2025-2026 Tank Race Prediction Contest and Current Results Thread

[MTS]

What I’m specific speaking too are the people who were dying on a hill for dumb things like playing Svi to establish a winning culture or player development strategy. That’s just one example of those endless conversations we’ve had over and over. A couple more L’s could change the tank race, but a couple more W’s is not changing the dynamic of culture or player development in any meaningful way.

And the idea that the tank was “fine” or not was just a dumb concept in the first place. Even if there were no pick protection at all it would be very well worth it simply for the higher odds at top 4.

I'll accept a handful more wins as opposed to throwing player development out the window entirely.

The smoothed out lottery odds make it kind of silly to do the latter.

 

[Tom Pitt]

of the clear tanking teams that own their pick, the Jazz actually have the most games against tanking teams (11) the rest of the season. Some have as little as 7. There is no way the Jazz finish worst than 6th worst. And I am a little concerned they could catch one or more of Dallas, Memphis and Milwaukee which would be a bit catastrophic. I just don't understand how you can be dog **** like the Pelicans ...trying to win but be that bad

 

[KqWIN]

I'll accept a handful more wins as opposed to throwing player development out the window entirely.

The smoothed out lottery odds make it kind of silly to do the latter.

This idea that 1-3 more L’s is going to throw out our player development is exactly the ridiculous I’m speaking to. Even if the non-tanking environment we started with was better (which is not necessarily true), how is it possible that it’s tossed away for a couple wins?

And if that important where a couple wins can completely toss away the development, why does that mean for what we’ve been doing and will do even more to finish the season?

 

[MTS]

This idea that 1-3 more L’s is going to throw out our player development is exactly the ridiculous I’m speaking to. Even if the non-tanking environment we started with was better (which is not necessarily true), how is it possible that it’s tossed away for a couple wins?

And if that important where a couple wins can completely toss away the development, why does that mean for what we’ve been doing and will do even more to finish the season?

Nah we're fine.

You yourself have said we've done a pretty good job so what are you even complaining about?

 

[KqWIN]

Nah we're fine.

You yourself have said we've done a pretty good job so what are you even complaining about?

Before I answer, would you like to answer the questions I just asked you?

I think the answer to that could be relevant to what I was upset with.

 

[MTS]

Before I answer, would you like to answer the questions I just asked you?

I think the answer to that could be relevant to what I was upset with.

I guess I reject the premise of it.

The Jazz are already tinkering with minutes and rotations in a tank-friendly way. I'm fine with the balance they've struck.

 

[KqWIN]

I guess I reject the premise of it.

The Jazz are already tinkering with minutes and rotations in a tank-friendly way. I'm fine with the balance they've struck.

It was your premise to say that the entirety of our player development would have been thrown away. That's the main thing I'm "complaining" about, not the Jazz FO. If you don't have an answer for it, so be it.

IMO what was gained from delaying (if it even exists) didn't matter then, didn't matter when the Jazz started being more aggressive while tanking, and won't mean anything when the Jazz do even more of it. I strongly disagree with the idea that it makes the impact you stated, but I think we can all understand how a couple extra loses could help given the situation.

 

[MTS]

It was your premise to say that the entirety of our player development would have been thrown away. That's the main thing I'm "complaining" about, not the Jazz FO. If you don't have an answer for it, so be it.

No, I was comparing what the current status is to what the whiners in the game thread want, and saying I prefer the former.

It's a spectrum, not an either/or. I don't know who you intended to call stupid, but if you're saying the people who are fine with what the Jazz have been doing are stupid, while also saying the Jazz have done a good job, then I'm just confused as to what your issue is.

 

[Shad]

Nets waived cam thomas.

 

[KqWIN]

No, I was comparing what the current status is to what the whiners in the game thread want, and saying I prefer the former.

It's a spectrum, not an either/or. I don't know who you intended to call stupid, but if you're saying the people who are fine with what the Jazz have been doing are stupid, while also saying the Jazz have done a good job, then I'm just confused as to what your issue is.

The arguments that I said were stupid are the ones I am calling stupid. When the Jazz did the thing I wanted to them, I can be happy about that while also saying the arguments against doing said things are stupid. The argument that losing 1-3 more games would have destroyed our development was stupid. The argument that we needed to those wins for winning culture was stupid. The argument that we could just tank later was stupid. I hope that's clear enough.

 

[Zombie]

The arguments that I said were stupid are the ones I am calling stupid. When the Jazz did the thing I wanted to them, I can be happy about that while also saying the arguments against doing said things are stupid. The argument that losing 1-3 more games would have destroyed our development was stupid. The argument that we needed to those wins for winning culture was stupid. The argument that we could just tank later was stupid. I hope that's clear enough.

I've seen way more posts from you complaining about these phenomena, than people actually dying on the various hills of player development, anti tanking, or winning culture. I think you're tilting at windmills a bit tbh.

 

[MTS]

The arguments that I said were stupid are the ones I am calling stupid. When the Jazz did the thing I wanted to them, I can be happy about that while also saying the arguments against doing said things are stupid. The argument that losing 1-3 more games would have destroyed our development was stupid. The argument that we needed to those wins for winning culture was stupid. The argument that we could just tank later was stupid. I hope that's clear enough.

I guess if you're fine with what the Jazz have been doing, I haven't seen much of these arguments you're talking about honestly.

I've seen plenty of people complaining that the Jazz should be doing more to tank, but people who think the Jazz should be doing more to win? Nah.