ElNono
08-31-2013, 03:37 AM
tbh, reviewing last season and the offseason, the evidence is overwhelming supporting the contention that the Lakers should tank, but... let's analyze:
Reasons not to tank:
- Kibry's ego: The man is on a record-chasing mission, and frankly the Lakers are a second thought. Make no mistake, he's hurrying up for a comeback to keep that chase alive, nothing more.
- Jim Buss ineptitude: Tanking or not, he's going to be the owner from here on out, with final say on everything. Tanking a season isn't going to make this man off himself, so might aswell go all out.
Reasons to tank:
- Mike D'Antoni: Playing their cards right, the Lakers could blame D'Antoni for a poor start to the season, fire him, make him the scapegoat, and then run with the narrative he ruined their season and that's why they have to tank. It looks like a great plan, except for the part where Jim Buss is running the team, so Mike is probably safe.
- The Sweep: It's time to face the music, that 4-0 sweep was embarrassing as hell, and the majority of Lakerfan, frontrunners most of them, emptied the seats and left the team alone. The reality is that the team won't be able to re-connect with fans in it's current incarnation. Just burn one more season and hope for the best.
- The Begging: After what can only be described as a terrible regular season, and followed up by one of the most vicious rapes in playoff basketball, the Lakers proceeded to knee down and beg the former "future of the franchise" to stay. It was an incredible display of desperation for what once was a proud franchise. After such shameful display, it shouldn't shock anybody if the Lakeshow decide to do what's best for them and tank.
- The Rejection: When a franchise-caliber player leaves guaranteed millions on the table simply to avoid playing with one of your guys, you know you have a problem. A $30m problem. The Lakeshow would be wise to ride out this season and finally drop the cancer. Again, here is where having an owner like Jim Buss will likely be a problem.
- Cap flexibility: The league now operates under a different CBA than in year's past. Every cap space dollar has to count. The combination of highly paid players (Nash $9m, Pau $19m, Cancer $30m) and the inability to resign your top talent (DHo) has basically put the Lakers in the terrible roster situation they're in. The good news is that at the end of the season, both Pau and Cancer's contracts come off the books. Ideally, the team should tank and aim for a high pick, then use all that cap space to build around the future star they draft.
Reasons not to tank:
- Kibry's ego: The man is on a record-chasing mission, and frankly the Lakers are a second thought. Make no mistake, he's hurrying up for a comeback to keep that chase alive, nothing more.
- Jim Buss ineptitude: Tanking or not, he's going to be the owner from here on out, with final say on everything. Tanking a season isn't going to make this man off himself, so might aswell go all out.
Reasons to tank:
- Mike D'Antoni: Playing their cards right, the Lakers could blame D'Antoni for a poor start to the season, fire him, make him the scapegoat, and then run with the narrative he ruined their season and that's why they have to tank. It looks like a great plan, except for the part where Jim Buss is running the team, so Mike is probably safe.
- The Sweep: It's time to face the music, that 4-0 sweep was embarrassing as hell, and the majority of Lakerfan, frontrunners most of them, emptied the seats and left the team alone. The reality is that the team won't be able to re-connect with fans in it's current incarnation. Just burn one more season and hope for the best.
- The Begging: After what can only be described as a terrible regular season, and followed up by one of the most vicious rapes in playoff basketball, the Lakers proceeded to knee down and beg the former "future of the franchise" to stay. It was an incredible display of desperation for what once was a proud franchise. After such shameful display, it shouldn't shock anybody if the Lakeshow decide to do what's best for them and tank.
- The Rejection: When a franchise-caliber player leaves guaranteed millions on the table simply to avoid playing with one of your guys, you know you have a problem. A $30m problem. The Lakeshow would be wise to ride out this season and finally drop the cancer. Again, here is where having an owner like Jim Buss will likely be a problem.
- Cap flexibility: The league now operates under a different CBA than in year's past. Every cap space dollar has to count. The combination of highly paid players (Nash $9m, Pau $19m, Cancer $30m) and the inability to resign your top talent (DHo) has basically put the Lakers in the terrible roster situation they're in. The good news is that at the end of the season, both Pau and Cancer's contracts come off the books. Ideally, the team should tank and aim for a high pick, then use all that cap space to build around the future star they draft.