Are we seeing a new way to tank in the @NBA? pic.twitter.com/dQTsyuajqe
— Outside The Lines (@OTLonESPN) February 26, 2018
#TrustTheProcess
We all know there several teams in the NBA that are in tank mode right now. The Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic come to mind. So do the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings.
According to Brian Windhorst, there are teams using “inverse analytics” to make this happen.
“There are entire analytics departments that are established out there to find the best five players you can get out on the court in any situation,” Windhorst said. “And the coaches are given reams of data about this to help them prepare. And what NBA executives have detailed to me is that there is some inverse analytics going on where coaches are potentially being given data on what lineups to play that may not be successful.
It is being hidden under the guise of ‘player development’”
Of course, progressive teams in the league have used analytics to put the best possible lineups at any given time, but now teams are using these same stats to do the opposite. Windhorst suggested the Mavs are likely doing this as an active way to lose, something Mark Cuban has already said they were doing any way.
We’re not surprised one bit at the news, but if the NBA does anything about these tactics remains to be seen. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle this problem moving forward. A change in the NBA Draft seems imminent.