Would you guys be happy if the Suns play themselves out of being in the top 3 worst teams?

[cardsunsfan]

It's possible but still improbable the way they are playing... I know everybody just wants to see progress but if we get within one game do we want to play guys a couple less minutes? I doubt that would psychologically damage them or anything if we did it with lets say five games left. The NBA draft is so much different than other drafts with so few players playing at one time.. three really good players in a couple support players can make all the difference... Lets say in a few years its Zion, Bender & Ayton, with supporting cast of Oubre, Bridges, and a slightly above average point guard.. this team could really be something.. I doubt we'll remember the last 14 or so games.. as long as it doesn't hurt the "culture of winning" it makes me wonder if we should do it

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm guessing you meant Zion, Booker and Ayton?

 

[Phrazbit]

It might be a question worth revisiting later, such as your number of 5 games left, but not worth worrying about yet. We're 3 wins back of changing our lotto odds with just over 10 games left and there are 2 teams that we'd need to pass.

It is pretty damn unlikely. We could go .500 the rest of the way and still not move.

 

[Western Font]

I would just keep telling myself that there was only a 14% chance of getting Zion with one of the worst three records. But if the Suns don't fall below #5 there's still a 10.5% chance.

I think there's something to be said for finishing the season strong, even if it costs us 3.5%.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I’m not calling for tank, but it’s not all about getting the 14.5% shot at Zion. Each peg down puts us closer to missing out on one of the top three most talented players. If we end the season 3rd we have same shot at Zion, but a single team leaps into top 3 pick and we are picking 4th. Meaning we miss out on Zion, likely Morant, and even Barrett who is at least a likely coveted asset.

 

[DevonCardsFan]

I'll be sooooo pissedzl you tanked this far get the effin top 3 pick, to land Morant or Zion would be huge

 

[Covert Rain]

I want to see progress in the team but this season has been over for a long time. I hope we stay in the top 3 spots to get the top pick.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

They need to just play out the season and let the chips fall where they may. These guys are growing and maturing before our very eyes and I think it would be misguided to tank even a single game. As it is it is quite unlikely that they fall out of the bottom 3 teams anyways.

 

[taz02]

How would you even approach the players, Booker especially and say hey we need you to start losing again.....

Play to win!

 

[95pro]

You have to go after Zion, losing right now is fine. A few more wins won’t boost anyone’s moral that much more. We don’t even know Oubre situation will work out. We don’t even have an established FO.

 

[Hoop Head]

There has been enough tanking. If it came down to the final game of the season then I might see the argument for resting our starters or giving the bench crew more time but we have over a dozen games left and should not force anyone to sit for complete games or take a reduced role in the name of pingpong balls. There is no guarantee tanking would help us so we could be doing damage for nothing. I don't see why any players would go along with it either. I'm sure they're all tired of being viewed as losers and losing more won't help them change that perception. I know it would be for Zion but even then so our NBA "stars" can't win on their own and need a college kid to turn things around? That's just not a good look for players who are trying to establish themselves as stars like Booker, quality starters like Oubre, or that he was the right choice at #1 overall last year in Ayton.

I don't see how or why Igor would go along with it either. According to some people he should be fired after this season is up and he finally gets this team playing well and winning and now you tell him to reduce our best players minutes to lose? I wouldn't blame him if we walked out and went straight to the press to confirm this organization is a bigger mess than anyone imagined.

I had a bad feeling this might come up after the Warriors win and I know Zion is a potential franchise centerpiece but I just can't see the benefit in increasing our odds of landing the pick to take him vs the potential fallout of going full on tank mode at this point. No tanking. We already don't have TJ playing, which could have been viewed as a tanking move if it was a month later in the season but he's been out since early February now so I doubt tanking has anything to do with him sitting. The only tank move I'd be ok with is shutting him down for the rest of the year officially. Although it is debatable if that would be a tank move or an improvement at this point.

 

[Cheesebeef]

if it comes down to the last game or two, I can see them resting guys, but not before then.

 

[Chaplin]

I guess this question is only valid if you think we'll possibly have a winning record from here on out. Not sure there's much proof of that happening... big wins notwithstanding.

 

[SirStefan32]

They need to just play out the season and let the chips fall where they may. These guys are growing and maturing before our very eyes and I think it would be misguided to tank even a single game. As it is it is quite unlikely that they fall out of the bottom 3 teams anyways.

