[PhillySports0Participant]

 Watching the 76ers game they were interviewing Jim Lynam who covers the sixers on CSN. He said the games the best its been ever… The players, coaches, skill and talent is better. He also said "the old timers are gonna hate me". I agree 100 percent because while watching ESPN or any nba coverage I always hear how the talent isnt as good as it used to be and how the NBA is horrible to watch now which in reality I think the players are MUCH better than the old NBA. Like Charles Barkley for example swears nobody will ever be better than anyone he played against or even him. 

Now the old timers probably hate new school basketball and think all those old school players are god and untouchable but I really think the NBA is at a great place right now. What are your guys opinions?

 

[highflyer0Participant]

 I don’t think the stars of old are any better or worse than today’s stars.  Superstars are superstars.  Players today are better athletes overall and are able to do things in midair that old timers could only dream of.  However, many players do not develop the fundamentals as much as players did in the 80’s when guys stayed in college longer.  There are a lot of players in the NBA that are deemed "raw".  I don’t think those guys would get as much playing time 25 years ago.  It isn’t uncommon to find shooting guards who aren’t very good shooters, which would probably be unacceptable in the old NBA.  

I think if the players of 2000’s went up against the players of the 80’s, the new age guys would win but only because of athleticism, not because of skill level.  I have no doubt that the Lakers, Celtics, and Bulls teams of the 80’s and 90’s would beat the current Heat, Pacers etc. It seems like players today "should" be way better than the players of old because of their superior athletic ability and training/dieting but many players never really learn the fundamentals. One and dones and the AAU culture contribute to an attitude where highlight plays are just as important as court vision and shooting ability.  

[highflyer0Participant]

 I don’t think the stars of old are any better or worse than today’s stars.  Superstars are superstars.  Players today are better athletes overall and are able to do things in midair that old timers could only dream of.  However, many players do not develop the fundamentals as much as players did in the 80’s when guys stayed in college longer.  There are a lot of players in the NBA that are deemed "raw".  I don’t think those guys would get as much playing time 25 years ago.  It isn’t uncommon to find shooting guards who aren’t very good shooters, which would probably be unacceptable in the old NBA.  

I think if the players of 2000’s went up against the players of the 80’s, the new age guys would win but only because of athleticism, not because of skill level.  I have no doubt that the Lakers, Celtics, and Bulls teams of the 80’s and 90’s would beat the current Heat, Pacers etc. It seems like players today "should" be way better than the players of old because of their superior athletic ability and training/dieting but many players never really learn the fundamentals. One and dones and the AAU culture contribute to an attitude where highlight plays are just as important as court vision and shooting ability.  

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 The  nba today requires less skill bc refs don’t call travels and carries as they used to. What would have been a carry or travel (3 steps) in old times happens 5 times evey possesion.  If you watch tyeke Evans or lebron James you’ll see what I mean. They are better athletes, but skill wise  they are  not up to  the  level of the olden times bc refs call it how they want.

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 The  nba today requires less skill bc refs don’t call travels and carries as they used to. What would have been a carry or travel (3 steps) in old times happens 5 times evey possesion.  If you watch tyeke Evans or lebron James you’ll see what I mean. They are better athletes, but skill wise  they are  not up to  the  level of the olden times bc refs call it how they want.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I’m not an old guy, but I watched enough basketball from guys in the 80s until now. The league is severely watered down. I am all for contraction. The 76ers are obviously your team, but have you seen the trash that they trot out every night. Half the team should not even be in the NBA. A lot of the perimeter players in the league cannot shoot and the interior players cannot complete a basic post move. Some of these guys need to send Stern a check for removing hand checking and making it where a true zone is illegal.

There are maybe 5 complete basketball players in the whole league and one of those is 37 year old Tim Duncan. I could name a ton of guys that were not superstars in the 80s and 90s that would be eating guys alive right now.

Part of the problem is that guys are not staying long enough. I am not saying everyone needs to go to college, but a lot of guys need to stay. Most of these guys are not physically ready. Even as skinny as Garnett was coming into the league, he was freakishly tall with long arms, nice athleticism and real skill. He had some kind of physical advantage that set him apart to make the transition easier and faster. I am watching Florida play…supposedly the best team in the country and do they even have an NBA player? I’m watching UK play with their prized recruits and I’m thinking…James Young is getting taken off the dribble by Luke Hancock. What in the hell is Jeremy Lin going to do to him, let alone James Harden in the same game. Then I see Russ Smith going off like his is a fake Allen Iverson. How are you going to contain an actual NBA player, especially when the pg is probably the most stacked position in the league. I like Embiid, but the guy knows a couple of post moves, is willing to rebound and can hit outside of 10 feet with possibly bad back and teams might be scared, but it won’t stop them from not picking him. I’m not sure anyone has seen Exum play and he is an automatic top 10 for everyone.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I’m not an old guy, but I watched enough basketball from guys in the 80s until now. The league is severely watered down. I am all for contraction. The 76ers are obviously your team, but have you seen the trash that they trot out every night. Half the team should not even be in the NBA. A lot of the perimeter players in the league cannot shoot and the interior players cannot complete a basic post move. Some of these guys need to send Stern a check for removing hand checking and making it where a true zone is illegal.

There are maybe 5 complete basketball players in the whole league and one of those is 37 year old Tim Duncan. I could name a ton of guys that were not superstars in the 80s and 90s that would be eating guys alive right now.

