What NBA myths can you dispel?

[NyKnicks1714]

Factual things only. This isn't a thread for you to share an "unpopular" opinion.

I'll start. This play was NOT an alleyoop:

[UcanUwill]

I think there is a myth in America that young Ricky Rubio was European mens basketball superstar, tho he really wasn't. He was super advanced for his age, but he was one of those guys who was projected to fit NBA basketball style way better than European style, and that turned out to be the case. In Europe, he was intangibles guy who is way better than his stats, but his actual stats were not very good at all, Luka Doncic he wasn't.

[chilluminati]

The one that always comes to mind for me is the myth that LeBron caused the super team epidemic that apparently was "ruining the league". Superteams have been happening forever, they were just over-highlighted publicly in the social media era.

[Yank3525]

That Shaq was robbed of 2001 MVP.

It is revisionist history. The 2001 Lakers are maybe the greatest playoff team of all time, but that team "only" won 56 games in the regular season after winning 67 the year before. They were the best defensive team in 2000 and became one of worst in 2001. And I put a lot of that on Shaq, big man have way more impact on defense then perimeter players. Plus throw in the feud with Kobe. How do you reward Shaq that year?

Also LeBron being robbed of the 2011 MVP because of voter fatigue. Complete nonsense, the vote wasn't even close and LeBron didn't even finish second. Miami underachieved their win total and LeBron probably had his worst season since 2005. Honestly, he probably ended up with the right amount of total MVPs.

[Optms]

That Tim Duncan was the best player at any point during his career.

The trasitions went from Jordan to Shaq to Kobe to LeBron. And you could argue that LeBron has been the best player since 2006, making his reign as the best for over a decade.

Duncan, not Jordan, is the superstar who is most view with rose tinted lenses. He was never as good as people say he is today. Go back to 2010 and you'd get laughed at for claiming Duncan is top 10 all time. Now its not uncommon to see some folks list him top 5 all time.

[UcanUwill]

That Tim Duncan was the best player at any point during his career.

The trasitions went from Jordan to Shaq to Kobe to LeBron. And you could argue that LeBron has been the best player since 2006, making his reign as the best for over a decade.

Duncan, not Jordan, is the superstar who is most view with rose tinted lenses. He was never as good as people say he is today. Go back to 2010 and you'd get laughed at for claiming Duncan is top 10 all time. Now its not uncommon to see some folks list him top 5 all time.

I agree, but this is still opinion, we can't really prove that for certain, something OP warned to avoid. Personally, I think LeBron was best player in the world like since 2006 like you said, he was better than Kobe and Duncan at that point in my opinion. He choked like a clown in 2011, but overall, dude was a beast. But again, it is opinion.

[Yank3525]

That Tim Duncan was the best player at any point during his career.

The trasitions went from Jordan to Shaq to Kobe to LeBron. And you could argue that LeBron has been the best player since 2006, making his reign as the best for over a decade.

Duncan, not Jordan, is the superstar who is most view with rose tinted lenses. He was never as good as people say he is today. Go back to 2010 and you'd get laughed at for claiming Duncan is top 10 all time. Now its not uncommon to see some folks list him top 5 all time.

You can thank people like Bill Simmons for pushing this narrative. I remember last year he claimed that Duncan was the best player from 2002-2007, which is not how players, coaches, and GMs saw it. Sporting news used to do an annual top 10 players list voted on by the GMs. This was the top ten in 2002 and 2003.

2002

1. Shaquille O'Neal
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Tim Duncan
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Tracy McGrady
6. Allen Iverson
7. Vince Carter
8. Chris Webber
9. Jason Kidd
10. Gary Payton

2003

1. Shaquille O'Neal
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Tim Duncan
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Kevin Garnett
6. Jason Kidd
7. Chris Webber
8. Dirk Nowitzki
9. Paul Pierce
10. Allen Iverson

And this was during Tim's peak (back to back MVP).

[Wingy]

The one that always comes to mind for me is the myth that LeBron caused the super team epidemic that apparently was "ruining the league". Superteams have been happening forever, they were just over-highlighted publicly in the social media era.

