Every team that has been in tank mode has done so in order to land a star player and wind up being championship contenders for a few years. Once they land that star player, they want to surround him with one or two complimentary stars and then a few role players who match the star's skill sets perfectly. Finding the pieces to make your team a contender is difficult enough. But finding the recipe to become a dynasty is the hardest thing to accomplish in all of sports.
Every team that is in tank mode is citing the Oklahoma City Thunder as the prototype they want to model their future team after. But why the Thunder? Don't get me wrong, they are a terrific franchise, but there is a much better team in the league to embody yourself after. Why, after more than a decade of success, four championships and five finals appearances, do people still continue to sleep on the San Antonio Spurs? Every year, we write them off, saying that they are too old to compete, or that they don't have a talented enough roster to go all the way.
In 1997, after going through a season in which their star player missed most of the year because of injury, the Spurs found themselves with the first pick of the NBA Draft and used it on the consensus first overall pick Tim Duncan. His efforts were realized almost immediately by the Spurs, as they won the NBA Finals in just his second season. They went on to eventually win championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007, during Duncan's prime. They were as close as you could possibly get to a fifth championship last year, but Ray Allen's late game heroics prevented them from doing so.
It's amazing that, even in Duncan's age 37 season, the Spurs came within a few seconds of winning yet another championship. I will be the first to admit that I have always had a bit of a man crush on Tim Duncan. He may not be the flashiest player around, but he's incredibly reliable and gives his best effort each and every game. Had they pulled through last summer, I would have gone so far as to say that he was the best player from his generation, besting Kobe Bryant.
The Spurs are currently the owners of the best record in the league, about 5 years after most sports writers stuck a metaphorical fork in his back. The teams that are tanking this year should keep Duncan's career in mind when they make their picks on Draft Day 2014. Instead of looking at the Thunder's model, teams should be striving to be more like the Spurs.
Without further ado, here are your Week 20 Reverse Power Rankings:
Contenders:
30) San Antonio Spurs (46-16)
29) Indiana Pacers (46-17)
28) Oklahoma City Thunder (46-17)
27) Miami Heat (43-17)
26) Houston Rockets (44-19)
25) Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)
Playoff Teams Out West:
24) Portland Trailblazers (42-21)
23) Golden State Warriors (40-24)
22) Dallas Mavericks (38-26)
21) Memphis Grizzlies (36-26)
20) Phoenix Suns (36-26)
The East Is Getting A Tiny Bit Better:
19) Toronto Raptors (35-26)
18) Chicago Bulls (35-28)
17) Washington Wizards (33-29)
16) Brooklyn Nets (31-30)
Need To Tie Up Loose Ends With This Draft:
15) Minnesota Timberwolves (31-31)
14) Charlotte Bobcats (29-34)
13) Denver Nuggets (27-35)
12) Atlanta Hawks (26-35)
Need To Go Back In Time And Redo Free Agency:
11) New Orleans Pelicans (26-37)
10) Detroit Pistons (24-39)
Need To Stop Being The Knicks:
9) New York Knicks (24-40)
Tank Mode Contenders:
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (24-40)
7) Boston Celtics (22-41)
6) Utah Jazz (22-41)
5) Sacramento Kings (22-41)
4) Los Angeles Lakers (22-42)
3) Orlando Magic (19-45)
2) Philadelphia 76ers (15-47)
1) Milwaukee Bucks (12-50)
By: Dan Goggin
In 1997, after going through a season in which their star player missed most of the year because of injury, the Spurs found themselves with the first pick of the NBA Draft and used it on the consensus first overall pick Tim Duncan. His efforts were realized almost immediately by the Spurs, as they won the NBA Finals in just his second season. They went on to eventually win championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007, during Duncan's prime. They were as close as you could possibly get to a fifth championship last year, but Ray Allen's late game heroics prevented them from doing so.
It's amazing that, even in Duncan's age 37 season, the Spurs came within a few seconds of winning yet another championship. I will be the first to admit that I have always had a bit of a man crush on Tim Duncan. He may not be the flashiest player around, but he's incredibly reliable and gives his best effort each and every game. Had they pulled through last summer, I would have gone so far as to say that he was the best player from his generation, besting Kobe Bryant.
The Spurs are currently the owners of the best record in the league, about 5 years after most sports writers stuck a metaphorical fork in his back. The teams that are tanking this year should keep Duncan's career in mind when they make their picks on Draft Day 2014. Instead of looking at the Thunder's model, teams should be striving to be more like the Spurs.
Without further ado, here are your Week 20 Reverse Power Rankings:
Contenders:
30) San Antonio Spurs (46-16)
29) Indiana Pacers (46-17)
28) Oklahoma City Thunder (46-17)
27) Miami Heat (43-17)
26) Houston Rockets (44-19)
25) Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)
Playoff Teams Out West:
24) Portland Trailblazers (42-21)
23) Golden State Warriors (40-24)
22) Dallas Mavericks (38-26)
21) Memphis Grizzlies (36-26)
20) Phoenix Suns (36-26)
The East Is Getting A Tiny Bit Better:
19) Toronto Raptors (35-26)
18) Chicago Bulls (35-28)
17) Washington Wizards (33-29)
16) Brooklyn Nets (31-30)
Need To Tie Up Loose Ends With This Draft:
15) Minnesota Timberwolves (31-31)
14) Charlotte Bobcats (29-34)
13) Denver Nuggets (27-35)
12) Atlanta Hawks (26-35)
Need To Go Back In Time And Redo Free Agency:
11) New Orleans Pelicans (26-37)
10) Detroit Pistons (24-39)
Need To Stop Being The Knicks:
9) New York Knicks (24-40)
Tank Mode Contenders:
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (24-40)
7) Boston Celtics (22-41)
6) Utah Jazz (22-41)
5) Sacramento Kings (22-41)
4) Los Angeles Lakers (22-42)
3) Orlando Magic (19-45)
2) Philadelphia 76ers (15-47)
1) Milwaukee Bucks (12-50)
By: Dan Goggin
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