20 NBA Games That Will Be Tanked

It's no secret that if a team is bad enough, they'll tank (or intentionally lose) games towards the end of the season.  In doing so, they give themselves a better shot at a high draft pick.

A perfect example of this in this year's NBA season is the Charlotte Bobcats, who have only won seven games and have lost 13 in a row.  With just two weeks left in the regular season, does the team really have a reason to win?

Charlotte isn't the only team tanking this year, so let's have a look at 20 games over the rest of the season that will surely be tanked, as well as some mini-predictions about them.

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Miami Heat, April 13

With nothing left to play for, Charlotte will face off against their divisional rivals on Friday and underachieve their way to a thrashing at the hands of LeBron James and the rest of Miami's Big Three.  If you ask me, Paul Silas might as well play the reserves the entire game.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Golden State Warriors, April 24

In a battle for lottery position, the Hornets will come to the game without their sting and allow the Warriors to destroy them in perimeter shooting and any other department.  Then again, there's always the possibility that the Warriors will look to tank as well, so this game could be a comedy of errors that's a ton of fun to watch.

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, April 21

The normally hot-shooting Warriors will chuck up bad shot after bad shot as the defensive-minded Rockets blast off towards a victory.  In fact, here's an outlandish prop bet for every one to gamble on: Stephen Curry will only make one shot the entire game!

Sacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers, April 15

The Kings may be looking better as a team, but they still have lost six games in a row and have no shot at making the playoffs this year.  Thus, DeMarcus Cousins will lead his team in a tremendous losing effort against the resurgent Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Boston Celtics, April 15

The Celtics' core may be getting old, but they'll still make short work of the young and inexperienced Bobcats as fans hoping to see a blowout will get that and more.  In terms of top performers, Rajon Rondo will have yet another triple-double.

Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey Nets, April 26

The Nets are in a position where one would think they would tank, but they should in fact be playing to win if they want any hope of bringing back star point guard Deron Williams.  The Raptors, on the other hand, are not in such a position and will thus let the Nets take control of the game from tipoff.

Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, April 22

Minnesota may be tanking as they are on a seven-game losing streak, but they at least have something to play for next season.  Golden State is about to enter another rebuilding mode and will thus let Kevin Love and his teammates run rampant.

Sacramento Kings vs, Oklahoma City Thunder, April 24

Assuming the Thunder are still fighting the Spurs for the top spot in the Western Conference, they will enter this game against the Kings with a lot on the line.  In Sacramento's case, they'll probably approach various people on the Thunder roster before the game starts and ask, "So, how would you like to beat us tonight?"

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Sacramento Kings, April 22

In a battle of the bad teams, both squads will throw up bad shot after bad shot and there will surely be lots of flopping as the last team standing will ultimately improve their shot of getting the first pick in the upcoming draft.  In fact, make this the theme song of the game.

Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons, April 22

My covert operations staff has just retrieved this photo.  Apparently, Tayshaun Prince and Lawrence Frank are conferring with one of the referees for their game against the Raptors on the 22nd.  They supposedly want lots of calls against them as opposed to for them, just so they can get a higher draft pick than Toronto.

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, April 18

In another round of the Battle for California, the stumbling Warriors will let the offices of Bryant, Gasol and Bynum take them to school as they jockey for a good draft position.  Prepare to see some Kobe dunks reminiscent of the late '90s.

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Washington Wizards, April 23

As bad as the Wizards have been this season, they at least seem to be trying to go out on a high note.  Thus, the Bobcats will fall over and let John Wall walk all over them in their third-to-last game of the season.

Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks, April 23

Assuming the Bucks are still in the playoff race by the time this game is played, they'll have an easy task in the lowly Raptors.  If the game is one to be tanked, I can imagine Raptors coach Dwane Casey will make this very face as if to say, "Man...I didn't mean play THAT badly!"

Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, April 26

If they've clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference by their last game of the season, I expect the Bulls to rest their stars against the Cavs.  They'll already have a good playoff spot, so no use in risking anyone getting injured.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Houston Rockets, April 26

Trevor Ariza will go up against his former team and have a horrible game as the Hornets use their last game of the season to further improve their draft stock.  I may be going out on a limb here, but expect the aging Marcus Camby to have a double-double for Houston.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors, April 26

If the Spurs have the top spot in the West by the last day of the regular season, they'll surely rest their aging stars to keep them fresh for the playoffs.  Even if they're the No. 2 seed, don't be shocked if they lose this game.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets, April 25

The Thunder will take a similar approach that the Spurs might, as they have a great chance to go far in the playoffs this year and there is no sense in risking injury to either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook.  Thus, be prepared for Denver to win this one on the road.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns, April 25

Here we have the same circumstances with the initial Spurs game I mentioned, except this time the fans get to watch the always-entertaining Steve Nash!

New Jersey Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, April 21

The Nets may be trying to end the season on a high note, but going up against a tough Scott Skiles-coached defense is not worth losing any players who could be used to woo Deron Williams back to the team.  Thus, while they may put up a good fight, they will ultimately tank this game and hope for a good draft position come lottery time.

Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards, April 26

In a rare moment of non-competitiveness, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra will choose to rest their three stars for the playoffs and give the Wizards the chance to end the season with a win.  Given how Washington has been playing better defense as of late, this makes sense because though I refuse to ever root for Miami, the playoffs just wouldn't be the playoffs without the Big Three.