting all butthurt when the team manages to win a game.
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*sighs*

!...

[rustyray]

If the Lakers win okay I am good with it, but I feel the same way when they lose now...its okay, I am good with it.

I always want them to win...but at this point we need to remember this season is done....the best thing for the future of this team is getting that top 5 pick and getting a player to groom for the future of the Lakers next to Randle.

[The Shadow King]

I was on board last year and I'm on board this year but I cannot do it a 3rd year in a row. It's time to turn this around, starting this off-season.
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Lakers, today. Lakers, tomorrow. Lakers, forever.

[tyusedney1]

there's still half a season left. you're just gonna drive yourself and everyone around you crazy if they win a few more games. so screw it. just watch the games and try to enjoy it rather than getting upset and rooting for them to fail

[Inigo Montoya]

I'm not worried about 'staining' the franchise or loss of prestige, but I do care about player development. I don't want them picking up bad habits by being put in a bad position. Is Clarkson learning to play his position the right way when we intentionally avoid spreading the floor for him so that we lose more games? Is it helping Ryan Kelly at all to be spending this time playing small forward? What in the world are we teaching them on defense? Are we missing out on something by playing Lin without spacing for the entire season?

If we are going to tank, then play the rookies the right way, and buy out the vets who might impact the tank (i.e. Boozer and Lin). But this half-assed tanking by playing people at the wrong position or in the wrong way is stupid. I would rather try to win games than 'stupid tank' for maybe at tops a 20% chance of a transformational player instead of a draft bust to average starter type player.

[Jim99187]

Jim Buss/Mitch Cupcake: fake laker pride.

[Reflexx]

I think you really need to define what you mean by "tanking".

I don't think many people have a problem with developing players and trying different lineups in a lost season. The record from this point on is meaningless.

If you put out a lineup of sub-par player because you want to see how they respond to adversity and see who plays well together, that's fine. It's a luxury you don't have when you're in the playoff hunt.

With a lost season you are afforded the luxury to take larger risks because the price of losing is mainly pride.

But you NEVER go out there with the intention of losing.

If you throw out an odd lineup, you do so because you want to see if this particular lineup can find chemistry together and compete. You can't do proper talent evaluation if you purposely try to create lineups for the purpose of losing. You hope that these guys remember what they practiced and trust each other so they find lightning in a bottle.

You don't expect them to win because they are likely less talented than the opponent. But you do expect them to try to win. And you make sure the coach is trying to coach them to win.

So to me, tanking is when you are purposely trying to lose. That's unethical and doesn't belong in professional sports.

[yinoma2001]

[Reflexx]

[infinite-loop]

My one and only anti-tank reason:

Tanking makes evaluating the coaching difficult. Do we know for sure if we want invest another year in Byron Scott or not?

This has ripple effects in getting free agents, in developing younger players (including the supposedly awesome player we'd get with the top 5 pick), and in the performance in the next (few) seasons.

[DimesnD]

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

[22]

[yinoma2001]

That top 5 protection is like your AA leader sipping on a Heineken while teaching the class, all the while chastising you for being an alcoholic.
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Lakers#1Team]

The ends do not justify the means when it comes to "in game" strategy. The same can be said for player adjustments.

I agree with Reflexx. You should never as a coach or player step on the court or sideline with the intention of losing that game. Losing your integrity is not worth it. Otherwise the NBA becomes the WWF. Is that what you want? The fix is in? A planned loss?? This combined with legalizing sports betting?

Given the way the season has went I expect the Lakers to concentrate on player development. I expect any player moves to be for player evaluation purposes. I expect the Lakers to play hard every game and still try to win every game they play.

I would love to have the top 5 pick but not at the cost of the Lakers losing their integrity.

[27]

considering the totality of circumstances this season, tanking is by far the best way to go.

[CHAMP24]

[yinoma2001]

[psy123321123]

Several reasons, one, you cannot guarantee a good player from your top draft pick. I mean look at Wes Johnson for crying out loud. Second, the fans want to see some competition and entertainment, so basically the team has wasted a year. Third, look at the other teams aiming to tank? Where are they? Oh right, they're still at the bottom. Philadelphia ring a bell? Boston?　Fourth, this is against a lot of the free agent's interest. Is Carlos Boozer going to get a bigger contract after this year? What about Jeremy Lin? That 25 point game by Lin is not unusual for him if he's allowed to play, he did it all time in Houston when Harden wasn't playing. Boozer? The guy is automatic with that mid range.

So in a nutshell, it hurts the team, you don't want to be Philly, it hurts the fans for a year, it hurts the free agents.

The Lakers ought to be fined for this.

[yinoma2001]

[jonnybravo]