Top 10 Misconceptions of the NBA (Part II)

By Raza Husain

The following is a response to "Mr. Basketball" Michael Illiano's Top 10 Misconceptions of the NBA. Agree? Disagree? Let us know! 

Michael makes some great points, but as an avid basketball fan and a someone who has worked closely with NBA players, here are my Top 10 misconceptions of the NBA. 

1. Age is really underrated.

Age equals experience in the NBA, and that is why the Dallas Mavericks were able to beat out the Oklahoma City Thunder (even though the Thunder could run laps around them with their super-young legs).

2. The NBA is nowhere near as good as the golden age 20 years ago.

If you don’t believe me, try this. You could punch someone and not be ejected. You could get elbowed like J.J. Barea (paging Andrew Bynum) and have to deal with it. Today’s game is entertaining, but NOT nearly as good.

3. Scoring is overrated.

Period.

4. Titles are personal validation and don’t erase 15-18 years of greatness.

True.

5. Making your own shot is not nearly as hard as moving WITHOUT the ball.

Ask Reggie Miller and Richard Hamilton about that one.

6. Only big names should be recognized as great defenders.

Tony Allen: All heart. Grit. Grind. 'Nuff said.

7. Players aren't forgotten for the wrong reasons.

400+ players play in the NBA each year. Someone is bound to be lost in the fray. Just think about the last time someone asked you who your starting five would be and you said “Oh! I forgot about ___!”

8. Taking analyst's opinion's as facts.

TNT’s Inside the NBA is like FOX News. There are some facts, but it's for entertainment value

9. Quotes are meant to be taken literal (Scottie Pippen on Michael Jordan).

People hear what they want to in quotes. Ill throw this out there: “LeBron will NEVER achieve MJ’s level of success.”

10.  We as fans know what players are thinking and what's good for them.

No. Just no. After working in the NBA and being friends with players for the past season, I know this more than ever. Nobody (not even me) can ever understand what is going on in the theater of the mind for any given player.