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From here on out are you cheering for us to win or lose?

From here on out are you cheering for us to win or lose?

  • Win

  • Lose

  • Can’t decide


Results are only viewable after voting.
Why are you throwing out the potential to be lucky? I would love to hear your path forward that does not require luck.
Because you said the reason to tank this season, not to tank next season, was simply to hang onto our pick.

You don’t have to consider the 7th pick to be franchise changing in order to want to tank for it. It just has to be greater than the alternative. In this case, the alternative is nothing. There is no benefit to the Jazz not tanking.
The alternative cost is massive. These players don't just suddenly start winning by pushing a button next summer. If the Jazz tank (sit Lauri and Keyonte a lot of the season, play without any center etc.) this season, then they're a year further away from winning. These guys have to learn to win, to play together, maybe finally play a little bit of D etc.

And when next season they're only starting to learn and end up losing quite a lot... then were back in square on: why not tank again, because it doesn't look like the team is going anywhere.

The problem with your incessant complaining is that you don’t argue for anything. If you don’t think tanking is good, please provide a path forward and see if it meets your own standard of what is worth doing. Earlier you mentioned that the Jazz really need to trade for a backup C. Is that truly franchise changing and why must it be done now?
I don't have to.

If someone is arguing that NOW we absolutely 100 % should tank and NEXT season definitely not at all, then I'd expect them to provide some sort of logic why that's so. And I haven't seen anything sensible yet.

A young, potentially good C was just an example. I'd like to see moves that benefit the next season, possibly players that are actually usable going forward. Might be any position. We've seen enough on a lot of our own guys, now start to churn the roster into something resembling a decent, competitive team.
 
Not sure I’m following the logic with not wanting to tank this year. We can still develop players and lose games. The only argument against tanking is creating a losing mindset. But, Hardy does not seem to have lost the team whatsoever and the advantage of having a vet like Markennen, niang etc is locker room maturity mixed with the eagerness and energy of the young players that theoretically would be a pretty easy on switch imo. When you have PF like Jayden Quaintance or even yaxel landenburger whatever his name sitting in the 8-12 range you gotta acknowledge the strength of this particular draft class. In a season where we are not going anywhere other than fringe playoff and would lose our pick….you absolutely hope you finish in bottom 8.
 
Not sure I’m following the logic with not wanting to tank this year. We can still develop players and lose games. The only argument against tanking is creating a losing mindset. But, Hardy does not seem to have lost the team whatsoever and the advantage of having a vet like Markennen, niang etc is locker room maturity mixed with the eagerness and energy of the young players that theoretically would be a pretty easy on switch imo. When you have PF like Jayden Quaintance or even yaxel landenburger whatever his name sitting in the 8-12 range you gotta acknowledge the strength of this particular draft class. In a season where we are not going anywhere other than fringe playoff and would lose our pick….you absolutely hope you finish in bottom 8.
Its not the only argument. I'm on the team that thinks our better option is to NOT lose the pick, but I'm also 100% aware that our 3 key guys (Lauri, Key and coach Hardy) have zero playoff experience/proof in their current roles.

Even being one-and-done has value in terms of learning and this year the added value is that if Key gets shut down in a playoff series then that may net us a discount on his next deal. At least would be nice to know if that happens or not, before we possibly max him.
 
Its not the only argument. I'm on the team that thinks our better option is to NOT lose the pick, but I'm also 100% aware that our 3 key guys (Lauri, Key and coach Hardy) have zero playoff experience/proof in their current roles.

Even being one-and-done has value in terms of learning and this year the added value is that if Key gets shut down in a playoff series then that may net us a discount on his next deal. At least would be nice to know if that happens or not, before we possibly max him.
Only argument indeed probably a bit too exaggerated on my part. Touché :)
 
Its not the only argument. I'm on the team that thinks our better option is to NOT lose the pick, but I'm also 100% aware that our 3 key guys (Lauri, Key and coach Hardy) have zero playoff experience/proof in their current roles.

Even being one-and-done has value in terms of learning and this year the added value is that if Key gets shut down in a playoff series then that may net us a discount on his next deal. At least would be nice to know if that happens or not, before we possibly max him.
Thing is if they go for the playoffs and dont even get into the play in and give up their pick then we get the worst of everything for nothing.
 
Because you said the reason to tank this season, not to tank next season, was simply to hang onto our pick.


The alternative cost is massive. These players don't just suddenly start winning by pushing a button next summer. If the Jazz tank (sit Lauri and Keyonte a lot of the season, play without any center etc.) this season, then they're a year further away from winning. These guys have to learn to win, to play together, maybe finally play a little bit of D etc.

And when next season they're only starting to learn and end up losing quite a lot... then were back in square on: why not tank again, because it doesn't look like the team is going anywhere.


I don't have to.

If someone is arguing that NOW we absolutely 100 % should tank and NEXT season definitely not at all, then I'd expect them to provide some sort of logic why that's so. And I haven't seen anything sensible yet.