Part of the problem is that guys are not staying long enough. I am not saying everyone needs to go to college, but a lot of guys need to stay. Most of these guys are not physically ready. Even as skinny as Garnett was coming into the league, he was freakishly tall with long arms, nice athleticism and real skill. He had some kind of physical advantage that set him apart to make the transition easier and faster. I am watching Florida play…supposedly the best team in the country and do they even have an NBA player? I’m watching UK play with their prized recruits and I’m thinking…James Young is getting taken off the dribble by Luke Hancock. What in the hell is Jeremy Lin going to do to him, let alone James Harden in the same game. Then I see Russ Smith going off like his is a fake Allen Iverson. How are you going to contain an actual NBA player, especially when the pg is probably the most stacked position in the league. I like Embiid, but the guy knows a couple of post moves, is willing to rebound and can hit outside of 10 feet with possibly bad back and teams might be scared, but it won’t stop them from not picking him. I’m not sure anyone has seen Exum play and he is an automatic top 10 for everyone.

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 I agree with everything you said, except a lot of the players aren’t smart enough to stay in college. To force them to stay is not only an invalid argument,  it also puts the schools, players, employees, and fans in a difficult situation.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I did not say that they were not smart enough to stay in college if that was directed at me. I don’t believe anyone should be forced to go to college, so next time make sure you comprehend the point. I am saying that a lot of them are not ready to play in the NBA. Some of these guys are very weak physically and the majority of them are under skilled. Some of these guys look super human because in high school they were playing against midgets with zero athleticism or on stacked teams that just overwhelmed the opponents. It makes me think of the video they showed of Eddy Curry in high school. Every video was of him scoring against some kid that was like 6’4" and weighed 160.

The games this year in the tournament are so even because the teams are pretty much even. You basically have teams with guys that had to stay 3 and 4 years with low ceilings or that were late bloomers going against young teams that are far more talented, but they are still trying to figure out how to play and how to play with these other new guys.

See, the thing is when you are a high pick that team typically needs you right now. For some guys, it is great to get thrown in like that. The NBA scouts, GMs and coaches need you to play right now and do whatever it is that you do best. It is far easier to experiment and learn the game if you get the proper coaching in college. Once you get drafted you are completely ready to play. It is not like it used to be where you automatically get all 4 years of your contract picked up. Now teams are dumping guys early because they don’t want to keep paying guys they cannot use. You pick in the lottery long enough and someone has to eventually step up or get let go. You risk a short term of making a couple of million vs a longer career with a higher earning potential. As long as these guys come in unprepared, guys like Derek Fisher, Jason Collins, and Kendrick Perkins are going to keep getting jobs. 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I did not say that they were not smart enough to stay in college if that was directed at me. I don’t believe anyone should be forced to go to college, so next time make sure you comprehend the point. I am saying that a lot of them are not ready to play in the NBA. Some of these guys are very weak physically and the majority of them are under skilled. Some of these guys look super human because in high school they were playing against midgets with zero athleticism or on stacked teams that just overwhelmed the opponents. It makes me think of the video they showed of Eddy Curry in high school. Every video was of him scoring against some kid that was like 6’4" and weighed 160.

The games this year in the tournament are so even because the teams are pretty much even. You basically have teams with guys that had to stay 3 and 4 years with low ceilings or that were late bloomers going against young teams that are far more talented, but they are still trying to figure out how to play and how to play with these other new guys.

See, the thing is when you are a high pick that team typically needs you right now. For some guys, it is great to get thrown in like that. The NBA scouts, GMs and coaches need you to play right now and do whatever it is that you do best. It is far easier to experiment and learn the game if you get the proper coaching in college. Once you get drafted you are completely ready to play. It is not like it used to be where you automatically get all 4 years of your contract picked up. Now teams are dumping guys early because they don’t want to keep paying guys they cannot use. You pick in the lottery long enough and someone has to eventually step up or get let go. You risk a short term of making a couple of million vs a longer career with a higher earning potential. As long as these guys come in unprepared, guys like Derek Fisher, Jason Collins, and Kendrick Perkins are going to keep getting jobs. 

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

 I agree with everything you said, except a lot of the players aren’t smart enough to stay in college. To force them to stay is not only an invalid argument,  it also puts the schools, players, employees, and fans in a difficult situation.

[tomdukes69Participant]

Defense was not better in 80’s they just fouled harder. Today’s athletes are better. Shooting is not down check the stats. Today’s athletes are better. Coaching is better now. More international players now. Yes fundamentals aren’t as good now. But all in all basketball is about the same now.

[tomdukes69Participant]

Defense was not better in 80’s they just fouled harder. Today’s athletes are better. Shooting is not down check the stats. Today’s athletes are better. Coaching is better now. More international players now. Yes fundamentals aren’t as good now. But all in all basketball is about the same now.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 It depends on how far back we look. The great teams from the 80s were great, but the average teams would probably struggle in the NBA. But outside of the Celtics, the teams from the 70s would be destroyed by the average NBA team today. Defenses are much more sophisticated and the players are pulled from all over the world instead of just the US. 

I don’t buy that the "fundamentals" are so lacking in players today. I’ve heard that same thing my entire life. I think it is just that the old timers remember the championship team. They don’t remember the average teams. So they compare the Celtics of the 80’s agains the Sixers of today. And yeah the Sixers are messed up. But it isn’t a fair comparison. 

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 It depends on how far back we look. The great teams from the 80s were great, but the average teams would probably struggle in the NBA. But outside of the Celtics, the teams from the 70s would be destroyed by the average NBA team today. Defenses are much more sophisticated and the players are pulled from all over the world instead of just the US. 

I don’t buy that the "fundamentals" are so lacking in players today. I’ve heard that same thing my entire life. I think it is just that the old timers remember the championship team. They don’t remember the average teams. So they compare the Celtics of the 80’s agains the Sixers of today. And yeah the Sixers are messed up. But it isn’t a fair comparison. 

 

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