What is your wildest unpopular hot take NBA opinion that you believe to be true?

[insidehoops]

What NBA opinion do you hold that is wildly unpopular, and often seem as an irresponsible hot take, that you genuinely believe to be true? (And can presumably back up in a debate if you needed to do so?)

And for the sake of interesting responses, please focus on teams, players, etc. other than LeBron James. Think about the entire league. Current stuff and the past as well.

[Shogon]

Darko was the second most talented player in the 2003 NBA draft and if he had, by chance, found the right coach to develop his psyche properly, he would have gone down as an all time NBA great. Hell it's entirely possible that if he had THE right NBA coach, he could have gone down as the best player in the 2003 NBA draft, as ridiculous as that sounds. The guy was talented af but he was very shaky psychologically and Lary Brown went ahead and dumped gasoline on the fire instead of trying to put it out.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

That Jeff Hornacek is a good coach and if he is given a team with legitimate talent will take them far. Even with the knicks he had that team fighting for a playoff spot and was near .500 before Porzingis went down. He also did a good job with a bad Suns team until they completely gutted his roster and decided to tank.

[Gohan]

Iverson is a top 20 player of all time

[FKAri]

NBA refs are good at their job. The rules themselves are impossible to apply.

[Norcaliblunt]

Phoenix wins the 2011 championship if they resign Amare.

[Gohan]

Oh I got another one;

Iverson was the best player on the league during the 04-05 season

[Shogon]

NBA refs are good at their job. The rules themselves are impossible to apply.

I think for the most part you're spot on. However, there are definitely referees that let their emotions cloud their reffing. In other words, they're acting like children. And you can't say that they don't favor superstars, because they absolutely do.

So the refs are far from perfect, and with the benefit of instant replay and HD, it's easy to call them out, but I think for the most part they are really good. It's just that every mistake is amplified... and even with all that, yes, there are a few bad apples even still.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

NBA refs are good at their job. The rules themselves are impossible to apply.

I mostly agree with this. People love to complain about the refs, but overall they do a good job and reffing basketball at the speed of the NBA is extremely difficult.

Having said that, I'd buy the 2006 Finals being fixed.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Oh I got another one;

Iverson was the best player on the league during the 04-05 season

I don't think that is that unpopular. He led the league in scoring and steals and was all nba first team that year. I was surprised he pushed Jim Obrien out the door. The Sixers were improved from the year before and that might have been Iverson's best regular season of his career.

[999Guy]

The only PF’s to ever be better than a 2016 Draymond were Duncan and Garnett. And only maybe Garnett.

Every single other PF he surpassed on raw game impact

Going further, the Warrior get visibly and objectively worse replacing Dirk, Barkley, or Malone with Draymond in 2016.

[Gohan]

I don't think that is that unpopular. He led the league in scoring and steals and was all nba first team that year. I was surprised he pushed Jim Obrien out the door. The Sixers were improved from the year before and that might have been Iverson's best regular season of his career.

This, you made my day with such a wonderful post:cheers:

[Rolando]

The West has the best players.

The East has the best coaches.

[WhiteKyrie]

Iverson is a top 20 player of all time
How could you not consider him that? Or even in that top 30? At worst 6th or at best the 5th best SG ever. And he really was a minuscule 5’11 PG / Combo Guard. Pound for pound one of the greatest ever.

[Kblaze8855]

Darko was the second most talented player in the 2003 NBA draft and if he had, by chance, found the right coach to develop his psyche properly, he would have gone down as an all time NBA great. Hell it's entirely possible that if he had THE right NBA coach, he could have gone down as the best player in the 2003 NBA draft, as ridiculous as that sounds. The guy was talented af but he was very shaky psychologically and Lary Brown went ahead and dumped gasoline on the fire instead of trying to put it out.


Forget being better than Lebron or Wade....


Im still waiting for you to tell me why he should have been better than someone like Pau Gasol who was a better post scorer, shooter, ball handler, and passer.

He just wasn’t THAT talented or skilled. He’s not even on the “Could have been....” big man short list.

Darko wasn’t a better post scorer, shooter, ball handler, passer, or rebounder than Derrick Coleman nor was he more athletic.

