The NBA is an entertainment business – the better you are, the more you win, and thus the more money you make. So why is there all this talk of tanking?
Yes, losing gives you a better chance of receiving the coveted #1 pick in the draft but, as we all know, nothing is guaranteed.
I was stunned earlier in the week by some fans’ reactions to the Boston Celtics dramatically upsetting the defending champs, the Miami Heat, in an absolute cracker of a game.
While I was celebrating the huge confidence-building win by the Celtics, some Celtics fans were mourning the ‘win’ simply because the Celtics now have a slightly less chance of picking up Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Julius Randle in the 2014 NBA draft.
I couldn’t believe while I was jumping for joy at Jeff Green hitting the game-winner in LeBron James’ face, others were angry the Celtics even found themselves in the position to win.
To them I say, enjoy it while it lasts. The Celtics aren’t going to be world beaters this season so don’t get too sad as they win a few more games throughout the season.
If winning is no longer the aim in the eyes of some fans, why would you watch the sport?
The idea of ‘losing is winning’ certainly isn’t just among fans of the Celtics, there are plenty of other teams out there in the race to be #1 (in the draft). The Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers are also right up there in the sweepstakes, just to name a couple.
As the Sixers started the season on fire behind their rookie point guard, Michael Carter-Williams, some of their fans were worried Andrew Wiggins would soon be out of reach.
The Sixers have since started to come back down to Earth and are now sitting at a respectable 4-4.
Obviously not every team is going to be crowned the Champions, but what every fan should want to see from their team is effort, 100% effort from start to finish.
Any team that tanks should see serious consequences and a clean out starting from the front office to the coaching staff should ensue.
But proving tanking has occurred is a whole other issue, which I won’t go into.
Whether your team is lottery bound or playoff bound, surely the aim for them while on the court is to win and represent the jersey they are wearing with pride.
And if you actually want your team to lose, I would really like to hear you reasons on why.
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