Learning a little about lotto history
I’m a big history guy. No, not that kind of history. Sports history. And for some reason, I always convince myself that in sports, history repeats. Trends and patterns can sometimes show us the future. So with the lottery this Tuesday, I figured I should educate myself on some recent lotto history. Especially the history of where the team with the fourth worst record has ended up in the lottery over the last 15 years (the current lottery format was installed in 1994).
Teams with an 11.9 percent chance (or fourth best) have never technically gotten the No. 1 pick. Well, eff. The one time it happened was in 1994, but three teams were tied with a 20-62 record and the Bucks got it. The fourth best chance in that draft was the Bullets Wizards and they wound up fifth. The fourth best chance has landed the No. 2 pick two times in the last 15 drafts. Actually, the pick the fourth slot landed the most was the fifth pick (six times).
2008 – Memphis Grizzlies (3)
2007 - Atlanta Hawks (3)
2006 – Atlanta Hawks (5)
2005 – Utah Jazz (6)
2004 – Clippers and Hawks tied (Clips got third pick)
2003 – Miami Heat (5)
2002 – Denver Nuggets (5)
2001 – Vancouver Grizzlies (6)
2000 – Vancouver Grizzlies (2)
1999 – Toronto Raptors (5)
1998 – Vancouver Grizzlies (2)
1997 – Denver Nuggets (5)
1996 – Milwaukee Bucks (4)
1995 – Philadelphia 76ers (3)
1994 – Washington Wizards (5)
Ok, so that’s not great news. But there’s a first time for everything, right? Especially when you start looking at the past 15 winners and what chances they had. It actually almost seems the less chance you have, the better chance you have. Read more…
