To Tank or not to Tank, that is the question

[Lottery God]

If i was a pro tanker id be really nervous right now.

Why? With or without Irving, we've consistently kept the games close, yet we keep on losing. It's pretty clear to me like we're going for a high pick. I doubt that management will allow us to get anything other than a top five pick, and really I expect a top three pick.

[Rondo]

It's sad that we're tanking unintentionally. The team is just that bad. Maybe things will turn around in the next couple years, and we will start winning games.

[Tornicade]

Why? With or without Irving, we've consistently kept the games close, yet we keep on losing. It's pretty clear to me like we're going for a high pick. I doubt that management will allow us to get anything other than a top five pick, and really I expect a top three pick.

I think the team is developing a lot faster than expected.

NBA Team Average Margin Thru 3 Quarters

Rank	Team	2012	Last 3	Last 1	Home	Away	2011
19	Cleveland	-1.0	+3.0	+7.0	-1.8	-0.7	-7.2

last years team was playing at its peak up until about 25-30 games. then spiraled down hill. this team is progressing steadily and has shown more consistency for a less experienced team.

heres more

NBA Team Average Biggest Lead

Rank	Team	2012	Last 3	Last 1	Home	Away	2011
15	Cleveland	10.9	11.7	10.0	11.0	10.8	7.5

[Doc Shakalou]

It's sad that we're tanking unintentionally. The team is just that bad. Maybe things will turn around in the next couple years, and we will start winning games.

Not really, every game except that one against Chicago has been close. Teams like Miami haven't been able to control the Cavs this season. Dion has been playing well, and Andy has been fantastic. Kyrie is Kyrie but he got hurt. The major issue is the bench. The Cavs can worry more about adding depth in the future, right now their biggest goal is to acquire and develop young talent. Free agency and trades can come later, right now it's all about the draft. If they were getting blown out all the time I'd understand the pessimism, but that's not the case. They're sticking with their opponents, right now they just haven't learned to close out games.

[blue_kahuna]

Great tank job so far! We got it down to a mofrakking art lol.

[Nathan S]

The Cavs rank 18th in Hollinger's power rankings today, confirming our collective suspicion that they're playing better than their record would indicate. Hard to be too upset when you're seeing an improvement in quality of play while still jockeying for position in the lottery.

[Jack Brickman]

It's sad that we're tanking unintentionally. The team is just that bad. Maybe things will turn around in the next couple years, and we will start winning games.

The team is really young. Young teams lose a lot of games because they struggle in the fourth quarter. This was to be expected, especially with Kyrie out since he's our closer.

[Mazer Rackham]

Getting your elite level talent is the hard part. If we get another top-five pick and nail it and Waiters pans out as we hope he will, we're in a really good spot. Finding a bench is easy. There are always role players available. Finding stars is the tough part.

Totally agree with this. We are not as far away as many people on this board believe - but we do have to either have found a star in Waiters or draft one with our fist pick in the next draft.

That would give us a superstar in Kyrie, an all-star in Waiters and/or said draft pick, and an all-star or fringe all-star in Andy. If Grant can use our cap space to sign or trade for another fringe all-star (Rudy Gay / Tyreke Evans?) then I think we are on our way. I'm not saying that team contends for a championship but it has a lot of pieces that haven't hit their prime with room for growth. I think they'd make the playoffs, start getting battle tested, and Grant would still have room to make future moves to improve the team.

Edit - we also need to get a few more NBA players on the bench. I'm assuming CG knows this and has purposefully sabotaged us this season to get a better draft pick. Shifting Gee and Thompson down would definitely help.

[rabman_gold]

Regardless of the tank, the biggest thing I can take out of this is what some others said: They aren't blowouts. I'll go one step further by saying it is teaching our core players on how to deal with crunch time and what it takes to finish off a game. For even being in a game shows the value. Dion's trying to learn to he has to make a difference if there's no Irving. Thompson is also realizing what defensive effort he has to put fourth in the future to win.

It's a good tactic to show players there's hope despite losing that "you had a chance to win and in due time, you will become winners". Same method used by Oklahoma City most likely.

Add in the fact that we are having the losses add up, will result in a better draft pick. And if we make a move at the deadline (or several) like I'm expecting us too, the draft and the off-season will be a treasure trove for us the fans and our team.

[Chris]

If i was a pro tanker id be really nervous right now.

This guy keeps saying shit like this yet the team keeps losing. It's like he's trying to convince himself. The team has like two fucking wins and it's almost December. Give it a rest.

[Mdog1]

I don't think we'd be making a playoff push if Gobert is our starting Center, and/or our PF/C rotation consists of Gobert/Zeller/TT. That might be extremely optimistic.

I don't think it's optimistic at all if Shabazz is what he is cracked up to be, which I don't know as I haven't been able to watch him yet ffs. Third year is when very good players tend to make big jumps in the NBA, and not coincidentally next year will be Kyrie's third year. If Bazz is a "can't miss", Dion improves his finishing ability, and Kyrie were to make that big jump then we would be a playoff team. In the West likely not, but certainly in the East.

[Green Lantern]

The team is really young. Young teams lose a lot of games because they struggle in the fourth quarter. This was to be expected, especially with Kyrie out since he's our closer.

Fact is Grant will have to aquire a solid FA or two along with the draft.

Even if these guys don't bust ,their talent level may not be enough to get the Cavs deep in the playoffs.
There's my concern..I expect a bust at some point, but what if the ceiling on these guys is low?
Then you're looking to upgrade in the draft which is redundant and takes away from adding to the roster.

[Tornicade]

This guy keeps saying shit like this yet the team keeps losing. It's like he's trying to convince himself. The team has like two fucking wins and it's almost December. Give it a rest.

really reallly nervous

[Rob]

This better be the last year of tanking. OKC won 50 games in Durant's 3rd year. We have the assets and cap space to become a playoff team after this season.

[jlegg21]

The Cavs scored 78 points tonight against one of the worst teams in the NBA. According to everyone's favorite chubby little elf/sportscaster, Jeff Phelps, the Suns are dead last in Defensive Efficiency in the league. I cant believe this is even a question at this point. Take one look at our bench, wipe the tears of laughter from your eyes, and get on that tank while there's still room. Keep the rebuild going.