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One of the things that doesn't get talk about enough or at all in these kinds of conversations is the support system that gets built around these "greats". For

One of the things that doesn't get talk about enough or at all in these kinds of conversations is the support system that gets built around these "greats". For example if a team believes they have an amazing talent they're much more likely to spend money to surround them with other great/good talent on and off the ice/field/court. The "tanking" strategy being employed by a lot of teams the past decade or so is more evolved version of this. Teams will basically lose on purpose to stock up on high valued draft picks for years then pay for high end coaches and veterans of the sport once they believe they have enough talent. I believe this can also be applied outside of sports like education with private tutors, etc.

sosborn 8y ago
"Tanking" is a strategy that is talked about ad nauseam by sports radio gas bags, but is not likely to be an actual tactic being employed by organizations.
- wnevets 8y ago
  What makes you think that? The NBA team 76ers for example would severely limit the number of minutes their high value draft picks played during the "rebuilding/tanking" seasons. The team even has a meme about it. https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/trust-the-process/ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/trust-the-process/
- hluska 8y ago
  Tanking is a big enough issue in sports that a few months ago, the commissioner of the NBA sent a memo promising to severely punish any team that deliberately loses. He wrote that memo shortly after fining Mark Cuban $500,000 for telling his team that losing was their best option.
- elchief 8y ago
  The Colts did it: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-omar-kelly-commentary-0117-20150116-story.html https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-omar-k...
- whateveracct 8y ago
  Tanking is just a new word for rebuilding. Trading proven talent for young prospects, which in turn means a few years of development and losing, which leads to accumulating more young talent via the draft. The 76ers were just more blatant (and their young prospects kept getting injured).

sosborn 8y ago

"Tanking" is a strategy that is talked about ad nauseam by sports radio gas bags, but is not likely to be an actual tactic being employed by organizations.

wnevets 8y ago
What makes you think that? The NBA team 76ers for example would severely limit the number of minutes their high value draft picks played during the "rebuilding/tanking" seasons. The team even has a meme about it. https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/trust-the-process/ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/trust-the-process/
hluska 8y ago
Tanking is a big enough issue in sports that a few months ago, the commissioner of the NBA sent a memo promising to severely punish any team that deliberately loses. He wrote that memo shortly after fining Mark Cuban $500,000 for telling his team that losing was their best option.
elchief 8y ago
The Colts did it: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-omar-kelly-commentary-0117-20150116-story.html https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-omar-k...
whateveracct 8y ago
Tanking is just a new word for rebuilding. Trading proven talent for young prospects, which in turn means a few years of development and losing, which leads to accumulating more young talent via the draft. The 76ers were just more blatant (and their young prospects kept getting injured).