Just kidding. Last night my roommate Rob, a Jets' fan, told me that we better not ignore the Superbowl now that the Patriots' season has ended. I mulled over the existential implications of existing as a spectator outside of the Patriots-verse and decided that all will be well as long as Ian and I jump right into a Red Sox season preview and continue to anger readers with our fan-boy nonsense. Alas, the realization then hit that if we ignore the Superbowl we can't take arbitrary and baseless jabs at Peyton Manning until the first days of NFL training camp this summer. Oh Peyton, you professional commercial actor and fake-moustache model!
First, I'll ask before our readers do: Was that really Brian Scalabrine? And if so, how did he grow less cool as he got older?
Second, I agree with your justification of continuing to talk NFL, but let me suggest that we hold off until next week. We'd hate to oversaturate the topic by the middle of next week, when the game is right around the corner. Plus media day is next Tuesday and I haven't received my press pass in the mail yet.
To kill time this week, I'd like to turn our attention to another local team (surprise) and examine our Boston Celtics. However, while this particular example might be local, the philosophical dilemma that they face has been shared by numerous franchises over the years. The dilemma is this: When a team is clearly not a contender, should they quietly maneuver to lose games and strengthen their draft position?
Ian, I'm sure you recall all the frantic calculations we did during last year's "Race to Reggie Bush" at the end of the season. Even with a week left there was a cluster of teams within one or two wins of each other at the very bottom of the standings. It was like a bizarro playoff scenario where the worst record and the weakest schedule took the prize, with the three-win 49ers vs. the two-win Texans acting as the marquee matchup that Sunday. In the end, the 49ers won a game (in overtime!) they probably should have lost for the good of the franchise and the Texans secured the top pick which they inexplicably flubbed six months later. If Joe Nedney, the 49ers kicker who hit a field goal with 3:52 left in overtime, shanked that kick and the Texans went on to score a few points before the game ended, Reggie Bush ends up in San Francisco and the 49ers probably win the division in 2006. Everything but the winning the division thing I can say with at least some certainty.
Ergo, sometimes it actually works in your favor to tank a game. Then again there are those pesky "integrity" and "pride" things some people have which prevents them from doing something so disingenuous (SEE ALSO: Ricky Davis' triple double, Michael Strahan's single season sack record, and/or Nykesha Sales' UCONN scoring record. Loose examples; don't crucify me for the comparison.) So teams often put themselves in a position where even while trying to win they are in great shape to lose (begging the deontological debate regarding actions versus intentions) which is what the Philadelphia 76ers have successfully done so far this season and what I think the Celtics are hoping to accomplish considering the probable top two picks in the 2007 NBA Draft, Durant and Oden, are being hailed as "can't miss" guys.
But there's one problem here: the Celtics (12 wins at the writing of this post) will probably not end the season with the leagues' worst record. What with the lottery they would still have a chance at Durant and/or Oden but by no means the best. As of now Memphis (10) and Philly (11) stand in their way (and with the pending departure of Gasol, Memphis will only strengthen their futility) with Atlanta (13), Charlotte (14), Seattle (16), Sacramento (16), and New Orleans (16) hanging around.
So what can/should the Celtics do? Play the young guys and hope for the worst(best).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment