Well I think it's just me that feels that way, I don't want to throw @karacha 's optimism in with mine! I am a pretty strong believer in karma though and I think we're going about this the right way. I know that's not popular opinion, but it's just who I am.
I don't believe in karma or any other superstitious or spiritual woo-woo, so I'm terrified! I do, however believe in NBA conspiracies, and it would make zero sense to send Philly our pick to let the Lakers $$$ continue to suffer.
If we finish 5th I'd say it's a foregone conclusion that the league screws us again and we drop out and lose the pick. They'll drop us back regardless, just like last year. But the higher we finish, the harder it is for them to get away with stealing our pick. Even if we finished 2nd we'd still fall back to 5th.
Umm, why would they want our money to suffer if I am understanding what you're saying; we pay 50 million in revenue sharing and it would be in their best interest for us to keep profiting handsomely. I don't believe in karma, though. I believe in facts. Facts are indisputable. I've done my research and know falling into the 5th spot is very, very dicey. However, I am not worried about that; worst case scenario we end up 4th and odds still in our favor to keep our pick.
Well that's the other side for me too. I'm not above thinking there's such a thing as karma, but the reality is for the NBA if you screw the Lakers one more time, they're going to start losing money. Then you've officially killed the golden goose that's carried your sorry association for the last 30 years. It doesn't make sense to give Philly, the team that's made a mockery of your association, two Top 10 picks just to f*** over the team that's gotten you to these heights. If that happens, it's bad for literally everyone except Philadelphia. Laker fans obviously suffer, the Lakers obviously suffer, and the league will eventually and inevitably suffer as one of their best cash makers starts to die off and all that profit-sharing bull**** dries up. Where are the poor little small market teams going to get cash if they can't take it out of the Lakers' pockets? Even in the worst Laker seasons of all time, we'll have a greater viewership rating than the Clippers. Same market, same sport, the Clippers are a far better product and they still can't outperform us. That can be taken two ways: the Lakers are a bulletproof business or the Lakers are too important to let die. I see us most likely picking 5th honestly. The NBA doesn't really even have to pull strings to make that happen and no one will be all that surprised since it's statistically the most likely thing to happen.
Look at our remaining schedule. Our worst case scenario is indeed 5th. It is a very REAL possibility. We are only up 3 games on Orlando and we play the Kings twice, Sixers and Minny once...along with a few other beatable teams if we were to get even slightly hot (Brooklyn, Denver, Orleans). Orlando looks hopeless right now. They could lose out as bad as they are playing right now.
We suck. It took an OT to beat a team that only suited up 8 and that made Byron's coaching look like Popovich. I am not worried about it. That's just me, though.
Yeah, as annoyed as I was last night, we did try pretty hard to lose that game and clearly have a lot of issues. I think we end up 4th.
I don't think we tried hard to lose the game... I think the players who played tried their hardest to win. The FO clearly has thrown in the towel though with the sitting of Hill and Boozer.
I meant what you're saying. we deserve the pick and philly doesn't based on karma, which I don't believe. But I do believe in conspiracies, meaning I have hope that the league will help us out.
Yeah, that is basically what I meant. I agree that the players keep playing hard. The FO seems to be embracing the tank.
Listening to Mason and Ireland currently talking about the tank...what a horrible season. I had to laugh when thy were talking; if I didn't laugh, I would cry.
So I may not be understanding this 100%, but we've split the season series with Orlando so if we end up with the same record we flip a coin for who has the 4th or 5th spot in the lottery right? The Lakers have 12 games left: @ Toronto, @ Brooklyn, @ Philadelphia, Pelicans, Blazers, Clippers, @ Clippers, @ Nuggets, Wolves, Mavs, @ Kings, Kings The Magic have 9 games left: Pistons, Spurs, @ Wolves, @ Bucks, Bulls, Raptors, Knicks, @ Heat, @ Nets (for fun) The Sixers have 10 games left: Clippers, @ Cavs, Lakers, @ Wizards, @ Hornets, @ Knicks, Wizards, @ Bulls, Bucks, Heat tankathon: Knicks 14-58 Wolves 16-55 Sixers 18-54 Lakers 19-51 Magic 22-51 I see us at best (worst) finishing with four more wins (Philly, Wolves, Kings, Kings). I see the Magic at worst finishing with two more wins (Wolves, Knicks). I see the Sixers finishing with maybe one more win (Knicks or Lakers). More likely though I see us finishing the season 3-9, the Magic finishing the season 2-7, the Sixers finishing the season 2-8. That'd put us at 22-60, the Magic at 24-58, and the Sixers finishing at 20-62 overall. We'll probably stay at 4th and end up with the 5th pick.
http://lakersball.com/threads/tank-watch-its-crunch-time.566/page-48 Silver Screen & Roll retweeted Dexter Fishmore @dexterfishmore ยท 19h 19 hours ago The Lakers will finish 4th from the bottom which is OK but we'll be watching on lottery night like
Lottery night would be more exciting this year than last for the fact that we might lose our pick. I would laugh so hard then go break something if that would happen. That sixth pick announcement will make or break our summer sanity...
Losing that pick would be pretty devastating for morale. Other than the emergence/development of Clarkson, it's the only saving grace of this season. Lose it and it truly hurts. We must tank harder.
look at orlando's schedule and how they've played of late: i think they win one more game. so the lakers can win 3. i could see it shaking out that way.
