The Philadelphia 76ers’ schedule is not as easy as the computer says
3. NBA rules make more incentive to win
In response to Sam Hinkie’s ‘Process’ and its evidently successful result, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver decided he did not want a bunch a teams emulating the 76ers and having a lot of horrendous squads turning off customers and sponsors.
(Historical footnote: Hinkie for all of the complaints of him tanking for draft position, never had better than the third pick in a draft he supervised. Bryan Colangelo was in charge when Ben Simmons and Fultz were each taken No. 1).
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This year the NBA Draft lottery will be different. The bottom three teams will have the exact same chance of getting the top pick (otherwise known as who gets Zion) and the fourth and fifth teams just a couple of percentage points less of a shot.
This means the bottom five teams (as of March 29) — New York, Phoenix, Cleveland, Chicago and Atlanta — can go out and win some games and not worry about wrecking their chances in the lottery.
The players put on the floor always tried to win but NBA coaches and GMs are well aware of the standings and what it means, i.e. mystery top player resting’s and strange lineups at the end of a lost season.
The fact the bottom teams will actually be trying to win could cause some big upsets.