This season has been a disappointment for the New Orleans Pelicans but tanking the final games would send the wrong message all around. Jake Madison explains why the Pels best move isn’t to tank for Victor Wembanyama but to try and make the playoffs even if they lose in the first round or miss out entirely.
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40 Comments
Do you think the Pels should go for the playoffs or tank?
Tanking would send what 😂bro we literally suck this year I think we already sent a message we ain't doing anything this yr
They already sent the wrong message to the fans… so they can tank at this point. Another 1st-round exit at best is a pathetic achievement anyway.
Tank to get what the 7th pick? It's a little too late for tanking
They should definitely tank. It’s who they are and who they’ve been, thus far. Just finish with a bang and tank hard
Tank like there's no tomorrow. Is the only right thing they could do this season. So do it well, this is pretty easy to get it done. Another 10L streak and we still have decent chances for an high pick.
Comment
The issue with going for it, is that serves 0 good purpose. We still have the wrong personnel (inefficient and unreliable 3pt shooters, a coaching staff incapable of making in-game adjustments and devising a solution to defend the pick and role, and all of our team is injury prone). A number of those players you are worried about feeling discouraged are needed to be traded anyway.
The message tanking would send is the team is serious about making the best of the worst, because the organization realizes like we all have that our team as constructed is designed to fail: 0 3pt shooting, 0 pick and role defense, and stars who have been injured most of the year.
All competing does at this point is give a moral win; we tried with what we have and never gave up even when we should have. I would rather have a promising chance at a lottery pick and the team go in to the off-season and make the right drastic needed positive improvements to our roster for next season.
The Utah Jazz had every reason to Tank and they are still fighting. And their fans love it, As well as the Thunder. Pels should’ve started tanking as soon as Zion got hurt. But personally I don’t think Tanking at this point changes anything because Griffin hasn’t drafted well anyway So they should keep fighting.
Nobody really cares or trusts this team anymore… even if they come out next season healthy and playing well.. dejavu! Nobody still cares because we all know it’s not sustainable
Pelicans need a new GM. All the 1st round draft pick so far has been underwhelmed
With the most respect if they Tank trade everybody fire everybody.. We have a Number 1 &2 overall draft picks of there class.. If they could give us just 50 games TOGETHER while the franchise protect there investments we’ll be nice team but tanking no my Brudda we already have to many picks
We need to fight and claw our way out of a losing culture not double down on it.
Jake, please stop saying this is the same team that did good last year. Do you actually believe, other teams did not get better after last year? The Suns went after KD. The Suns was scared after playing the Pels and Dallas. The Buck's keep adding players to help Giannis get another ring. Look what the Lakers has done since KD went to the Suns and Kings are playing better. Grizzlies added other players. Last year means nothing, if everyone else has gotten better.
We’re missing two big players, scoring and overall presence with Zion & defense and energy with Jose. If we get both back for the playoffs we could be a problem all over again
You can't make money off injuries plus why make the playoff tournament and lose and risking losing a chance to get Victor Wembanyama
It would be best for the pelicans to tank and let Zion Williams Brandon Ingram and CJ McCullough to get some rest and too get healthy for next season
Tanking for Wemban…..No excuses…make the damn playoffs as projected! 🏀🇬🇧
Wait i thought they're tanking already…
If they lose one of the next 2 games then tanking is probably best. The schedule has got to be the hardest in the NBA after those 2 games
Picks 11-15 have been much better than picks 6-10 over the last 11 drafts. Kawhi, Klay, Giannis, Shai, Haliburton, Booker, Mitchell, Adebayo, Herro, Lavine, Sabonis, Adams, Turner, Vassell. It’s after the 15th pick that the draft drops off a lot. Considering that and the fact that if the Pelicans make the playoffs the Lakers likely won’t it doesn’t make much sense to tank yet
I pull for Griffin, but he can’t seem to find the right components for a winning formula. You need shooting dude sheesh
no its illgeal duh
people act like theres a chioce
if so tank for what nfl n nba think they know whos gonna be hot
pick 199 in nfl was brady hello who cares were n or who
Zion is all that natters when he played no one has seen that style
Asks the Fins if tanking works
the best 5 we need thats it
Ziion got me on this show
by trade they can
but if not 1 what for i said this all season zion n wamba holy cow in my harry carey voice
he worth 3 number 1s griffin hint hint
Zion so young is key add Wamba OMG if not 1st pick forget any trade
performance how pels play do doesnt matter
a trade is gonna get him
plus hes french loll
They better not tank! They will lose the fans. That shouldn’t even be a thought in any organization. They need to show up and fight, but OKC, Jazz and Timberwolves have a fight in them that Pelicans don’t have currently. They should have beat OKC and Houston and at least two games in that losing streak especially Orlando. They lost their identity and I haven’t seen it consistently. Zion can’t bring IQ to all the players.
Tank I am season ticket holder. We have too many injuries, and bringing anybody back right now is counterproductive for the most important season which is next season. They have an opportunity to be great next year, getting people back new draft picks. Sacrificing this year for next year seems reasonable.
Donavan Mitchell would’ve been the best fit for this team. That alone just let me know that Griff is not serious about winning
We have been tank walking since January 2nd. We don't know how to draft so we should try to win every game. We don't need to try to tank.
I don’t think we have to tank. They suck
Of course they're going to have a player's only meeting an vote on whether to tank… c'mon man! If we get in and go against Denver, we matchup well against them better than the Kings. We almost took Phx last year, we can do it!
The organization is not going to tank per se. But do you risk bringing Zion back this year is the real question. And if there is no Zion can this team win enough to get in the play in? Can they win a play in game? Can they win a playoff series? I think the answer to all those questions is no.
I haven't lost faith in going to the second round with Z
Not likely to go anywhere without Zion, if he will not be available for the first round then I’m ok with tanking the rest of the games!
I would even be mad if we missed the playoffs by one game. We went for it. But trying to tank when you already have 30+ wins would be Silly
I'll keep saying it. If we can some how get matched up with the Grizz in the first round. I think that is a winnable series, with or without Zion. Then if you could get Zion back for round 2, you might have something!