The NBA's tanking problem has evolved from a subtle, largely ignored issue to a full-on epidemic, with eight teams actively trying to lose as much as possible to increase their lottery odds for a loaded draft. This season, the strategies have become more audacious and frequent, with teams sitting players in the fourth quarter and drawing up plays for bad shots. The average margin of victory in NBA games this season is 13.1 points, the largest spread in history, and a record 89 games have been decided by 30 or more points. The NBA has responded by fining teams for sitting players in the fourth quarter, but the practice continues. The problem has a trickle-down impact, with veterans feeling frustrated and forced out of the picture earlier in the season. The league is working on solutions to curb tanking, but the challenge lies in finding a fix that is both effective and easy to explain to casual consumers. The NBA's embrace of gambling has also added to the pressure to manipulate results, making the tanking problem even more complex.
