Brooklyn Nets 2016-17 (the Year of the Swap)

Imbricus

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Minnesota in early line showing to be a strong favorite in an away game tonight against Los Angeles. Vegas maybe is figuring out that the tank is strong in these Lakers, and they'll figure out some way to throw it away. Telltale sign if the tank is in: Look for David Nwaba to start.
 

sezwho

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As I understand it, with the combination of the Lakers top three pick and the 2018 pick in the balance as well, I'm not sure there has ever been a team more incented to tank. They are sure rising(?) to the challenge.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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As I understand it, with the combination of the Lakers top three pick and the 2018 pick in the balance as well, I'm not sure there has ever been a team more incented to tank. They are sure rising(?) to the challenge.
In 1997 the Grizzlies traded a 1st to Detroit for Otis Thorpe. It didn't fall out of the protection zone until the year it only had top 1 protection, which was...........2003.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Minnesota in early line showing to be a strong favorite in an away game tonight against Los Angeles. Vegas maybe is figuring out that the tank is strong in these Lakers, and they'll figure out some way to throw it away. Telltale sign if the tank is in: Look for David Nwaba to start.
We already know the tank is in when Deng and Mozgov were shut down for the season following trading away Lou Williams. We don't need any more evidence we know what it is from management.
 

Soxfan in Fla

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I hope they end up one game behind the Nets, the Celts get the first pick and two other teams hop into 2nd and 3rd, thus pushing the Lakers pick at 4 to the Sixers.
 

smastroyin

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Philly's getting one either way - either this year outside the top 3 or next year unprotected.

The difference is that if the Lakers give up this pick this year, then they also give their unprotected first in 2019 to Orlando. Otherwise they just give two 2nds.

However, you can argue that it's in the Celtics best interest for the Lakers to keep the pick this year, as then next year they have no tank incentive and an additional player, making the Nets pick potentially better, and the pick that goes to the Sixers worse.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I hope they end up one game behind the Nets, the Celts get the first pick and two other teams hop into 2nd and 3rd, thus pushing the Lakers pick at 4 to the Sixers.
I really want New Orleans to end up with the 2nd or 3rd overall pick but that would take a miracle. Since their pick is top 3 protected, it would screw Sacramento and make that Cousins trade look awful. Add a Fultz, Ball or Jackson to Cousins/Davis/Holiday and they'd only be a few bench players away from being a legit threat. They are 7-7 since the Cousins trade though, and 5-1 in their last 6. Their defense is totally revamped too. Since the beginning of March (11 games) they've given up 98.6 a game while scoring 105.9. Prior, they were scoring 103.5 while giving up 105.7. In those 11 games, they held the opponent to less than 100 6 times and less than 90 4 times.

Philly's getting one either way - either this year outside the top 3 or next year unprotected.

The difference is that if the Lakers give up this pick this year, then they also give their unprotected first in 2019 to Orlando. Otherwise they just give two 2nds.

However, you can argue that it's in the Celtics best interest for the Lakers to keep the pick this year, as then next year they have no tank incentive and an additional player, making the Nets pick potentially better, and the pick that goes to the Sixers worse.
It's partly the same logic SacTown traded Cousins for so little too. They got NO pick, but now they most likely get to keep their own.
 
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The Social Chair

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We also know that finishing last, second to last, or wherever, the Lakers are winning the ping pong ball battle anyway, so none of this angst much matters.

It does matter. The Celtics are guaranteed one of Fultz, Ball, Jackson, or Tatum group if the Nets finish with the worst record.
 

NoXInNixon

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So, are we rooting for Brooklyn or Washington tonight? I'm leaning Brooklyn because the #1 lottery position still feels safer than the #2 playoff seed.
 

smastroyin

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Yeah Washington. C's control their destiny on the seeding.
 

JakeRae

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So, are we rooting for Brooklyn or Washington tonight? I'm leaning Brooklyn because the #1 lottery position still feels safer than the #2 playoff seed.
It doesn't matter. We're not falling behind Washington and Brooklyn is not going to finish the season anywhere other than last.
 

