The NBA Just Voted to Kill Tanking, And Teams Like Memphis Are Already Fuming

Holy smokes, what a week in the NBA! Even without a team here in the Emerald City, you gotta respect the drama unfolding, especially as Brian Windhorst and the crew on "The Hoop Collective" podcast break it all down for us. If you haven't been listening, you're missing out on some wild insights. This week, it was all about gut-wrenching Game 7s and a league-altering rule change that has teams already picking sides.

Wemby and the Spurs Force a Game 7, But Jalen Williams is Hurting

Can you believe this Spurs-Thunder series? After Game 5, we were all ready to write off the Spurs, but then Game 6 happened! Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon dove deep into the San Antonio Spurs' massive win, which officially forced a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Remember Victor Wembanyama's struggles in Game 5? MacMahon highlighted how the Thunder just lit him up, scoring 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting when Wemby was his primary defender. That was the highest field goal percentage against him this postseason, tough to swallow.

But the kid bounced back! Game 6 was a different story. The big question looming over Game 7, though, is Jalen Williams and his injury saga. Bontemps told it like it is, saying, "God bless him for trying to play today. Obviously this is the time of year when everybody wants to be out there and if you're out there on one hamstring, you just don't have any burst." He also stressed that this Spurs team comes at you "a thousand miles an hour all the time," so you can't just try to "guile your way around" them. Game 7 is gonna be absolutely bananas!

Knicks Are Hurting, And the NBA Just Dropped a Rule Change Nobody Saw Coming

The podcast didn't just stop at playoff drama, though. They also hit on Mitchell Robinson's injury, which could really impact the New York Knicks as they look toward the NBA Finals. Windhorst pointed out that Robinson is a role player, and while the Knicks will be underdogs, they "just want everybody that you can have." He noted Robinson's impact isn't what it was last year, with his rebounds down a bit, but he still snags the Knicks extra possessions when he's out there. Losing him definitely stings!

But the biggest bombshell was the NBA's decision to approve a '3-2-1' anti-tanking proposal. This is HUGE for the future of the league. Bontemps explained it's all about "disincentivize losing." He believes that while many teams might still not be motivated to win late in the season, this new rule will light a fire under "the teams at the very bottom, those bottom three teams," to win and climb out of that cellar. It makes you wonder, right? Windhorst and his guests also spilled the tea on why Memphis was the only team to vote against this option. Sounds like some teams are already fuming about trying to make the league more competitive!

Game 7 on Deck, and a League Transformed

So, we're all looking forward to that epic Game 7 showdown, a winner-take-all battle for a spot in the next round. And on the flip side, we've got this new anti-tanking rule completely changing how teams might approach a losing season. Windhorst and the guys always give us the inside scoop, and it's clear the NBA is making some bold moves. You can catch the "The Hoop Collective" episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the season. You definitely won't want to miss what they say next about these wild developments!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.