A young, potentially good C was just an example. I'd like to see moves that benefit the next season, possibly players that are actually usable going forward. Might be any position. We've seen enough on a lot of our own guys, now start to churn the roster into something resembling a decent, competitive team.

The pick protection is the most obvious difference as it’s discussed day in day out. Other rationale has also been provided.

You do have to come up with something. Come up with logic as to why the decision to tank is the same as it was last summer. Logic has provided as to why it’s different and you just refuse to counter besides having the most ridiculous standards. Here is the for dummies version of why it’s different.

- The pick protections
- It’s harder to tank because young players keep getting better
- There is a better opportunity to improve team

In other words, the incentive is worse and the chance at success is worse.

On top of that, it’s just obvious that patience is running out. That isn’t necessarily a good reason to stop the tank, but it’s something that’s true unless you live under a rock.

The only reason many of these players are playing in the first place is because we are tanking. So yes, you do start winning more games by flipping the switch if that switch is to literally have different players. Key and Lauri don’t need to “learn to win”, they will win more when they improve and/or their teammates improve. It makes sense to hold off for reasons listed above.

By saying that the opportunity cost is massive to not play Keyonte, you are proving the point. When the Jazz decided to tank this year they didn’t know Keyonte was this good and they probably didn’t have the #7 pick on their minds. Now they do. The decision is different.
 
I also think there’s an argument for tanking by keeping the talent pool lower to keep the pick by trading away veterans who are not in the long-term plans and overplaying young guys to get them more experience and see where they’re at in their development. I don’t consider either of those things unethical, but highly conducive to keeping the pick.

Then once you extinguish the protections on the pick and land another top-8 prospect to add to your team, you go full-bore as an organization to upgrade your talent everywhere else and push for competing that way. I’m pretty sure the team can upgrade Svi, Nurkic and Anderson in the rotation. If that’s the case, then that alone nets more wins next year.
 
I also think there’s an argument for tanking by keeping the talent pool lower to keep the pick by trading away veterans who are not in the long-term plans and overplaying young guys to get them more experience and see where they’re at in their development. I don’t consider either of those things unethical, but highly conducive to keeping the pick.

Then once you extinguish the protections on the pick and land another top-8 prospect to add to your team, you go full-bore as an organization to upgrade your talent everywhere else and push for competing that way. I’m pretty sure the team can upgrade Svi, Nurkic and Anderson in the rotation. If that’s the case, then that alone nets more wins next year.


I wouldn’t say you need to go full-bore to upgrade talent everywhere. I would hate for the Jazz to make a move just because they want to make a big splash or anything along those lines. But I think you are free to acquire talent if you think the fit and value is right.

But I agree with most of this. I don’t really see the value in winning through our current vets. And I don’t really have much concern about playing the young guys a little bit more.
 
Just thinking out loud:
- Tanking isn't as simple as fans make it out to be. It should be easy to lose on purpose, but maintaining player and coaching relationships, avoiding penalties from the league, and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to player development can be a tricky balance.
- Tanking with Lauri should be easier after all star selections are completed at the end of the month, so we might just have another month to walk the tight rope.
- Keyonte is definitely in the running for MIP, I'm not sure how much he cares.
- There is a lot of national media attention on the Jazz tanking this year, way more than last year.
- The league can't/shouldn't give out penalties for coaching decisions, so the easiest way to tank would be greatly reducing Lauri/Keyonte's minutes while also not playing them at the end of games. I wonder if Hardy can also maximize the time that they aren't on the court together and how much of an impact that would have.
- The above point is not a tactic that is ever really used, which is probably because it affects the per game counting stats.
- Per game counting stats still being super important today is dumb
- I'm not sure what the impact is of not giving Hardy more time to actually coach. Hardy is still learning and developing as well, so tanking hurts him also.
 
Thing is if they go for the playoffs and dont even get into the play in and give up their pick then we get the worst of everything for nothing.
Yeah as I said I wanna keep the pick. But if they get on some hot run qnd make it all the way to playoffs there are benefits to that as well. Just less of them.
 
Just thinking out loud:
- Tanking isn't as simple as fans make it out to be. It should be easy to lose on purpose, but maintaining player and coaching relationships, avoiding penalties from the league, and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to player development can be a tricky balance.
- Tanking with Lauri should be easier after all star selections are completed at the end of the month, so we might just have another month to walk the tight rope.
- Keyonte is definitely in the running for MIP, I'm not sure how much he cares.
- There is a lot of national media attention on the Jazz tanking this year, way more than last year.
- The league can't/shouldn't give out penalties for coaching decisions, so the easiest way to tank would be greatly reducing Lauri/Keyonte's minutes while also not playing them at the end of games. I wonder if Hardy can also maximize the time that they aren't on the court together and how much of an impact that would have.
- The above point is not a tactic that is ever really used, which is probably because it affects the per game counting stats.
- Per game counting stats still being super important today is dumb
- I'm not sure what the impact is of not giving Hardy more time to actually coach. Hardy is still learning and developing as well, so tanking hurts him also.