Nah, no myth. Just reality:

Lebron, Wade, and Bosh established the first in-prime player-created squad that gave birth to the word “superteam” ever.

Keep trying to rewrite history. Maybe one day it will stick.

[chilluminati]

The one that always comes to mind for me is the myth that LeBron caused the super team epidemic that apparently was "ruining the league". Superteams have been happening forever, they were just over-highlighted publicly in the social media era.

Nah, no myth. Just reality:

Lebron, Wade, and Bosh established the first in-prime player-created squad that gave birth to the word “superteam” ever.

Keep trying to rewrite history. Maybe one day it will stick.

Nobody is "rewriting history", you're delusional. Literally google NBA superteam, I'm not going to do the leg work on this dog water take

[Yank3525]

The one that always comes to mind for me is the myth that LeBron caused the super team epidemic that apparently was "ruining the league". Superteams have been happening forever, they were just over-highlighted publicly in the social media era.

Nah, no myth. Just reality:

Lebron, Wade, and Bosh established the first in-prime player-created squad that gave birth to the word “superteam” ever.

Keep trying to rewrite history. Maybe one day it will stick.

Yeah. People will bring up the 2008 Celtics. But that is horse****. That Celtics had the same projected win total as the Cavs that year (49.5). Hell, Cleveland had higher finals odds heading into the season. The vibe around that team entering 2007-08 was much different then Miami entering 2010-11.

[The4thHorseman]

I think there is a myth in America that young Ricky Rubio was European mens basketball superstar, tho he really wasn't. He was super advanced for his age, but he was one of those guys who was projected to fit NBA basketball style way better than European style, and that turned out to be the case. In Europe, he was intangibles guy who is way better than his stats, but his actual stats were not very good at all, Luka Doncic he wasn't.

I remember Colin Cowherd talking **** on Ricky before he came to the NBA. Basically giving him no chance of making it and was going to be a huge bust. Not sure if he ever apologized to him.

[UcanUwill]

I think there is a myth in America that young Ricky Rubio was European mens basketball superstar, tho he really wasn't. He was super advanced for his age, but he was one of those guys who was projected to fit NBA basketball style way better than European style, and that turned out to be the case. In Europe, he was intangibles guy who is way better than his stats, but his actual stats were not very good at all, Luka Doncic he wasn't.

I remember Colin Cowherd talking **** on Ricky before he came to the NBA. Basically giving him no chance of making it and was going to be a huge bust. Not sure if he ever apologized to him.

Well, everyone makes draft mistakes, of course not being **** about it. Not sure why anyone would have thought Rubio would suck in the NBA tho, he was one of the best perimeter defenders and passers in the world and it was obvious it would translate, still remember that moment where he just picked up 2010 Derrick Rose and made his life hell, stealing ball straight from his hands and just erasing him from the game.

Thing is, In Europe, individual defense was less important since there were simply far less superstar play, and Euro ball is very half court based, it was all about shooting and spacing, driving is neutered, and Rubio was creative transition mastermind who couldn't shoot. His game never translated to Euro ball that much.

It is very sad he blew his knee as a rookie, because he could have been one of the best defensive guards ever possibly. Also, he had very serious depression after his mom died. I believe he is recovering now, but I have severe depression, so I know what it means.

[Wingy]

The one that always comes to mind for me is the myth that LeBron caused the super team epidemic that apparently was "ruining the league". Superteams have been happening forever, they were just over-highlighted publicly in the social media era.

Nah, no myth. Just reality:

Lebron, Wade, and Bosh established the first in-prime player-created squad that gave birth to the word “superteam” ever.

Keep trying to rewrite history. Maybe one day it will stick.

Nobody is "rewriting history", you're delusional. Literally google NBA superteam, I'm not going to do the leg work on this dog water take

Defensive already. Truth hurts.

What’s wrong about the statement?

When did in-prime greats of the day ever decide amongst themselves to join together previously?

Sure you can Google and find anything you want as a one-off, but people didn’t use “superteam” regularly as part of everyday basketball fan vernacular until after the Heat.

