Re: LOTTERY SYSTEM SUCKS!

[Brian C Lee <leexx179@gold.tc.umn.edu> (Brian Lee)]

Colin Hall wrote:

>Why does the NBA use this system?  Why not just assign the team with the
>worst record the #1 pick, the team with the 2nd worst record the #2 pick and
>so on?  I am sure the NBA has their reasoning, but whatever it is I wish
>they would look again.  Your basing a team's future for the next 5-10 years
>on CHANCE alone.  The systems must go!

The NBA's reasoning for the lottery is this...

Prior to the lottery, the NBA used order of finish with a coin flip to
determine the #1 and #2 picks between the worst team from each conference.
That procedure was scrapped because of accusations of the Houston Rockets
tanking the end of the 1983-84 season solely to get the #1 or #2 pick.  The
Pacers had the worst record in all of basketball with a 26-56 record and
thus represented the Eastern conference in the coin flip.  While the Rockets
had a 29-53 record (one game worse than the SAN DIEGO Clippers), the 4th
worst in the NBA (Chicago and Cleveland had worse records than Houston), and
worst in the Western conference.

The Rockets did indeed win the coin flip (acing out the Pacers) and promptly
selected a guy by the name of Olajuwon.  I'm sure Pacers fans were none too
happy about that.  Especially when you consider that the Rockets had the #1
the year before and took Ralph Sampson (insert boo here).  Two years after
Olajuwon they were playing against the Celts in the NBA championship.  BTW,
Chicago took Jordan that year.

My point is that every system has its flaws, and there will always be
someone who feels they were screwed by the system.  We may not like the
system as it stands right now, but SOME system is needed to prevent teams
from tanking a season.  In the long run, the lottery keeps teams a little
more honest.  Nothing stopping them from tanking it anyway (ahem ML), but
there's no assurance for getting the #1 either.  Plus, there have been a
number of very talented players taken at #3 or lower.

As for the Celts now...

I know that we got screwed on this one, but it could have been worse.
Living here in Minnesota I've seen the Wolves get screwed for years (never
picked higher than #3), and they put up 7-8 consecutive years that were
nearly as bad as the Celts had this year.

We should consider ourselves lucky to have 2 in the top 6.  We can get solid
players, or use them as trade bait.  Duncan is a talented player, but a team
that wins 15 games obviously has more problems than one player can fix.
Besides, who knows for certain if Duncan can cut it in the NBA?  Many people
were already naming him as the next savior of the Celts.  The guy *might*
turn out to be a total bust, and we may look back at this day as one where
we dodged a bullet by NOT getting the #1.

Stay optimistic.  Duncan or not, this team was not going to turnaround
overnight.  The Cs are on the right track -- we just need to keep the faith.
Anyone could figure out who to take with the #1 pick, now its time for
Pitino to show us why he's getting $7 million.

Just my $.02

Brian
Celts fan in Minneapolis


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 BRIAN LEE                          Email: leexx179@gold.tc.umn.edu
 Access Financial                 
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"Its the lure of the Boston Celtics.  Its magical."
	- Rick Pitino
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