Not that I have a problem with tanking of the rules allow for it, but I actually find the in game tanking stuff more egregious a potentially bigger problem for the league. For my personal taste, I want to believe that that the players and coaches are trying to win with what they have.

But from a league perspective, they are worried about the “integrity” with respect to the integrity of the bets. If NBA players aren’t playing their normal amount of minutes, you’re going to have a million gambling addicts complaining about how everything is rigged etc. I still think the league cares about their stars in uniform during national TV games, but that’s hardly a problem with tanking teams. For non TV games it’s a more legitimate game for betting if the player is either in or out. It’s crazy how many people are placing prop bets on these games.

I think the Cavs, for example, are the team that has been fined the most because it’s all about accurate injury reports and nations tv games.
 
Just thinking out loud:
- Tanking isn't as simple as fans make it out to be. It should be easy to lose on purpose, but maintaining player and coaching relationships, avoiding penalties from the league, and maintaining an atmosphere conducive to player development can be a tricky balance.
- Tanking with Lauri should be easier after all star selections are completed at the end of the month, so we might just have another month to walk the tight rope.
- Keyonte is definitely in the running for MIP, I'm not sure how much he cares.
- There is a lot of national media attention on the Jazz tanking this year, way more than last year.
- The league can't/shouldn't give out penalties for coaching decisions, so the easiest way to tank would be greatly reducing Lauri/Keyonte's minutes while also not playing them at the end of games. I wonder if Hardy can also maximize the time that they aren't on the court together and how much of an impact that would have.
- The above point is not a tactic that is ever really used, which is probably because it affects the per game counting stats.
- Per game counting stats still being super important today is dumb
- I'm not sure what the impact is of not giving Hardy more time to actually coach. Hardy is still learning and developing as well, so tanking hurts him also.
Good thoughts. I would like to add that optics matter, and Lauri+Key being the 3rd best scoring duo works against us on that department.

People are already wondering how our record can be this bad with those 2 playing the way they are. It doesnt add up.
 
Not that I have a problem with tanking of the rules allow for it, but I actually find the in game tanking stuff more egregious a potentially bigger problem for the league. For my personal taste, I want to believe that that the players and coaches are trying to win with what they have.

But from a league perspective, they are worried about the “integrity” with respect to the integrity of the bets. If NBA players aren’t playing their normal amount of minutes, you’re going to have a million gambling addicts complaining about how everything is rigged etc. I still think the league cares about their stars in uniform during national TV games, but that’s hardly a problem with tanking teams. For non TV games it’s a more legitimate game for betting if the player is either in or out.

I think the Cavs, for example, are the team that has been fined the most because it’s all about accurate injury reports and nations tv games.

I agree, but I do think with all of the national media attention on the Jazz's tanking situation and OKC who will likely file a complaint that just sitting Lauri/Keyonte is going to be much more difficult this year.
 
In game tanking is also problematic for gambling reasons. Lineups/availability affect the betting lines but if you start pulling shenanigans in games and especially in clutch minutes people will take exception to that.
 
I agree, but I do think with all of the national media attention on the Jazz's tanking situation and OKC who will likely file a complaint that just sitting Lauri/Keyonte is going to be much more difficult this year.

I am skeptical that the league concern matches what is happening in podcast/twitter land, but who knows for sure. I don't doubt that OKC is complaining, they are min maxers. But the idea of the league being so focused on the Jazz when they are going to exceed their over/under by 10 wins feels far fetched for a multitude of reasons.
 
In game tanking is also problematic for gambling reasons. Lineups/availability affect the betting lines but if you start pulling shenanigans in games and especially in clutch minutes people will take exception to that.

Last year TOR pulled all their players in an attempt to lose mid 4th quarter. That's the kind of stuff that will Vegas pulling out the pitchforks and seems like a big issue for the league. You can't be advertising live, dynamic prop bets all game if there's going to be mid game shenanigans. It's better to just have players on the injury report and in or out of the game entirely.

I actually think that what the Jazz are doing with Svi is more risky than what they are doing with Key and Lauri. Key and Lauri are on injury reports. Svi randomly plays or doesn't at all with no injury report, which will make the gambling folks rage.
 
Last year TOR pulled all their players in an attempt to lose mid 4th quarter. That's the kind of stuff that will Vegas pulling out the pitchforks and seems like a big issue for the league. You can't be advertising live, dynamic prop bets all game if there's going to be mid game shenanigans. It's better to just have players on the injury report and in or out of the game entirely.

I actually think that what the Jazz are doing with Svi is more risky than what they are doing with Key and Lauri. Key and Lauri are on injury reports. Svi randomly plays or doesn't at all with no injury report, which will make the gambling folks rage.
For sure. Anytime something like that happens it also immediately makes headlines, and I'm pretty sure there are phone calls made as well.
 
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