Lakers: Laker s, does the team need to tank already?

[Venti Quattro]

Or do they still make a run at a playoff slot and be eventually swept?

[DPG21920]

One, I know you can't be serious, but...

There is 0 incentive to tank. They aren't far from the 8th seed & they still have the most talented team in the NBA (even if it's not working). Not only that but they have no first round pick so what would be the point?

[TrainOfThought5]

One, I know you can't be serious, but...

There is 0 incentive to tank. They aren't far from the 8th seed & they still have the most talented team in the NBA (even if it's not working). Not only that but they have no first round pick so what would be the point?

i thought that pick was lottery protected.

and there probably isnt a reason to tank. maybe it gives them a reason to let Howard go, Fire MDA, and make changes to other things that would be harder to do if they make playoffs. either way this has been a very entertaining season from LAL. most entertaining team in the NBA, to be honest.

[baseline bum]

Or do they still make a run at a playoff slot and be eventually swept?

I'm sure DOK and the rest of the Suns fans would appreciate the Lakers keeping the tank job going so that they could draft another Kendall Marshall with the lotto pick.

[LkrFan]

For what, a 2013 lottery pick? VQ trolling.

[DPG21920]

i thought that pick was lottery protected.

and there probably isnt a reason to tank. maybe it gives them a reason to let Howard go, Fire MDA, and make changes to other things that would be harder to do if they make playoffs. either way this has been a very entertaining season from LAL. most entertaining team in the NBA, to be honest.

From my understanding, the pick is not protected.

[HarlemHeat37]

No, the pick isn't protected..Phoenix and Cleveland get LA and Miami's picks, IIRC..

Lakers missing the playoffs would be the biggest meltdown in sports history..it would a major blemish on the careers of all key members involved, tbh..

With that being said, Lakers and Mavs will both make the playoffs, with Houston and Portland falling back down to their expected levels..

[Clipper Nation]

i thought that pick was lottery protected.

It isn't... if they miss the playoffs, their pick goes to the Suns... if they make the playoffs, their pick goes to the Cavs...

[DPG21920]

At LG they are talking about how Lakers with Dwight have the same record as Philly without Bynum

[ElNono]

Mitch can always trade Earl Clark to Cleveland for a top 3 pick, tbh... but he wouldn't need to tank to do that

[DPG21920]

Their next 4 games aren't easy as well. They need at least 2-2: CHI, MEM, UTA & OKC

[ElNono]

If they go 0-4, does Pringles AND Jim Buss get canned, tbh?

[racm]

Their next 4 games aren't easy as well. They need at least 2-2: CHI, MEM, UTA & OKC

3 of those teams are top 6 in defensive rating.

If they go 0-4, does Pringles AND Jim Buss get canned, tbh?

Dr Buss would have to disown Jimbo

[da_suns_fan]

If they miss playoffs, Phoenix gets their first round draft pick (from Nash trade).

If they make playoffs, Suns get Miami's first round draft pick.

[Ghazi]

No, the pick isn't protected..Phoenix and Cleveland get LA and Miami's picks, IIRC..

Lakers missing the playoffs would be the biggest meltdown in sports history..it would a major blemish on the careers of all key members involved, tbh..

With that being said, Lakers and Mavs will both make the playoffs, with Houston and Portland falling back down to their expected levels..

You gotta start wondering if they can pass the Jazz... they're 4 games back and alreayd lost the season series, so essentially 5 games back.

That leaves the Rockets... Lakers still have to make up 4 road games, Rockets have played the same amount of home/away. they're only 2 games back, but that's a bigger gap than it seems when you're a mediocre team.

I still think they'll get in.

and DPG, most talented team in the league isn't 17-23

[NRHector]

I thought they were already tanking

[Cry Havoc]

I wonder how Bynum feels about seeing the team that sent him down the river falling on their ass.

[Jt.ONE]

I wonder how Bynum feels about seeing the team that sent him down the river falling on their ass.

tbh seeing how he hasnt played a single game this season+his bowling() ;

they're probably both laughing at each other equally

[StrengthAndHonor]

If they go 0-4, does Pringles AND Jim Buss get canned, tbh?

They're going to ride this out this season and perhaps even give Pringles a fresh start till next season. If the Lakers still fail to win at least .600 ball come January 2014 then Senior Buss will drop the Thor's hammer on their ass, including Kupcake's.

[Jelloisjigglin]

You gotta start wondering if they can pass the Jazz... they're 4 games back and alreayd lost the season series, so essentially 5 games back.

That leaves the Rockets... Lakers still have to make up 4 road games, Rockets have played the same amount of home/away. they're only 2 games back, but that's a bigger gap than it seems when you're a mediocre team.

I still think they'll get in.

and DPG, most talented team in the league isn't 17-23

I don't see them getting in. This team is a ing disaster plan and simple. Sure there's talent here but the bad far outweighs the good. They just can't overcome the ting coaching, bench, chemistry etc.

[Latarian Milton]

don't know what this team can be tanking for when they have no 1st round pick this year, and it's not like they're competing for a playoff spot either. they're just playing for fun out there imho

[DMC]

Dr Buss likely still has a lot of his fortune tied up in the Lakers, so as they go his fortune, or part of it, goes. He likely has some power to pull certain plugs. I can see the hand beginning to reach now, especially after that Mike Brown debacle, paying a coach to leave and bringing in a worse one.