His “flashes” were shit average players did now and then. The best plays of his career weren’t nearly as impressive as what guys like Blake were doing inside their first hour of PT.

He just didn’t do much. Ever. Darko is all about what he might have been able to do not the amazing things he did but not consistently. He didn’t do amazing things to begin with.

The best play of his career wouldn’t make Keon Clark’s top 5.

[Gohan]

How could you not consider him that? Or even in that top 30? At worst 6th or at best the 5th best SG ever. And he really was a minuscule 5’11 PG / Combo Guard. Pound for pound one of the greatest ever.

Have you seen the posts on this board? I thought I was the only iverson fan left

[Kiddlovesnets]

Iverson is a top 20 player of all time

Iverson is the greatest cancer of all time, GCOAT.
:rockon:

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Have you seen the posts on this board? I thought I was the only iverson fan left

Iverson gets a lot of hate, but few were better in the early 2000's. Only Duncan, Shaq and Kobe really have a case.

[SouBeachTalents]

Iverson gets a lot of hate, but few were better in the early 2000's. Only Duncan, Shaq and Kobe really have a case.
I completely disagree about that. Imo KG was definitely better, and you could make solid arguments for McGrady, Kidd, Webber etc.

[Gohan]

I completely disagree about that. Imo KG was definitely better, and you could make solid arguments for McGrady, Kidd, Webber etc.

Webber and Mcgrady were fools gold

[Dbrog]

Bit of an oldie so not sure how much of a "hot take" it would be but....Bill Russell would still hold the record for most championships no matter what team he was drafted to.

[Gohan]

Bit of an oldie so not sure how much of a "hot take" it would be but....Bill Russell would still hold the record for most championships no matter what team he was drafted to.

That’s a very brave opinion imo. I forgot how many different teams were in the 60s

[Dbrog]

That’s a very brave opinion imo. I forgot how many different teams were in the 60s

That's fair but I think a lot of people would argue Wilt woulda taken the chips. Seen a lot of people here who seem to think Russell is only Russell cause of the Celtics team

[Doranku]

Lakers beat the Spurs in 2013 if Kobe doesn't tear his Achilles.

[Axe]

That raptors would be the new favorites in the east if the klaw didn't leave the team last year

[Gohan]

That's fair but I think a lot of people would argue Wilt woulda taken the chips. Seen a lot of people here who seem to think Russell is only Russell cause of the Celtics team

Oh no I wasn’t mocking your post. I just agree I think wilt would have taken some of those chips

[KissMySwag]

Darko was the second most talented player in the 2003 NBA draft and if he had, by chance, found the right coach to develop his psyche properly, he would have gone down as an all time NBA great. Hell it's entirely possible that if he had THE right NBA coach, he could have gone down as the best player in the 2003 NBA draft, as ridiculous as that sounds. The guy was talented af but he was very shaky psychologically and Lary Brown went ahead and dumped gasoline on the fire instead of trying to put it out.

One hot take that I agree with.

[KissMySwag]

The replies to this post are hot as hell though in this case I say Vince Carter wins 3 straight with the lakers from 00-02. plug n play whoever you want but vince would have rings if he was on the right team. Maybe just the right team to give that discipline who knows. But that squad with phil still wins 3 straight if not more imo.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Bit of an oldie so not sure how much of a "hot take" it would be but....Bill Russell would still hold the record for most championships no matter what team he was drafted to.

I agree to a point. People who fully discredit Russell and say he "played against construction workers" should look at the Celtics beat on their last title run. Teams with multiple hall of famers capped off by a finals win against the original big 3 of West/Wilt/Baylor. He would have been good in any era I have no doubt of that.

However 11 rings is asking a lot for a guy who wasn't the best offensively. He would have been a great all star and been a beast on the boards and blocked a lot of shots, but he would need to be on a team that could really score to win titles like he did back then.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

The replies to this post are hot as hell though in this case I say Vince Carter wins 3 straight with the lakers from 00-02. plug n play whoever you want but vince would have rings if he was on the right team. Maybe just the right team to give that discipline who knows. But that squad with phil still wins 3 straight if not more imo.

