2025-2026 Tank Race Prediction Contest and Current Results Thread

[NUMBERICA]

Worried about the Hawks (Spurs own the swap).

We all know the Spurs have proof that Stern and Silver went to Epstein Island so we should be worried.

 

[KqWIN]

It slipped my memory but the never tanking Pacers did actually tank the first year Carlisle got there.

 

[NUMBERICA]

It slipped my memory but the never tanking Pacers did actually tank the first year Carlisle got there.

Additionally and reading between the lines, it sounds very much like they reneged on a handshake offer to Turner so they could tank (in the wake of the Halliburton injury).

It makes sense. I don’t have a huge problem with it. I probably have a bigger problem with how uneven that teams hit in the lottery which exacerbate the parity issue that the draft is supposed to ameliorate.

 

[HermanG]

Some tankers are so paranoidi they cant read the simplest clues.

Pacers resting everyone on the road against the best team in East is more anti-tanking than tanking. They used a lot of rest cards and protected from injuries in the most schedule loss game there is.

Last 6 games Lauri missed were all against teams with losing records. Its not a coincidence.

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

I will say that it's very weird that the nepobaby's first comment was "we will not strategically rest players to throw games" and then the team immediately strategically rested players to throw games.

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

One question I do have is, how do the players shake off being told to lose games by Will Hardy after 2.5 years of the most extreme tanking possible?

When there are tight situations, will they still respect this guy?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

One question I do have is, how do the players shake off being told to lose games by Will Hardy after 2.5 years of the most extreme tanking possible?

When there are tight situations, will they still respect this guy?

lol… it ain’t that deep

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Some tankers are so paranoidi they cant read the simplest clues.

Pacers resting everyone on the road against the best team in East is more anti-tanking than tanking. They used a lot of rest cards and protected from injuries in the most schedule loss game there is.

Last 6 games Lauri missed were all against teams with losing records. Its not a coincidence.

Yup, Jazz by far doing the most blatant tanking

The Young stuff is close too, but at least he had a documented knee issue during the season.

And I'm not complaining or anything, just trying to point out the facts for people who act like the Jazz aren't doing enough.

Tanking is like the speed limit imo. It's there, it's a rule (kind of), but really everyone is just waiting for someone else to break it and just keep within pace with whoever is going the fastest

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Some tankers are so paranoidi they cant read the simplest clues.

Pacers resting everyone on the road against the best team in East is more anti-tanking than tanking. They used a lot of rest cards and protected from injuries in the most schedule loss game there is.

Last 6 games Lauri missed were all against teams with losing records. It’s not a coincidence.

Correct… I mean no tanking team could possibly beat the Pistons… oh wait.

Punting games is still punting games. They’ve been on a hot streak. Taking an L here isn’t the most strategic move but it helps with the narrative. I’ve mentioned we tend to fail the narrative battle here other teams have controlled it better.

The pacers are 2 games below expected win loss for the season thus far. Maybe they slow play things or put guys out there in the clutch for experience… or maybe a Carlisle team with some vets is completely inept in close games.

IDK but they have done much maneuvering when they’ve had injuries and haven’t had to engage in any rest tactics because of their injuries. Until recently… let’s see how they play it now that they are more healthy and starting to rise a bit.

 

[HermanG]

Yup, Jazz by far doing the most blatant tanking

The Young stuff is close too, but at least he had a documented knee issue during the season.

And I'm not complaining or anything, just trying to point out the facts for people who act like the Jazz aren't doing enough.

Tanking is like the speed limit imo. It's there, it's a rule (kind of), but really everyone is just waiting for someone else to break it and just keep within pace with whoever is going the fastest

Also if there is a team wearing an ankle bracelet based on last year its us.

 

[HermanG]

Correct… I mean no tanking team could possibly beat the Pistons… oh wait.

Punting games is still punting games. They’ve been on a hot streak. Taking an L here isn’t the most strategic move but it helps with the narrative. I’ve mentioned we tend to fail the narrative battle here other teams have controlled it better.

The pacers are 2 games below expected win loss for the season thus far. Maybe they slow play things or put guys out there in the clutch for experience… or maybe a Carlisle team with some vets is completely inept in close games.

IDK but they have done much maneuvering when they’ve had injuries and haven’t had to engage in any rest tactics because of their injuries. Until recently… let’s see how they play it now that they are more healthy and starting to rise a bit.

They played those guys against Pels and sat them against Pistons. Would you want the Jazz to do it that way round?

 

[HadAnEffectHere]

One thing that's weird/interesting is that Lauri probably would have an outside shot at making the all-NBA third team and all-star team if the Jazz weren't having him throw games but apparently he's just... OK doing this?

Haven't really seen a borderline top 40 player pass on the playoffs and individual accolades to just tank year after year.