Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective NBA To Fix Tanking? Celtics Most Intriguing Team in NBA? + Draymond Drama Continues
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Dec 24, 2025 The hosts tackle the NBA's efforts to address tanking, weighing various proposed rule changes. They discuss the Celtics' unexpected strength without Jason Tatum and how his potential return could reshuffle playoff dynamics. The Pelicans are highlighted for their recent winning streak and rookie contributions, while the drama surrounding Draymond Green and Steve Kerr continues to unfold. Lastly, they preview the Christmas Day matchups, sharing excitement about the key games and storylines.
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Implementation Trumps Idea Quality
- Changing anti-tanking rules must pass through 23 owners so implementation, not idea quality, is the real hurdle.
- Brian Windhorst warns many clever fixes fail because they lack league-wide owner buy-in.
Recent Pick-Protection Cases Shaped Outcomes
- Windhorst and Tim MacMahon cite the Mavericks and 76ers examples where pick protections led teams to ship players or rest stars late-season.
- These moves directly determined lottery outcomes and drew widespread criticism.
Flattened Odds Fuel Modern Tanking
- Flattened lottery odds created more mid-to-late lottery teams having real incentive to tank.
- Tim MacMahon notes gambling and March-April product quality have pushed tanking to the top of the league's agenda.