Combining a wild number of injuries with the desire to improve their draft lottery odds created a perfect storm of tanking for the Portland Trail Blazers in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Like a storm of epic proportions.
The fact that the Blazers lost to a Denver team that played without Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray isn't a surprise this late in the season. The way they did it, though, has only been attempted one other time since at least the 1970-71 season.
Trail Blazers become second NBA team ever to start 5 rookies
Rolling out a starting lineup featuring only rookies is a brilliant way to tank. Even against a Nuggets team without its two best players, there's a good chance that game ends with your team one step closer to earning the best odds at the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
Tonight’s starting lineup marks just the second time in NBA history that a team has started five rookies since starters were first tracked on league box scores in 1970-1971 (4/26/12 - Golden State).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) March 24, 2024
Per @EliasSports https://t.co/ymsHJECrxQ
Don't give Portland all the credit for scheming its way into nearly brand-new levels of intentional losing. One glance at the injury report shows that Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups may not have really had a choice. Or at least there was no reason not to go with a starting five of Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray, Rayan Rupert, Toumani Camara and Duop Reath.
The following players were ruled out for the game against Denver:
Jerami Grant (hamstring); Malcolm Brogdon (elbow tendonitis); Deandre Ayton (elbow tendonitis); Shaedon Sharpe (core muscle surgery); Anfernee Simons (knee tendonitis); Robert Williams III (knee surgery); and Matisse Thybulle (ankle).
At that point, why not fully lean into the tank and throw the five rookies out there?