JakeRae

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So, are we rooting for Brooklyn or Washington tonight? I'm leaning Brooklyn because the #1 lottery position still feels safer than the #2 playoff seed.
It doesn't matter. We're not falling behind Washington and Brooklyn is not going to finish the season anywhere other than last.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Tonight we see the first installment of this thrilling series. Tankathon has it as the most important game being played tonight.
Lakers take the first one. Players don't tank. Two off the magic number tonight, plus any Minny loss is good for the 2nd rounder they owe us. Good night all around.
 

Koufax

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Wow, great news about the Lakers. They were down by more than 10 when I went to bed.
 

sox311

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That's what she said.
When I am feeling bad I think about being a Nets fan, player, front office member, coach, or anyone associated with that team and realize that just how ecstatic we are that this is working about as close to best case scenario for us it has been the exact opposite and probably much worse for them.
 

BigSoxFan

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When I am feeling bad I think about being a Nets fan, player, front office member, coach, or anyone associated with that team and realize that just how ecstatic we are that this is working about as close to best case scenario for us it has been the exact opposite and probably much worse for them.
I'm now focusing my worrying efforts on the Knicks finishing with the 4th worst record and then winning the lottery and taking Fultz.
 

HomeRunBaker

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When I am feeling bad I think about being a Nets fan, player, front office member, coach, or anyone associated with that team and realize that just how ecstatic we are that this is working about as close to best case scenario for us it has been the exact opposite and probably much worse for them.
The Nets path these past couple of years benefit two groups of people.

1. Anyone associated with the Celtics.

2. Anyone associated with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this summer.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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That LA win was big. Millsap and Baze are out today against the Nets. Game is in ATL but should be a close one.

LA hosts Portland on the 2nd night of a b2b so maybe...
 
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smastroyin

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The more I think about it, the more I hope LA keeps its pick this year (and that it's behind the Celtics). Without a 2018 pick, I can almost see them making a play for Griffin in FA and if that works out, jumping in on Paul George with his "only wants to play in LA" rumors - thus virtually eliminating one key competitor for ping pong balls. And selfishly for near term Celtics, while I do hate the Lakers, keeping Orlando away from picks and clear path to rebuilding is probably good too.
 

Imbricus

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Nets up by 10 over Atlanta after 3. Atlanta's bench has been pretty much useless, shooting 1 for 12, and the team as a whole is barely hitting 30% from the field. Hopefully they can figure out how to put the ball in the basket in the last 12 minutes.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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i think the Nets lose @Detroit, one of two games each against Philly and Orlando, @Boston, vs ATL, and one of two against Chicago.

Along with LA grabbing a couple more wins.
 

Imbricus

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Along with LA grabbing a couple more wins.
If we're lucky. Mitigating against that: (1) They have a relatively difficult schedule; Sacramento and Minnesota at home look like the most winnable. (2) Phoenix is only one win ahead of them, so the tankathon factor looms a bit larger right now.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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i think the Nets lose @Detroit, one of two games each against Philly and Orlando, @Boston, vs ATL, and one of two against Chicago.

Along with LA grabbing a couple more wins.
I'm wrong about a lot of things all the time, but I have to say I'll never get sick of being right about these Nets.

A short handed Philly takes them out in Brooklyn.
 

Koufax

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So if they go 4 - 5 or worse from here, they secure the pole position (for us). That should be do-able.
 

moondog80

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So if they go 4 - 5 or worse from here, they secure the pole position (for us). That should be do-able.

They have only 8 games left, not 9. So 4-4 leaves them in last, even if everyone else loses out.
 

Sportsbstn

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It wasn't easy, but Pistons win. At this point NJ needs a miracle not to have worst record
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Not Nets-related but by qualifying for the playoffs, Memphis is sending this year's pick to Portland, meaning the clock starts on the pick owed to Boston.

Protected 1-8 in 2019.
 

moondog80

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Not Nets-related but by qualifying for the playoffs, Memphis is sending this year's pick to Portland, meaning the clock starts on the pick owed to Boston.

Protected 1-8 in 2019.
Then it's protected 1-6 in 2020 and unprotected in 2021. This is something to keep an eye on. Memphis is getting old and pretty much every team below them in the West is loading up on good young players while the Grizz have virtually nothing in terms of good, young players -- haven't hit on a draft pick since Conley. And it probbaly doesn't get better this year with the pick going to Portland. Hope 1.5 mediocre seasons from Jeff Green was worth it for them.