NBA Tanking Helps Playoff Hopefuls Like Lakers, 76ers Down the Stretch

Teams fighting for playoff positioning benefit from facing tanking squads in March and April

Feb. 25, 2026 at 10:47pm

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As the NBA season enters the stretch run, teams actively tanking for better draft lottery odds will be facing off against playoff contenders. This could significantly impact the final playoff picture, as teams like the Lakers and 76ers have more games left against tanking squads compared to their competitors. The article explores how this dynamic could play out in both the Eastern and Western Conference playoff races.

Why it matters

Tanking has become a controversial issue in the NBA, as teams intentionally lose games to improve their draft lottery odds. This practice can distort the competitive balance of the league and undermine the integrity of the regular season. However, the article highlights how this tanking behavior can also provide an advantage to playoff-contending teams who face these tanking squads down the stretch.

The details

The article identifies eight teams that are unquestionably tanking for the rest of the season - the Thunder, Pistons, Rockets, Magic, Spurs, and Hornets, as well as the Grizzlies and Bucks. It then analyzes how many games the top playoff contenders in each conference have remaining against these tanking teams. In the East, the Celtics have just 4 games left against tanking teams, while the Knicks have 8 and the Cavaliers have 9. In the West, the Lakers have 3 more tank games left than the Timberwolves, and the Suns have 2 more than Minnesota.

  • The NBA season has between 26 and 29 games remaining for each team.
  • The trade deadline and All-Star break have already passed.

The players

Jayson Tatum

A star player for the Boston Celtics.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie player drafted by the Dallas Mavericks last year after they lost a key game that improved their draft lottery odds.

VJ Edgecombe

A rookie player drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers last year after they intentionally lost many games down the stretch.

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What’s next

The NBA will need to consider major changes to the draft system if it wants to curb the practice of tanking among struggling teams.

The takeaway

Tanking has become a strategic part of the NBA landscape, with teams prioritizing their draft lottery odds over winning games down the stretch. This dynamic can provide an advantage to playoff-contending teams who face more games against these tanking squads, potentially impacting the final playoff picture in both conferences.