Tanking in Memphis?

A lot of the talking pundits today have raised the issue of the LA Clippers possibly 'tanking' their game against the Grizzlies in Memphis tonight. [For those that don't know, the Clippers and Grizzlies play in the National Basketball Association.] At issue is a favorable playoff seed. The Griz currently sit in the 5th slot, one game up on the Clippers, with each team having two games to play (including tonight's match-up). If the Clippers lose, then they guarantee themselves the #6 seed in the Western Conference. Why is it that important? The #5 seed has the honor of playing the #4 seed Dallas Mavericks, who happen to have won 60 games and hold the second best conference mark in the West. Then, if you happen to beat them in a best of 35 game series, you get to (probably) play the #1 seed San Antonio Spurs in the second round, who had the best mark in the West this year. Meanwhile, if you are the #6 seed, you will face the #3 seed Denver Nuggets, and, since you have a better record than the Nuggets, you will play at home. So, to summarize, if the Clippers win and end in the 5th slot, they get to play the next two rounds against teams that have won over 120 games this season. If they lose, they get to play the first round as the home team, against a franchise that is just returning a player recently shot while driving around on the local expressway.

Well, fortunately for NBA fans, the Clippers are an organization with a rich history of winning and professionalism. To quell any rumors, however, of resting starters or changing rotations, we contacted the Clippers and asked if they would send us their lineup for the game this evening.

They provided instead the latest team photo. As you can see, they are a young team, but hungry for some victories. I'll grant you that some of their starters are nursing injuries and have had to be replaced, but that is common late in the season. While the temporary replacements struggled at home against Seattle Sunday night, losing by double digits, in their defense, the game did not start until it was already past their bedtimes. All I know is, for those 20 or so odd people who care about basketball, that should be one heck of a game tonight in Memphis.