Maybe. He was definitely very good during the early 2000's. That was one thing Kobe's rings with Gasol quieted down. An attack on Kobe during the mid-2000's was Vince, Mcgrady or a handful of other guys could have won playing along Shaq. Hard to say. And to be fair you could say that with a bunch of guys. You put Kobe next to Garnett or Duncan and that team probably wins a few titles.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

I completely disagree about that. Imo KG was definitely better, and you could make solid arguments for McGrady, Kidd, Webber etc.

KG has a case. Mcgrady and Webber do not.

[Reggie43]

Jermaine O'neal was a legit Mvp caliber type of talent at his peak. Injuries derailed his career but he also never had the right attitude to be great.

[BigKAT]

Lakers beat the Spurs in 2013 if Kobe doesn't tear his Achilles.

You know what?

I never even considered that.
Maybe it's nostalgia or maybe it's me forgetting how good the Spurs were,

But I think you're 100% right.

[BigKAT]

A big man can no longer be the 1st Option on Offense on a Finals Team anymore.

Last to be a legit #1 option was Dirk in 2011.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

You know what?

I never even considered that.
Maybe it's nostalgia or maybe it's me forgetting how good the Spurs were,

But I think you're 100% right.

Maybe if Nash was healthy and played the whole series too.

[SouBeachTalents]

That raptors would be the new favorites in the east if the klaw didn't leave the team last year
Very unpopular opinion for sure

[Xiao Yao You]

I agree to a point. People who fully discredit Russell and say he "played against construction workers" should look at the Celtics beat on their last title run. Teams with multiple hall of famers capped off by a finals win against the original big 3 of West/Wilt/Baylor. He would have been good in any era I have no doubt of that.

However 11 rings is asking a lot for a guy who wasn't the best offensively. He would have been a great all star and been a beast on the boards and blocked a lot of shots, but he would need to be on a team that could really score to win titles like he did back then.

I watched Cousy's final game recently and Russell reminded me a lot of Gobert. Lakers were scared to attack him at the rim. Most of his blocks was him coming out on shooters in the mid range. That would be taken away today with spacing at the 3 point line. Their half court offense also revolved around his high screens. The difference is he wasn't diving to the rim. His hook shot wasn't much to get excited about. He wouldn't be doing that today either. He ran the floor nicely. Not sure why the Lakers didn't try to attack him in the pick and roll though?

[And1AllDay]

Kobe is #2 all time right after LeBron

1. LeBron
2. Goatbe
3. Mike

[Axe]

Very unpopular opinion for sure
I appreciate the banal sarcasm. Much.

[MaxPlayer]

Jordan may have eventually won a second playoff game even if the Bulls hadn't traded for Pippen.

[GimmeThat]

it's better than the Olympics, only reverse racism happened and then the basketball world had to deal with Stephen Curry, and isn't giving a damn now that the Curry effect is affecting the rest of the world because we had already told them so.

[highwhey]

Devin Booker is next up

[And1AllDay]

Jordan may have eventually won a second playoff game even if the Bulls hadn't traded for Pippen.

https://media.giphy.com/media/10JhviFuU2gWD6/giphy.gif

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Kawhi = GOAT

Manu or Tony Parker were spurs best player from 2005-2012

Shaq still received more defensive attention then Wade did in the 2006 playoffs

[Overdrive]

Darko was the second most talented player in the 2003 NBA draft and if he had, by chance, found the right coach to develop his psyche properly, he would have gone down as an all time NBA great. Hell it's entirely possible that if he had THE right NBA coach, he could have gone down as the best player in the 2003 NBA draft, as ridiculous as that sounds. The guy was talented af but he was very shaky psychologically and Lary Brown went ahead and dumped gasoline on the fire instead of trying to put it out.

He didn't have any passion for the game even before the draft. For him it was a 9-5 job to earn money with. No coach in the world would've made him fall in love with basketball.

[Phoenix]

The replies to this post are hot as hell though in this case I say Vince Carter wins 3 straight with the lakers from 00-02. plug n play whoever you want but vince would have rings if he was on the right team. Maybe just the right team to give that discipline who knows. But that squad with phil still wins 3 straight if not more imo.

