It is the time of year when NBA teams have to pick a lane, push for the playoffs, or embrace tanking.
And there is no doubt which direction the Washington Wizards are in. But even while recognized as one of the very worst teams in the NBA, there is always a way to get even worse.
The Wizards’ recent game against the Portland Trail Blazers certainly stuck out, in terms of the minute distribution.
Jordan Poole played only 11 minutes, compared to the 30 he played against the Nuggets in the previous game, a shock win.
Portland won the game 112-97 against the Wizards, extending their advantage with a 30-21 run in the third quarter, effectively killing off the game.
Reaction to Washington Wizards loss
The NBA recently dished out a fine to the Utah Jazz after Lauri Markkanen missed games. The Wizards’ method of tanking circumvents those rules.
By starting their players and then resting them early, it is a currently fine-proof way of tanking. Fans recently expressed anger at the Toronto Raptors for resting Scottie Barnes late in a close game.
Speaking to ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption, Tony Kornheiser urged the NBA to investigate the Wizards for their minute distribution against the Blazers.
He said: “The NBA should investigate the Wizards. They tanked that game. Their best players, Poole and Middleton played 11 minutes each. No minutes in the second half. the guy you love, Sarr, 20 minutes, that’s all he played.
“They are going to play Utah next, and the loser of that has an inside shot at the number one thing. The reason I bring this up is because the NBA, like the NFL, like MLB has gambling partners now, and this was a boat race. This was not a legitimate game.”
Sarr in fact played 22 minutes, below his season average of 26.9 per game. Khris Middleton has averaged 22.9 on the Wizards, a number that was halved against Portland.
Wizards ready for NBA Lottery
The worse teams finish in this season, the greater odds they get of the number one pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Wizards had the number two pick last season in the draft and selected Alex Sarr.
The Wizards win against the Nuggets was likely not in their plans, nor the Nuggets. And they made sure to avoid picking up another win against the Portland Trail Blazers.
This season the Wizards hold a 15-22 record, worst in the Eastern Conference behind the 17 win Charlotte Hornets.
But they are matched with the 15 win Utah Jazz in the Western Conference, and as Kornheiser points out, the upcoming game between the two teams could be pivotal come the end of the season.