[chilluminati]

Nah, no myth. Just reality:

Lebron, Wade, and Bosh established the first in-prime player-created squad that gave birth to the word “superteam” ever.

Keep trying to rewrite history. Maybe one day it will stick.

Nobody is "rewriting history", you're delusional. Literally google NBA superteam, I'm not going to do the leg work on this dog water take

Defensive already. Truth hurts.

What’s wrong about the statement?

When did in-prime greats of the day ever decide amongst themselves to join together previously?

Sure you can Google and find anything you want as a one-off, but people didn’t use “superteam” regularly as part of everyday basketball fan vernacular until after the Heat.

What truth hurts? The truth that super teams have existed before Lebron, regardless of the vernacular we use?

[JujitsuFlip]

Rubio's sole NBA career dunk was actually a layup.

[phanman]

That Tim Duncan was the best player at any point during his career.

The trasitions went from Jordan to Shaq to Kobe to LeBron. And you could argue that LeBron has been the best player since 2006, making his reign as the best for over a decade.

Duncan, not Jordan, is the superstar who is most view with rose tinted lenses. He was never as good as people say he is today. Go back to 2010 and you'd get laughed at for claiming Duncan is top 10 all time. Now its not uncommon to see some folks list him top 5 all time.

Timmy could easily be considered the best player in 2003. That was probably the most underwhelming supporting cast he had in his 5 chips and was an absolute monster with a 20yo Parker or 37yo DRob as the 2nd best player. Building on his 5th consecutive dual 1st team nods, second of his B2B MVPs and most importantly outplaying Shaq to defeat the Lakers 4-2 and ending a potential 4peat.

[JujitsuFlip]

The one that always comes to mind for me is the myth that LeBron caused the super team epidemic that apparently was "ruining the league". Superteams have been happening forever, they were just over-highlighted publicly in the social media era.

Nah, no myth. Just reality:

Lebron, Wade, and Bosh established the first in-prime player-created squad that gave birth to the word “superteam” ever.

Keep trying to rewrite history. Maybe one day it will stick.

Yeah. People will bring up the 2008 Celtics. But that is horse****. That Celtics had the same projected win total as the Cavs that year (49.5). Hell, Cleveland had higher finals odds heading into the season. The vibe around that team entering 2007-08 was much different then Miami entering 2010-11.

The vibe? Lmao

They had commercials calling the Celtics the Big 3.

LeBron, Bosh, and Wade were sick of getting their butts kicked by the Celtics and formed a team to beat them.

Lebron was 11-14 (.440) vs Boston's Big 3 before going to Miami.

Wade was 2-14 (.125) vs Boston's Big 3 before re-signing with Miami.

Bosh was 1-11 (.083) vs Boston's Big 3 before going to Miami.

Miami's Big 3 vs Celtics Big 3; 10-10 (.500) but won both playoff series. Then Ray joined the Heat. Heat went 3-1 vs them that season, then KG and Paul went to the Nets to join iso Joe, D-Will, and BroLo... Heat Big 3 went 4-5 vs the Nets that season but won the playoff series in a gentleman's sweep. Paul went to the Wizards and LeBron back to the Cavs.

[NyKnicks1714]

Oh look, a thread where people ignore the topic/prompt and devolve into debating what a superteam is. Never seen that before.

[Iwasawitness]

Barea didn't "shut down" LeBron in 2011 like people claim. In fact he barely guarded him in that series.

That infamous photo of him guarding LeBron? LeBron literally shot right over him on a turnaround.

[Rubios]

I think there is a myth in America that young Ricky Rubio was European mens basketball superstar, tho he really wasn't. He was super advanced for his age, but he was one of those guys who was projected to fit NBA basketball style way better than European style, and that turned out to be the case. In Europe, he was intangibles guy who is way better than his stats, but his actual stats were not very good at all, Luka Doncic he wasn't.

European-wise, no clue.
But he was a superstar in Spain.

Nothing to do with my nick BTW, we just share the last name.