The Unpopular Opinion thread

[cima]

The Eastern Conference is making a great case for ditching East/West Playoffs

lol I couldn't resist, that's totally appropriate for this thread.

But for real though:

- Kobe and Shaq could have been the greatest duo ever. They were dominant in their last 2 Championship runs in the playoffs: 15-1, 15-4.

- The 2004-05 Phoenix Suns would have won the title if Joe Johnson never got hurt and the small-ball era would have started much sooner. I know they had their defensive shortcomings but that team was special. Also, 04-05 Suns > 06-07 Suns.

- Scottie Pippen doesn't get nearly enough credit for how great he was despite being a top 50 player. Bulls only had a 2 game drop off in regular season wins despite losing MJ in 93-94. At the same time though a better question now would be if they re-did the top 50 today, would he still be in it?

[I Djm]

Quote: Originally Posted by ProfessaPackMan

Because he chews on his mouthpiece? Lol

That stuff messes up your teeth [emoji30]

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[MKT305]

Kevin love trade was decent at the time. If they had not trade Wiggins they wouldnt of been as terrible as they were and wouldnt of had to make the trades they would of to grab Mozgov, smith and Shumpter.

[The 24th Letter]

Folks seriously sleep on how good prime Manu Ginobili was.....in the words of Kobe: "that's a bad boy right there"

[lilteapot]

Quote: Originally Posted by MKT305

Kevin love trade was decent at the time. If they had not trade Wiggins they wouldnt of been as terrible as they were and wouldnt of had to make the trades they would of to grab Mozgov, smith and Shumpter.

I thought the Love trade was brilliant at the time. I still think they can make it into something special next year.

[ojandpizza]

Quote: Originally Posted by cima

- Scottie Pippen doesn't get nearly enough credit for how great he was despite being a top 50 player. Bulls only had a 2 game drop off in regular season wins despite losing MJ in 93-94. At the same time though a better question now would be if they re-did the top 50 today, would he still be in it?

I've said many times that I think Pippen is the most overrated AND underrated player of all time. It's always one side of the spectrum with him or the other. He's either tore down as someone who was only a sidekick, wouldn't have been anything without Jordan, wouldn't be an all star without Jordan, etc. Or insanely overblown, the best all around player ever, best defensive player of the 90's, could win a title on his own, should have won 95 MVP, etc.

He's almost never placed where he properly belongs. I will say though if you don't believe he gets his due credit you probably haven't been around OS for that long lol.

As for the top 50 I don't think anyone necessarily deserves to be removed (aside from Bill Walton) but more so if there was a recount they would just extend it to top 75 or something. He definitely deserved his spot on the list, though he probably lies someone in the back 30 rather than the top 20.

He's vastly overrated as a ball handler and playmaker, especially when brought into comparison amongst modern wing players. I think his defense tends to get overrated, though he is definitely one of the best defensive small forwards to ever play the game. But overall he's a very great player, and a lot of people discredit him as just being a sidekick.

I don't however believe he could have carried his own team to a ring. Maybe if he had teammates equal to his level or a very high quality 1-5, but if they were average he wouldn't have reached that pinnacle. He was excellent as an equal 1st or a 2nd option guy, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I also believe he and Jordan peaked at the right time and played in the perfect era for that duo. The gap between Jordan and the next best SG of the 90's was MASSIVE, and maybe even a bigger gap between Pippen and the next best small forward. Having them on the same team was just a ridiculous advantage at that point in time. No other SG/SF duo was even remotely close, just look at those last two rings for example. Jordan/Pippen vs Horn/Russell, just a massive gap in the levels those duos were at.


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