I put this out there as an intriguing idea, not as a theory, certainly not as an accusation. But the thought has occurred to me: Are the Warriors intentionally tanking this season?
I mean how do you go into Oklahoma City and then Minneapolis and lose to those sorry teams? It's almost like you want to lose. I have no proof and maybe this theory is all wet. But there is value in tanking when your team stinks and your best player is on the shelf because he fell off a moped. You could get a higher draft pick with a worse record. You could package that pick with some other players and get an impact player.
Don Nelson sure has been using some crummy lineups and he loses on the road but beat the Celtics at home. Tanking teams win at home to keep the fans happy. So maybe that's what's happening or maybe the crummy Warriors just play better at home. I don't know. I'm just wondering. To read my column on the possibility of the Warriors tanking click here.
It's hard to believe that someone who has coached as long as Nelson has would tank games, but whether it is intentional or unintentional, it looks like he wants to get fired, or is daring Cohan to fire him. Why else would he play his wierd lineups game after game when it just doesn't work? I no longer can watch this team play, especially on the road. Ownership looks like they are tuning a deaf ear to what is happening on court, so they don't deserve support. Tanking games to get a high draft pick, with Nelson around, makes no sense either because if they draft another big player, which is what they need, Nelson won't play him anyway.
What a cowardly way of offering such scurrilous conjecture, yet labelling it an intriguing idea, not a theory nor an accusation -- merely a thought! To even suggest a professional coach or player is tanking games is a serious matter. Doing so in such a backhanded way -- with admittedly no proof -- is contemptible.
Good stuff, Lowell. Nothing scurrilous about it. You make valid observations. This team isn't has bad as it record or performances. The tank is on. Been on for awhile, and congrats for being one of the first to acknowledge what is likely happening. Btw, this is not Nellie's first tank job. Tanking got the Dubs Chris Webber and 12 years of bad karma if memory serves me. There is probably no Webber quality guys coming out in the next draft, but packaging a lottery pick with some the teams current players could add up to a big draft night trade for Nellie.
Mike W as an apologist,you span the globe!You continue to defend the indefensible and take issue with any commentary that shows the level to which your alcohol,burned-out bro,bro-in-law or bud has sunk in "coaching"(a misnomer) this team.
Wise up!You're the last-remaining idiot to not get it.No doubt about it,you're in someone's pocket!
That is an interesting idea, and you put it out there very objectively. It seems impossible that a team could beat the Celtics and then lose to two of the worst teams in the NBA. And you can never tell what is going on in Nellie's head. Since he does have his contract and doesn't have to work too hard this year, he could be holding out for next year. I personally think it's a coward's way out- not something Mullin would push.
dude pay attention to the NBA before you write about it.
Minny has won 3 of it's last 5, and it should of been 4 if not for blowing a 29 point lead to the Mavs.
OKC has been playing better since getting Joe Smith back - they barely lost to the Nuggets by 2 thanks to Carmelo's bail out 3 at the buzzer.
it's the NBA and the Warriors are a bad road team. i'm thinking 8 wins (8-33, right now they are 4-18). you see teams like the Lakers and Celtics have difficulty winning on the road (both lost 3 out of 4 on road trips this season).
how you can follow the NBA and not realize something as simple as this is beyond me.
The main thing wonrg with the warriors is named Emperor Nelson.
He's pulling the same crap with Wright and Randolph that he did with Webber. Send him off to the Islands and give him a lei and
let someone else coach the team. Sidney Montcrief?
Not sure that "tank" is quite the right word. More like, "underachieve for effect." Nelson is back into his feeling sorry for himself mode. Thinks he's screwed because he doesn't have decent players. Yet he stubbornly fails to develop the players he's got. How he can let Randolph waste away his first season is a shame. Tough love and good coaching ideas would bring him around. He takes coaching and wants to play better. We saw his passing and overall play get much better during longer stretches on the floor a couple weeks ago. Lately, some blunders and he's yanked, punished, and ridiculed in the media by the coach.
Bellinelli was developing nicely until Nelson started to pull him out too quickly on this road trip, especially v. Utah tonight. He's playing too tentatively now. That's a step backwards for a player who could be much more effective. He played great D tonight and hit early shots, then disappeared.