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LeBron James, Kevin Love
 

The NBA season is approaching the home stretch. The trade deadline has passed, and the playoff field is becoming clearer. Tanking is also in full swing.

This year the Christian calendar has Lent aligned nicely with the NBA schedule. The religious observance began today -- Ash Wednesday -- and will run through Holy Thursday, April 13, the day after the NBA regular season ends. Playoff players have the next six weeks to fine-tune their game, while non-playoff players can start experimenting for next season.

We offer these eight players, teams, executives, fans and TV networks suggestions for what to give up during Lent.

DeMarcus Cousins: Technical Fouls

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images DeMarcus Cousins: Technical Fouls

When Boogie arrived in New Orleans, he was asked about his competitiveness. "About 17 technicals worth," he answered, referencing his number of technical fouls on the season. That was funny until Cousins got No. 18 on Sunday against the Thunder, earning himself a one-game suspension. Maybe it would be good for Cousins to set a goal of not committing a technical foul for all of Lent. If he can find a way to be competitive and clean, that would bode well for the Pelicans moving forward.

Draymond Green: Kicking

Bob Donnan/Pool/Getty Images Draymond Green: Kicking

He claims to be working very hard to curb this bad habit. That's great. But for the next six weeks, let's make it a communal goal. Green's teammates, opponents and fans should make it a priority to help Green through his struggles. Maybe he can even come out of this project as a role model for Grayson Allen.

Phil Jackson: The Triangle

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Phil Jackson: The Triangle

The Knicks have flirted on and off with the triangle offense since Jackson joined the Knicks in March 2014. Sometimes, they go all in on the triangle. Sometimes, it is a relaxed triangle. And sometimes, the Knicks act like the triangle is non-existent. How about the Knicks try a month with no reference to the triangle and no presence in Jeff Hornacek's game plan. The team probably is not making the playoffs anyway, so why not give another offensive system a try?

LeBron James: Subtweeting

Jason Miller/Getty Images LeBron James: Subtweeting

This won't be easy for King James. LeBron loves passive-aggressively posting his thoughts on teammates, the media and Carmelo Anthony trade rumors on Twitter. For Lent, we aren't asking James to totally give up voicing his opinion. He would just have to do it in a straightforward manner. So if James wants his teammates to work harder, he actually has to tell them in person.

NBA Fans: Your Dion Waiters' Hate

Elsa/Getty Images NBA Fans: Your Dion Waiters' Hate

For so long, J.R. Smith was the guy who shot too much. Then, he won a Sixth Man of the Year Award with the Knicks and became an NBA champion with the Cavs and now, he's the NBA's most lovable player. It's time to give Waiters similar treatment. After an abysmal two-year stretch shooting under 40 percent while taking heat from teammates LeBron James and Kevin Durant, Waiters has found a home in Miami. He is taking 14.7 shots per game (4.5 3-pointers) and scoring 15.9 points per game at about 41.9 percent shooting. But more importantly, the Heat are winning. Since Jan. 17, Miami is 16-3. The Heat are inching toward a playoff berth and with Waiters likely to pass on his player option for 2017-18 and become a free agent this summer, things are about to get wild.

Los Angeles Clippers: The Past

Harry How/Getty Images Los Angeles Clippers: The Past

Just this season, the team has battled through long-term injuries to Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. But now, everyone is healthy and the Clips have a chance to return to being the team that started 14-2. With both stars holding player options for next season, Los Angeles needs to forget about Paul's eight postseasons without a Western Conference Finals appearance or Griffin's broken hand he suffered striking an equipment manager. It's now or never for Doc Rivers' Clippers.

ESPN: Mark Jackson Calling Warriors Games

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images ESPN: Mark Jackson Calling Warriors Games

This always feels wrong. Jackson took the Warriors to the playoffs two out of three seasons. He helped Stephen Curry develop into an All-Star and increased Draymond Green's minutes. Sure, he didn't know he had one of the greatest rosters in NBA history at his fingertips, but that's not all his fault. Anyway, Jackson moved back to ESPN's A-Team with Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy, which means he spends a lot of time calling the Warriors. Jackson has to unbiasedly comment on the roster he failed to decipher. In all likelihood, he'll see the Warriors in the NBA Finals for a third straight year, so give Jackson six weeks off while the Warriors have five ESPN/ABC games left on their regular-season schedule.

Los Angeles Lakers: Winning

Harry How/Getty Images Los Angeles Lakers: Winning

For the fourth straight season, the Lakers are not going to the playoffs. And for the third straight draft, the Lakers can have a top three pick, if they do not screw things up. Considering their 2017 first-round draft selection is only top-three protected, the Lakers have more reason to tank than any other team in the league. To be clear, it is not like the Lakers are winning now -- they have lost six of their past seven -- but they really have to keep losing. With the draft lottery, the more ping pong balls that the Lakers can assure themselves, the greater chance Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka will have to add a premier piece to a promising core. If that pick is outside the top three, it goes to the 76ers, who are jostling for position as the NBA's young, hip power.