Two teams didn’t exactly give it the old college try
Whether preparing for the postseason or trying to improve draft position by losing games, NBA teams often hold out key players or reduce their minutes late in the season.
Those decisions can have an effect on other teams vying for playoff berths or those that have acquired draft choices through trades.
This season, the Clippers experienced both situations firsthand because of roster decisions the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks made down the stretch.
In danger of losing a protected first-round pick they sent to the Clippers in the Sam Cassell trade, the Timberwolves recently announced that All-Star forward Kevin Garnett was sidelined indefinitely because of a leg injury.
Without Garnett, the Timberwolves lost seven in a row to end the season, and will retain their pick because they finished lower than 10th in the league.
“It’s disappointing if an organization doesn’t want to win,” said Clippers forward Elton Brand, not commenting specifically on the Timberwolves. “When you face teams that don’t have a chance to be in the playoffs, you don’t expect them to roll over for a draft pick or whatever. An organization, coaches and players should always want to win regardless of what went on earlier in the season.”
If Dallas had defeated the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the Clippers and Warriors would have been tied for the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth. The Clippers would have advanced to the postseason with a victory Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center.
But Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse sat out the Warriors’ 111-82 victory at Oakland. In addition, Jason Terry and Devin Harris played only 18 and 16 minutes, respectively.
The Warriors then clinched the eighth spot and eliminated the Clippers from playoff contention Wednesday with a 120-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ stars returned in a rout of Seattle.
That’s just the way it goes, Coach Mike Dunleavy said.
“All teams have the right to do what’s best for them,” Dunleavy said. “They clearly had a choice and they made it. They made it in a big way.
“There was no doubt in anybody’s mind when they came out and you saw the guys sitting on the sideline dressed in suits.
“I’m not going to complain about what they do. If they think it’s going to help them, what can I say?”
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
