Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul NBA Tanking, Pat Riley’s Mindset, and Science vs. Religion
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Feb 11, 2026 They debate whether teams are tanking or strategically positioning for a deep draft. They analyze how draft depth, roster moves, and league incentives shape team strategy. They discuss Pat Riley’s competitive mindset and what leadership means for the NBA’s future. A rapid-fire segment contrasts scientific falsification with religious belief and applies that thinking to evaluating players.
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Tanking Is Often Strategic Positioning
- Teams in the NBA are "positioning" rather than outright tanking when the draft is deep and they have longer-term plans.
- Rich Paul argues front-office depth and hiring choices demonstrate strategic positioning, not destroying competitiveness.
Draft Rules Create Perverse Incentives
- Draft incentives reward poor records, creating a structural reason for teams to lose deliberately.
- Max Kellerman compares this to card counting: legal strategy that still harms the product's spectacle.
Shorten The Season To Improve The Product
- Consider shortening the NBA regular season to reduce load management and meaningless games.
- Rich Paul and Max both say trimming schedule length could improve product quality and fan engagement.