What are some unpopular basketball beliefs that you have?

[guy]

If Jordan doesn’t get hurt, the 02 Wizards would’ve made the playoffs and could’ve realistically gotten to the Finals, only to get destroyed by the Lakers. Has just as much, if not more to do with how incredibly weak the East was as it does to do with Jordan’s greatness.

[Phoenix]

Penny Hardaways peak is overrated. I'm supposed to get excited over 20/7/4 over 2 seasons.

Maurice Stokes career and tragedy should get mentioned more often.

Eh, I mean I was always of the view that Grant Hill was a hair better in the mid/late 90s and just had a bit more size and versatility to go with comparable athleticism. But I wouldn't go as far as saying Penny's peak was overrated, for no other reason that he didn't really have one. Unless you're saying the best we saw from him is what you're calling overrated? Penny was 24 for the 96 season, Derrick Rose was 23 his MVP year, Tmac was 23 for the 03 season. We really never got to see the 'peaks' of any of them. Penny's peak should have really started at the exact time his knees went out, around 98 or so. Maybe he does benefit a bit from the 'what if' aspect of things, but we can't act like there wasn't a period in that 95/96 timeframe when he was matching up with Jordan and Pippen and not giving them the business at times.

We saw in real time how good he actually was 2-3 years in without boiling it down to the numbers you dropped. And he gave a glimpse of what he was capable of when Shaq was out for part of the 96 season, 26/6/5 in 28 games. It's very obvious he was well-positioned to be the leagues best guard and probably the league's face (or it would have been him and Hill battling for that) bridging the 2nd phase of MJs career and when Kobe took off.

[plowking]

If Jordan doesn’t get hurt, the 02 Wizards would’ve made the playoffs and could’ve realistically gotten to the Finals, only to get destroyed by the Lakers. Has just as much, if not more to do with how incredibly weak the East was as it does to do with Jordan’s greatness.

So a hypothetical that didn't come close to occuring is a statement to Jordan's greatness?

Right.

[Mask the Embiid]

Most players in the nba couldnt function without a pick. They would be helpless even with handchecking and playing physical defense banned. They need switches and or screens to score.


If the nba ever banned PnR a lot of your favorite players would be out of the league within 3 years.

[Norcaliblunt]

Jordan vs LeBron vs Curry vs Pippen vs your mom 12 plus pages of so called unpopular opinions.

Y’all are a disgrace to the human race.

[1987_Lakers]

Sam Jones doesn't get enough recognition for the Celtics Dynasty. Was probably the 2nd most important player after Russell. They didn't miss a beat after Cousy retired.

Prime for prime Hal Greer may have been better. Better all-around for sure.

I was doing some research on Greer years ago and was surprised how well his defense was regarded. Jones was just a scorer.

[Baller234]

Eh, I mean I was always of the view that Grant Hill was a hair better in the mid/late 90s and just had a bit more size and versatility to go with comparable athleticism. But I wouldn't go as far as saying Penny's peak was overrated, for no other reason that he didn't really have one. Unless you're saying the best we saw from him is what you're calling overrated? Penny was 24 for the 96 season, Derrick Rose was 23 his MVP year, Tmac was 23 for the 03 season. We really never got to see the 'peaks' of any of them. Penny's peak should have really started at the exact time his knees went out, around 98 or so. Maybe he does benefit a bit from the 'what if' aspect of things, but we can't act like there wasn't a period in that 95/96 timeframe when he was matching up with Jordan and Pippen and not giving them the business at times.

We saw in real time how good he actually was 2-3 years in without boiling it down to the numbers you dropped. And he gave a glimpse of what he was capable of when Shaq was out for part of the 96 season, 26/6/5 in 28 games. It's very obvious he was well-positioned to be the leagues best guard and probably the league's face (or it would have been him and Hill battling for that) bridging the 2nd phase of MJs career and when Kobe took off.

Yea this is why I hate hyper focusing on stats. Penny is one of the most special players my eyes have seen in my 32 years watching basketball.

The word that comes to mind with Penny for me is "poise". Whenever he had the ball you just trusted him to make the right decision. Plus he could beat you 1 on 1.

He always looked like he had total control of the game.

[1987_Lakers]

'92 Dream Team would lose against the 2012 USA Basketball team

- Peak LeBron
- Peak CP3
- Kobe

KD & Carmelo who were monsters in international play.

Only weak spot was their big men. But Chandler was coming off a DPOY award.

[Nowoco]

'92 Dream Team would lose against the 2012 USA Basketball team

- Peak LeBron
- Peak CP3
- Kobe

KD & Carmelo who were monsters in international play.

Only weak spot was their big men. But Chandler was coming off a DPOY award.

You say that so flippantly. They would have no answer to absolute prime David Robinson and Ewing. Not to mention Malone.

[1987_Lakers]

You say that so flippantly. They would have no answer to absolute prime David Robinson and Ewing. Not to mention Malone.

Chandler doesn't bring much offense but at least he is a proven defender and a big body you could throw at D-Rob/Ewing. I can see LeBron not doing so bad on Malone. Can't imagine Magic guarding CP3. Bird would be damn near unplayable guarding LeBron, Durant, & Melo.

What people have to keep in mind is that Durant & Melo were probably better international players than NBA players, especially Melo.

2012 team has more shooting and more versatile defenders from top to bottom. The '92 team had 4-5 players who got heavy minutes who could be defensive liabilities at times, especially Magic & Bird.

[Xiao Yao You]

Than you play pippen, stockton, mullin, drexler, barkley, mj. They had plenty of options

[Full Court]

'92 Dream Team would lose against the 2012 USA Basketball team

- Peak LeBron
- Peak CP3
- Kobe

KD & Carmelo who were monsters in international play.

Only weak spot was their big men. But Chandler was coming off a DPOY award.

Lol no chance.

[E_Stamkos]

'92 Dream Team would lose against the 2012 USA Basketball team

- Peak LeBron
- Peak CP3
- Kobe

KD & Carmelo who were monsters in international play.

Only weak spot was their big men. But Chandler was coming off a DPOY award.

As is the case with most comparisons between eras, it's difficult to assess due to external factors. Are we assuming the Dream Team has all the same evolutionary benefits as those in 2012? Are we playing 90s ball where every top tier team was rolling out an all star center?

Nevertheless, in a 7 game series, it's likely going the distance with these 2 stacked rosters. Interesting to think about though.

[Reggie43]

2012 would get ragdolled inside the paint against Barkley, Malone, Drob and Ewing. Tyson Chandler is not built for that type of competition and wasnt even that good of a defender to begin with.

[John8204]

'92 Dream Team would lose against the 2012 USA Basketball team

- Peak LeBron
- Peak CP3
- Kobe

KD & Carmelo who were monsters in international play.

Only weak spot was their big men. But Chandler was coming off a DPOY award.

Was old Pippen shutting down Kobe in that WCF series?

Magic/Jordon/Pippen/Barkley/Robinson are some big boys