NBA changed for the good or worse?

[griznation1]

Watching my high school play basketball and noticing how much contact there was (similar to the NBA in the 80's-90's) made me wonder on what happened to the NBA. Back then it was all physical and you would have people handchecking, centers and forwards could camp the paint and hard fouls being committed with some calls being made, but not all the time. I wasn't alive to witness the 90's but looking at hours of footage, touching a player (especially Kobe) nowadays it's an automatic foul.

This present day NBA benefits the speedier and more athletic players than size and finesse. Also, players are just dunking and doing flashy shots instead of focusing on the fundamentals. The fact that players nowadays can score points and don't have to worry too much about having their defenders breathing down their necks, being handchecked or getting blocked by the center, parked in the paint (there was no defensive 3 in the key...) The lack of dominant post big men (Shaq was the last one) also attributes to make me wonder: Did the NBA change so much it become worse...or better?

[BearClaw]

WORSE The average professional athlete nowadays is physical specimen to be marveled at. The entertainment factor of todays NBA Talent with 80's rules would be immense.

[InthePaint]

[SteelersFreak]

The idea that defense was SO MUCH better in the 90's is a little silly. At times it was, but you also had teams like the 90-91 Denver Nuggets that gave up 130 points a game while scoring 117 a game.

[griznation1]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteelersFreak

The idea that defense was SO MUCH better in the 90's is a little silly. At times it was, but you also had teams like the 90-91 Denver Nuggets that gave up 130 points a game while scoring 117 a game.

It only was because there was no 3 in the key, and handchecking. That's what made 'defense' so much better back in the 90's, but also points were harder to come by.

[return.specialist]

The game has changed for better and also for worse.

For the average fan, eg corporate ticket-holders, fan boys, etc--the sources of the majority of League profits--the game has changed for the better. Hampering many defensive tactics of the past, and eliminating a number of other 'interruptions', has resulted in decreases in game time and increases in high-light plays. Thus, average fans get what they pay for and generally don't sit through epic games.

However, for basketball purists (my self included), there a number of adjustments that detract from the appeal of the modern game. Traveling and palming are rampant and rarely called. Just last night, a fouled was called against Lebron who proceeded to take three steps before finishing at the rim for a chance at a 3-point play. In this case the foul was highly questionable from my perspective, but the fast-break or drive-to-the-basket with any contact on a star-player is a guaranteed foul. What is most upsetting--i can deal with the foul--but the basket should be negated by the travel. Half of Allen Iverson's career was based on palming.

The absence of the dominant big man is discomforting but is part of the evolution of the game I suppose.

What probably frustrates me the most, is the complaining and lobbying to officials by players--especially following missed field goals when the player should be getting back on defense. I believe the league implemented a rule to attenuate this behavior, but it is still prevalent.

So for the average fan, the game has changed for the better. For the purists, it has changed for the worse.

[ojandpizza]

Quote: Originally Posted by griznation1

It only was because there was no 3 in the key, and handchecking. That's what made 'defense' so much better back in the 90's, but also points were harder to come by.

There was no 3 in the key but there was illegal defense. You couldn't camp in the lane then either. And hand-checking is probably the most over exaggerated thing in basketball history.. It still happens today and was never use that much back then. It's not like guys were in shoving matches out there.. If you watch Mario Chalmers play he still uses the hand check often and gets away with it. Probably the best in the league at doing so.. He or Rondo

[return.specialist]

It should be noted that the advent of the 3-point line and the threat of skill players behind the arc has contributed to the spreading of the game and quite possibly limiting the impact of the traditional center.

I'm willing to assume, that the majority of fans like the 3-point line--my self included.