I used to think that 15 years ago, but naw I dont think so. Kobe was a legit great defender those years, and could initiate the triangle on top of his scoring duties. Especially when I think of his 2001 run, I don't see Vince doing that in terms of scoring/facilitating/defending.

[PeroAntic]

Knicks make the conference finals in 2017 if Zingis plays at the 5 and Melo at the 4, and they don't run the triangle but put the ball in Rose's hands for the PnR.

[Phoenix]

Knicks make the conference finals in 2017 if Zingis plays at the 5 and Melo at the 4, and they don't run the triangle but put the ball in Rose's hands for the PnR.

So you're saying those changes improve them enough to jump from 31-51 and out of the playoffs to a conference finals berth?

[KD7]

Prime Chris Paul is better at Basketball than Magic Johnson, he just didn't have the great supporting cast around him to win championships

[HylianNightmare]

Have you seen the posts on this board? I thought I was the only iverson fan left

Hes in my top 5 SGs of all time. Dude would've loved this freestyle no defense era we live in

[pandiani17]

Another die-hard Iverson fan here. Crazy the hate he gets here, maybe some people are mad he kicked their idols ass regularly.

[pandiani17]

Jermaine O'neal was a legit Mvp caliber type of talent at his peak. Injuries derailed his career but he also never had the right attitude to be great.

Jermaine COULD have been an MVP level player, he was developing into one until injuries stopped his progression. I know he was third in the 2004 voting, but he wasn't a finished article yet, and he was not in KG's and TD's level yet. By the way, he had a very good attitude, he was very ambitious, he spent 4 years on the bench in Portland and instead of giving up he learnt a lot to become a perennial All-Star in Indiana. Don't let the Malice in the Palace and everything that came with it cloud your vision.

[PeroAntic]

So you're saying those changes improve them enough to jump from 31-51 and out of the playoffs to a conference finals berth?

Yep. They had about 20 swing games that went for the other team down the stretch. Different coaching and lineup reshuffle (possibly adding another 3&D wing instead of having Melo at SF), and they had more than enough talent to get there. Playing Rose off the ball and Noah together with Zingis and Melo was suicide.

[TheCorporation]

Jordan still could have won without Pippen, despite playing 5 years without him and achieving:

0 rings
0 conference wins
0 playoff series win
1 playoff game win
9 playoff game losses

[Gohan]

Jordan still could have won without Pippen, despite playing 5 years without him and achieving:

0 rings
0 conference wins
0 playoff series win
1 playoff game win
9 playoff game losses


Don’t make me get my Mac Twist off the dresser

[RRR3]

Knicks make the conference finals in 2017 if Zingis plays at the 5 and Melo at the 4, and they don't run the triangle but put the ball in Rose's hands for the PnR.
Pass the meth bro.

[Reggie43]

Jermaine COULD have been an MVP level player, he was developing into one until injuries stopped his progression. I know he was third in the 2004 voting, but he wasn't a finished article yet, and he was not in KG's and TD's level yet. By the way, he had a very good attitude, he was very ambitious, he spent 4 years on the bench in Portland and instead of giving up he learnt a lot to become a perennial All-Star in Indiana. Don't let the Malice in the Palace and everything that came with it cloud your vision.

He barely had any leadership skills and was in a Kobe/Shaq type feud with Artest on who was the best player on the team. Upon Miller's retirement I was pretty excited how much better defensively they could become without Uncle Reggie holding them back but egos clashed once again and they imploded wasting the most talented team the Pacers ever had. A more stable player with a better attitude would have held that team together but he was basically the leader of JailBlazers East.

[AussieSteve]

There are a number of bigs who would have won as many rings and FMVPs as Tim Duncan, had they been drafted to the same Spurs team he did at the same age.

[imdaman99]

OKC wins it all in 2013 if Pat Bev doesn't injure Westbrook.

[Gudo]

Gather step is being used to rationalize traveling

[Ghost1]

LeBron James is hung to his knees

[MaxPlayer]

LeBron James is hung to his knees

He said unpopular