There might not be a better argument for the NBA season being too long than what’s about to happen in Washington, D.C. tonight when the Wizards play the Knicks.
You know how, toward the end of the year, there are always playoff teams jostling for position in the standings? Certain teams want to play other teams once the year starts, so they’ll either make a big push or care…slightly less about the game they’re about to play.
The same thing happens at the bottom of the standings, too. Except for literally never about winning. It’s a good ole fashioned tank-off. Everybody is trying to lose their way to the best draft lottery position possible.
That’s what the Wizards are doing tonight against the Knicks. Tanking. As hard as possible.
The team just announced that both Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kristaps Porzingis are sitting out for rest.
Kristaps Porzingis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will both rest tonight vs. the Knicks, in addition to Beal and Kuzma being out.
— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) April 8, 2022
Two starters, with one of them being their best player, are both sitting. Why? Because they’re currently tied with the Knicks as the 10th worse team in the NBA.
Big things happening tonight in DC.
Knicks and Wizards are both 35-45. Some may argue they’re fighting for that prestigious 11th-place slot in the East. Others would point out they’re tied for 10th-best lottery positioning and only one game above the 34-46 Spurs.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) April 8, 2022
Here’s what that looks like, via Tankathon.
This means that whoever wins the game between these two tonight is probably locked in for the 11th best odds and probably has no chance of catching the Spurs at 9.
There is literally no incentive to play this game. If it weren’t completely out of bounds, one of the teams might actually forfeit. That’s how pointless a win here would be.
You’re going to see weird lineups, fringe players getting big minutes and lots of guys sitting out with injuries that came from out of nowhere. You absolutely love to see it.
This is what a tank-off looks like. The Wizards got things started by sitting their guys. The Knicks still have some time to respond. Julius Randle is already out with that same nagging quad injury, but can they do more?
We’ll find out soon, I’m sure. As a Wizards fan? I absolutely love to see this.