I don't know if that's accurate. Didn't they win something like 7 of their last 12 before this game? 7-5 is not great in the West, but it's playoff material in the East.

Generally speaking, I don't see how players care about the lottery. Who knows if they will be around next season? Why should I tank, risking my chances of getting good money, simply to help my current franchise get a better pick? Players that would purposely tank for the team either have incredibly good job security or are just dumb.