Links About The Tank

Happy Friday! I hope you're doing well.

The resignation of Sam Hinkie over two weeks ago really has me pondering about team-building in the NBA. I detest the concept of tanking so much because I feel it goes completely against the entire point of sport, which is to win. Specifically with Hinkie, even after reflecting and doing some cursory research, I found his plan to be a cowards way around concrete team-building and development. He was so bent on avoiding the treadmill of mediocrity that his teams instead were some of the worst in NBA history. It's funny he and his followers were terrified about the "treadmill of mediocrity" when there was a realistically good chance that even when he got the unicorn superstar he was looking for, the Sixers would have to spend some time on it at some point along the way.

Hinkie and Sixers fans that brought into The Process sounded a lot like post-grad twenty-somethings or someone going through a mid-life crisis. They felt they were on a rudderless ship for such a long time, so they felt that something needed to be done differently. The problem is that the "something" has actually made things worse! However, now that changes have been made, hopefully the Sixers can take inventory and move in a more productive direction.

In all the reading and listening I have done on the topic in the past couple of weeks, I figure I would provide links to some of my favorite readings. I hope you will enjoy and learn something from them, regardless of which side of the tanking argument you're on.

"An Honest Reflection on Tanking" by Jack Neubecker is an amazing article that moves away from the anecdotes that come with discussions of tanking, and dives into the numbers.

"Losing is Not a Winning Strategy in the NBA" by Dave Berri was written months into Sam Hinkie's tenure, and looks at how teams fare down the line after they win a certain amount of games in a season.

"The Myth of the Tanking Spurs" by Andres Alvarez looks to dispel the conventional belief that the Spurs tanked the 1996-1997 season in order to get Tim Duncan. Did they, or was it a snake-bitten season for a powerhouse franchise?

"The Idea Behind The Process is Wrong, and Always Has Been" by Kevin Draper goes the more anecdotal route of skewering The Process and the foundations it was built upon. I add this link because it basically says a lot of the things I feel about it.

"Sam Hinkie Was a Cult Leader, Not an Innovator" by Jared Wade is a complete ethering of Hinkie that echoes my more emotional sentiments on the subject.

Lastly, I'll link you to my previous article "Sam Hinkie By the Numbers", where I exhibit some interesting numbers I found regarding his tenure in Philadelphia.

The Warriors at 70

I can't specifically pinpoint the game where I wanted the Warriors to start making history, but I can only assume it was at some point during their initial 24-0 run to kick off what has been an amazing 2015-16 campaign. 55 games later, the Golden State Warriors have accomplished what only one other team has: they have won 70 games in a season.

I was privileged to watch the Warriors take on the Spurs in Oakland last night on TNT. After the witnessing the recent pitfalls of a nearly unblemished team - tough losses to Boston and Minnesota on their home floor - I was on pins and needles from wire to wire even with the sizable lead the home side held over San Antonio for much of the game.

Once the final buzzer sounded, the fanfare wasn't as loud as I expected. Many fans in Oakland filed out of the building before the end of the game as if it were win #2 on the season. But at least this was a plateau that was finally reached. After the lead against Minnesota slipped away, part of me wondered if the Warriors would lose out the rest of the way and remain at 69 wins. I wondered if they would just be the team that almost did it but ultimately fizzled out. I was worried that the air they were in would not be as rarified as I hoped it would be.

Alas, the Warriors were able to stretch out and reach that nearly unattainable rung on the ladder of all-time great seasons. However, there are still a few games to go if they truly want to be the best.

I'm personally satisfied with 70. I really just wanted an all-time great team that "my era" could call its own, and putting 70 (or more) in the win column essentially solidifies that (assuming they win the title). The next step is seeing if they can truly set themselves apart from the rest. Draymond Green has stated publicly that he wants to win it, and the Warriors have come too far to not be competitive. I mean, they might as well considering they would most likely want momentum heading into the playoffs.

Even though there is unfinished business over this final week, the Warriors have already accomplished a lot. Regardless of their outcome in the postseason, they have already clinched their place in NBA lore.

The Best Passive-Aggressive Teenagers in the NBA

Happy Tuesday! I have another Scenario Mode Podcast ready to go!

This week I discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 44-18 after losing to the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies. I find their locker room drama to be annoying, particularly for a team that's first place in the Eastern Conference. LeBron says they aren't ready for the playoffs. With 20 games left in their season, what do they need to do? With legacies at stake, will they put their differences aside and become a threat to the Warriors and Spurs out west? Click the audio player below to find out!