For one of the first times, tanking actually worked for a team

[NYSpirit1]

The Sixers were 20-9 and finished at 35-31, absolutely pathetic down the stretch.

The last game of the season against the Pistons it was clear as day they were tanking, they sat literally everyone on their roster and ended up losing by like 30. For two weeks, ESPN and every other outlet was debating whether the Knicks should tank to get the Bulls. They didn't, the Sixers did and they got past the first round. True, they didn't know Rose would get hurt but that didn't matter, no one wanted to play the Heat (and rightfully so). And Rose was going to be way less than 100% regardless, which made the series much easier to win.

It's a shame how the season ended up in the East. Rose and Noah went down killing the Bulls title hopes, Howard never even played (leading to an easy 2nd round matchup with the Heat), the Knicks were heavily injured. Meanwhile the Sixers got rewarded for tanking and now are in the 2nd round.

It's easy to see this is complaining from a Knicks fan, but coupled with the lockout, the 66 game crazy season filled with obnoxious injuries, it's annoying to see the Heat have an easy run to the Finals.

It hasn't been a disappointing season for just the Knicks, but also for the Bulls, Celtics, Hawks (Horford) and Nets fans just to name a few.

Maybe the Heat would have gotten to the Finals anyway, it's quite possible. But to face a completely healthy Knicks 10 deep team (Chandler-Amare-Melo-Fields-Lin & Jeffries-Novak-Smith-Shumpert-Davis) and then get banged up by Howard in the second round to face Rose & the Bulls in Round 3 is no walk in the park. We're talking going to 7 games w/Knicks, 6 w/Magic and 7 w/Bulls. In reality, a rail-thin Knicks team, the Pacers and either the Sixers or Celtics is pretty much a bye to the Finals for the most talented team since the 98 Bulls.

[Giraffes Rule]

The 76ers didn't tank.

[LongIslandIcedZ]

I dont know if tanking really worked out, if Rose and Noah were healthy they probably would have lost.

Just a fortunate turn of events for Philly.

[Giraffes Rule]

You know who did tank and it worked out for them? The Grizzlies last year.

[nitric]

So the Sixers knew Rose would tear his ACL in game 1?

[pd7631]

We played the exact same people the game before against Milwuakee and won the game. Iggy was dealing with an achilles injury, Thad was worn down, EB was pretty broken down, etc.

Why is every other team in the NBA allowed to rest their starters and nobody gives a ****, but the Sixers do it for 2 GAMES, and we get **** like this? We didn't tank, we were giving our guys rest for the playoffs.

[DaSeba5]

If Rose and Noah played, it would have been a 4-5 game series. They didn't know Rose would get hurt.

[JC_]

The 76ers didn't tank.

He just means they didn't try to get the 7th seed and it worked out well for them.

and to the OP, Miami isn't the only team with the easy road to the ECF.. the Celtics would have had to play the Bulls if Rose and co didn't get injured. Now they're get to play the 8th seed instead of the 1st seed in the 2nd round.

[thekmp211]

LOL you are some troll. they tanked into the 8th seed to face a then-healthy bulls team? please.

chicago is the only team that has injuries to thank for ruining title hopes. orlando and new york were not serious contenders before their injuries. sorry.

[knicks4life33]

they did tank . evan turner said he rather play the bulls then the heat with a injured derrick rose coming off all those nagging injuries

[D1RoseJM]

They didn't tank to play the bulls. They know the bulls with a healthy rose would of been a handful but they aren't going to admit it. Why should they?

[sixer04fan]

We didn't tank at all. Outsiders who actually have no idea what the situation was are just saying that. And obviously a Knicks fan makes this. Sorry you had to play the Heat, but we weren't tanking to play the Bulls at all.

Also, we won 4 of our last 5 games of the season, so how the **** is that tanking? You're an idiot.

[bowieinspace]

It's crazy that Evan turner knew rose would tear his acl in game one so they should lose their last few games and play the bulls without rose. Impressive. They earned the second round.

[dhopisthename]

yes tanking worked beautifully. for the golden state warriors(unless a miracle happens and they lose it in the lottery) if they had won just 1 more game they wouldn't have gotten their pick

[sixer04fan]

It's crazy that Evan turner knew rose would tear his acl in game one so they should lose their last few games and play the bulls without rose. Impressive. They earned the second round.

Haha, and that's the thing. We won the game before when we also rested everyone, and we won 4 out of our last 5 of the season. There was literally no tanking.

This is just a bitter Knicks fan that's upset his team had to play the Heat. And look at how he phrases the post... Blatantly trolling. The thread should be closed.