The ethics of the Philadelphia 76ers

[Spider-Dan]

I mean, is a Kings vs. Hornets game really that much more interesting for you?

Even without tanking, watching two bad teams play is not going to be compelling basketball if you aren't a fan of those teams.  For comparison, no one is accusing the Browns or Jags of tanking, and a CLE vs. JAX game is still approximately equivalent to being punched in the face.

[masterfins]

I gave up watching NBA basketball (with the exception of the playoffs) back in the 90's.  The refs suck and the players coast over half the season.  I switched to pretty much watching college basketball exclusively, but now that is filled with players that jump ship after one season.  I'm really in favor of all college athletes having to complete 2 semesters academically before being eligible to even practice.  There really are very few ethics in sports anymore.

[Spider-Dan]

If we're going to talk about ethics in sports, I'd say everything else in this thread is a distant second to the NBA owners and the union colluding to make sure that young players are essentially forced to play in college for free* before entering the league.

*the only "compensation" for playing in college is a degree that everyone involved knows the player has no intention of completing, and that most draftable players don't care about and won't even use

[EDGECRUSHER]

If the Knicks were good, I would have no problem with them beating a tanking team by 70 points. I would not feel cheated.

[BuccaneerBrad]

The most angry I have been at the Knicks this year is the last 2 weeks when they "went on a tear" to close out the season on a 3-7 run and pass the Wolves as the 2nd worst team in the league. Ping pong balls may still bounce our way, but what the fuck did those 3 wins do for the franchise?

A lot of damage, that's what.  Draft lottery just ended.  Minnesota gets the first pick.  Knicks fell to 4.  That screws them out of getting Winslow, Okafor, or Towns.  They might have to settle for Cauley-Stein.

[Sunstroke]

A lot of damage, that's what.  Draft lottery just ended.  Minnesota gets the first pick.  Knicks fell to 4.  That screws them out of getting Winslow, Okafor, or Towns.  They might have to settle for Cauley-Stein.

Winslow? He "might" crack the top-5, but that isn't even a sure thing. New York needs a point guard, and they're pretty much guaranteed to be able to get one of the consensus top-2 PGs in this class, Mudiay or Russell. If they really want Winslow, the chances are very good, imo, that they could grab him at #4.

[Phishfan]

Lakers get the second pick. I'm happy with either Okafor or Towns. The rebuilding is starting now 

[EDGECRUSHER]

Knicks needed a center more than anything, a point guard is much more common than a great center.

Phil Jackson is basically undoing his whole legacy by what he has done with the Knicks so far. He's always been followed around by the notion that he can't win anything without multiple Hall of Famers on his roster. Not really proving his detractors wrong so far.

[MikeO]

Knicks needed a center more than anything, a point guard is much more common than a great center.

Phil Jackson is basically undoing his whole legacy by what he has done with the Knicks so far. He's always been followed around by the notion that he can't win anything without multiple Hall of Famers on his roster. Not really proving his detractors wrong so far.

1) There is only 1 center in this draft (Towns), and unless you are picking first you aren't getting him (unless his agent causes a stir that his player won't play in Minny.) And he isn't the 2nd coming of Shaq or Duncan so its not like he is a dominate future NBA superstar, he isn't!

2) the NBA is played on the wings now, the days of needing a center are long over.

3) Bashing Phil Jackson now is laughable and silly and shows you have a low basketball IQ. It is more than a 1 year turnaround job in NY, it's a total blow up and rebuild.  This year had to happen for him to turn this franchise around. He had to remove all the garbage, bottom out, and clear out the bad contracts. There is no other way to do it in the NBA with how the rules are set up

[MikeO]

Lakers get the second pick. I'm happy with either Okafor or Towns. The rebuilding is starting now 

I am not sure LA is taking Okafor if he is there at #2. They already have Randall. They might go with one of the two guards.  I mean they could take Okafor, not saying they won't. Just don't think its a done deal. I think there is a chance Okafor slides to 4 honestly, he is all offense, no defense, can't shoot foul shots. He's not what the hype about him is. And this is a game where the point guards and wing players dominate in the current NBA. Teams need guards in this league you don't need size!

LA would jump to get Towns as every team would, but he is probably going #1 unless his agent plays a game of hardball and says his client refuses to play in Minnesota and creates a mess. Okafor I'm not sure LA needs or will want. Will be interesting

[BuccaneerBrad]

1) There is only 1 center in this draft (Towns), and unless you are picking first you aren't getting him (unless his agent causes a stir that his player won't play in Minny.) And he isn't the 2nd coming of Shaq or Duncan so its not like he is a dominate future NBA superstar, he isn't!

2) the NBA is played on the wings now, the days of needing a center are long over.

3) Bashing Phil Jackson now is laughable and silly and shows you have a low basketball IQ.

1.  There's a lot more than one center.  Cauley-Stein might end up being a better center than his front court mate at Kentucky.

2.  And it's a crying shame that it is.  It used to be a game of centers.

3.  Like other posters say, why do you have to come off as a boorish jackass?

[MikeO]

1.  There's a lot more than one center.  Cauley-Stein might end up being a better center than his front court mate at Kentucky.

That's not gonna happen.

And of course there is more than 1 center but talking Top couple picks of the draft, not all 2 rounds.. 

[Sunstroke]

This draft seems like it has a decent amount of first round-talent centers. There are 5-6 that I think will turn into decent, if not superstar, NBA players.

I actually like Cauley-Stein as well...he looks an awful lot like Tyson Chandler. Excellent interior defender, solid rebounder and a perfect complement to a team that has a lot of PG/SG/SF scorers.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The terrible contracts were already gone, just one year left on Amare and Bargnani.  He bought out Amare and Bargnani just expired. However, he did ADD a terrible contract in Jose Caulderon, who he later tried to trade months later.

This was the worst season in Knicks history when it didn't have to be. He introduced the triangle and it didn't work because it's outdated and not for today's game.

[MikeO]

The terrible contracts were already gone, just one year left on Amare and Bargnani.  He bought out Amare and Bargnani just expired. However, he did ADD a terrible contract in Jose Caulderon, who he later tried to trade months later.

This was the worst season in Knicks history when it didn't have to be. He introduced the triangle and it didn't work because it's outdated and not for today's game.

It didn't work cause he has no players. And yeah, one year left on those deals...which is why last year was going to happen! There was no way around last year not happening! It had to happen and it was going to be a disaster and there was no way around it.

I don't even have a favorite NBA team, but gotta be fair to Phil Jackson you can't grade and judge him after 1 year walking into a dumpster fire.