Want To Tank? Kemba Says Put a Sock In It.

[Proudiddy]

Bobcats’ Kemba Walker: Tanking for draft pick would be ‘ridiculous’

 

By Rick Bonnell
[email protected]

Posted: Thursday, Feb. 06, 2014

TONY AVELAR - AP

Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker (15), just back from an ankle injury, calls the idea that the team should tank in games to ensure a higher draft pick “ridiculous.” Charlotte just finished a 3-1 trip to the West Coast and is in the hunt for a playoff berth.

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Charlotte Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker to those fans who think losing games, to improve draft position, is this team’s best route:

Forget it.

“That’s ridiculous, as far as us tanking and getting a high draft pick,” Walker said following practice Thursday. “I don’t think we need any more (high) draft picks at this point.”

The idea has become a frequent debate on sports-talk radio and the Internet. The 2014 NBA draft is potentially quite strong. The Bobcats could have as many as three first-round picks – theirs and those of the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers.

They could also lose their pick to the Chicago Bulls (as part of the Tyrus Thomas trade) if it’s outside the top 10. They get the Pistons’ pick only if it’s outside the top eight. The Blazers’ pick figures to be late in the first round.

The Bobcats are coming off a surprising 3-1 West Coast trip. As of games through Wednesday night, the Bobcats would have the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, two games ahead of the Detroit Pistons.

So do the 22-28 Bobcats belong in the playoffs?

“I think so,” said Walker, just back from a two-week absence because of an ankle sprain. “I don’t see why we can’t make the playoffs. I think we have a great team and are playing great basketball. As long as we keep it up, I think we can.

“We go out each night with the mindset we can make the playoffs. We practice like we can make the playoffs.”

Walker, who drove Connecticut to the NCAA championship in 2011, said he could never abide the franchise he plays for not trying its best.

“I could never do that,” Walker said. “I play this game to win, not to lose. If we are going to lose, we’ll make sure it’s not easy.”

The Bobcats recruited free agent center Al Jefferson over the summer on the prospect they were trying to win now. He’s on the same page as Walker.

“I felt like that from Day 1, in training camp, that we could be a playoff team,” Jefferson said.

“But saying that is one thing; you’ve got to prove it. We’ve got to continue getting better and learn from our mistakes. But if we play like we did on that road trip – ball movement on offense, getting big stops, rebounding – it would be hard not to be a playoff team.”

Bobcats coach Steve Clifford has praised Jefferson of late for stepping up his defense. Jefferson said maintaining that is essential to staying in the playoff race.

“Kemba says I’m a beast at the offensive end, but I’ve got to be a beast at the defensive end, too,” Jefferson said. “That’s what will take this team to the next level.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/02/06/4668879/bobcats-kemba-walker-tanking-for.html#storylink=cpy

[CarolinaNCSU]

Players never want to tank because it means they may not start/play/have a job anymore. I'd expect him to say nothing else. 

[KJ89]

fugin a

[SuperJTheGreat]

Kemba does not have an impact on the game. He can put a sock in that.

[SuperJTheGreat]

I mean seriously we could get a better PG like this. DON'T GO AGAINST THE PLAN KEMBA WE WILL CUT YOU OFF LIKE TAGS IN SHIRTS.

[KJ89]

Kemba does not have an impact on the game. He can put a sock in that. I mean seriously we could get a better PG like this. DON'T GO AGAINST THE PLAN KEMBA WE WILL CUT YOU OFF LIKE TAGS IN SHIRTS.

Zod should cut you off.

[buzzcity]

He would start a media shitstorm if he said tanking is a good idea

[Rise of The Hive]

I'm surprised he even answered the question.

[carolina-chuck]

So do the 22-28 Bobcats belong in the playoffs?

“I THINK SO", said Walker.

Doesnt sound like Kemba was very confident.

[Panther_Brotherhood]

I love what he said. He's a competitor and he wants to win

[Whitaker 24]

Teams with winning records should be in the playoffs. 42-40 would count.

[carpanfan96]

Teams with winning records should be in the playoffs. 42-40 would count.

 

It would be pretty difficult for them to end up at 42-40, they'd have to go 20-12 the rest of the season. 

[Panther_Brotherhood]

It would be pretty difficult for them to end up at 42-40, they'd have to go 20-12 the rest of the season. 

 

Not outside the realm of possibility. The way the defense has been playing with the way big Al has been playing could potentially propel is into the playoffs as a 5/6 seed

[Whitaker 24]

5-6 seed I could deal with better than 7-8 seed.