Exactly. I want the guys to play their asses off. If that results in an extra win and drops us one spot, then so be it.

 

[Proximo]

No - here is why.

The highest we could possibly get is 4th worst - to do that we have to make up 3 games on Chicago, not even likely.

If we did pass Chicago we would still have a 10.5% chance at Zion vs a 12% chance.

Best case there is an 88% chance we don't get Zion. Moving up one spot changes it to 89.5% chance.

Look, barring a miracle we are not getting him. giving up 1.5% chance for 4 or 5 wins and showing progress at the end of year for our young guys is well worth it.

 

[Proximo]

By the way - if you listen to the media the Knicks are all but a lock to get him anyway.

They should know the odds - which makes me wonder if they know it is rigged. Honestly if New York does get the first pick, I think I will believe it was rigged even if it wasn't.

Broussard was saying Knicks could have Durrant, Kyrie, and Zion next year. If that happens I will vomit.

 

[Finito]

Don’t care.

Call me crazy but I don’t see a long career for Zion. 6’7 280lbs? Guys who are not just athletic but freaky athletic like him are usually too athletic for there own good and get hurt.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I would be very happy to get Morant. I would think we have a good chance at Morant with the second or third pick. There might even be a remote chance at him with the fourth pick.

That said, passing up Chicago means we would have the possibility of dropping to 7th. Right now we have a 20% chance of picking sixth and a 14% chance of picking 1st. So it would be a bit of a bummer if we ended up passing Chicago in wins. But this young team needs to win. This culture needs to change. It is important for our ability to draw free agents, keep present players happy, and might even factor in drawing quality front office help. That probably outweighs the the draft probability issue.

 

[taz02]

We have to win games. As someone else said if winning the last game of the season would make a significant difference in draft position then maybe explore resting some guys.

Winning has to be top priority.

 

[Mainstreet]

You have to go after Zion, losing right now is fine. A few more wins won’t boost anyone’s moral that much more. We don’t even know Oubre situation will work out. We don’t even have an established FO.

With the change in the lottery odds, it's like puling the handle on a slot machine. Anything can come up.

 

[BC867]

With the change in the lottery odds, it's like puling the handle on a slot machine. Anything can come up.

I've watched Wheel of Fortune a few times over the years because it precedes Jeopardy, and I've noticed that, as time is running short, when Pat spins the wheel to determine the amount of each correct letter, it never comes up on a penalty spot.

That means that either the wheel is being controlled . . . or they cut the video and re-do it again (and again, if need be).

As far as pulling a handle on a slot machine, well, the odds are always with the house.

Who's to say the NBA does not share that type of technology. After all, NBA basketball is a form of entertainment, as are TV and casinos.

Games of chance are not necessarily . . . by chance.

 

[itlnsunsfan]

I've watched Wheel of Fortune a few times over the years because it precedes Jeopardy, and I've noticed that, as time is running short, when Pat spins the wheel to determine the amount of each correct letter, it never comes up on a penalty spot.

That means that either the wheel is being controlled . . . or they cut the video and re-do it again (and again, if need be).

As far as pulling a handle on a slot machine, well, the odds are always with the house.

Who's to say the NBA does not share that type of technology. After all, NBA basketball is a form of entertainment, as are TV and casinos.

Games of chance are not necessarily . . . by chance.

I'm pretty sure I've seen Pat do it. He just re-spins.

 

[Mainstreet]

I've watched Wheel of Fortune a few times over the years because it precedes Jeopardy, and I've noticed that, as time is running short, when Pat spins the wheel to determine the amount of each correct letter, it never comes up on a penalty spot.

That means that either the wheel is being controlled . . . or they cut the video and re-do it again (and again, if need be).

As far as pulling a handle on a slot machine, well, the odds are always with the house.

Who's to say the NBA does not share that type of technology. After all, NBA basketball is a form of entertainment, as are TV and casinos.

Games of chance are not necessarily . . . by chance.

The Suns won the lottery last summer which means who ever is doing it is now a Suns fan.

 

[Carolinacacti]

What Igor hasn't been tanking?

 

[Yuma]

Cavs only 1/2 game worse than us now. If we keep winning at this clip we probably drop to three for sure. There's only a two game cushion for us for the four spot.

11 games left. We do have some tough ones left.