I guess I'm reaching out to my 30-30+yr old men out there who've been an NBA fan as I have in my 34yrs of life. I was talking to a guy the other day about the current state of the NBA & what we're seeing. I wonder, is it unfair to judge TODAYs NBA vs the days when I was a kid on Thursday night watching my Knicks get torched by the Jordan? Or getting pissed at Spike Lee & screaming at the TV to "shut the 17 up!" as he is provoking arguably the greatest shooter of all time to light up MSG? Instantly knowing the difference between a playoff foul vs a regular season foul. Knowing that Derek Harper's defense & his patented "snake bite" move (barely toching the shooters elbow as he is about to follow through on his jumper causing an airball). Rivalries. Like REAL rivals! Knicks vs Heat. Knicks vs Bulls. Malone vs Rodman. Or Jordan vs Bird or Magic. Barkley vs Malone. I understand that I probably grew up watching the greatest of the GREATS play. I look at the leauge now and see a bunch of whiney cry babies. Guys like MJ didn't GET anything. He earned it! He wasn't a premeire player @ UNC. He had to freakin bust his ***! Guys like LeBron were HANDED the keys to the city before he played his first game. Millions doled out in his honor before he EVEN TOOK THE FLOOR! I think the last guy of my era (man I feel old) is Kobe. And it bothers me that after that, what's left. People forget, yeah he got signed out of h.s. But he didn't even START his 1st few years. Nick Van Exel had his spot. Kobe had to work his *** off to be what he is today. Sorry this thing is SO long but I just want to hear what you guys think. It just kind of bothers me. Sorry!
Current state of the NBA. What are your thoughts?
- Thread starter hulkbuster
- Start date
I guess I'm reaching out to my 30-30+yr old men out there who've been an NBA fan as I have in my 34yrs of life. I was talking to a guy the other day about the current state of the NBA & what we're seeing. I wonder, is it unfair to judge TODAYs NBA vs the days when I was a kid on Thursday night watching my Knicks get torched by the Jordan? Or getting pissed at Spike Lee & screaming at the TV to "shut the 17 up!" as he is provoking arguably the greatest shooter of all time to light up MSG? Instantly knowing the difference between a playoff foul vs a regular season foul. Knowing that Derek Harper's defense & his patented "snake bite" move (barely toching the shooters elbow as he is about to follow through on his jumper causing an airball). Rivalries. Like REAL rivals! Knicks vs Heat. Knicks vs Bulls. Malone vs Rodman. Or Jordan vs Bird or Magic. Barkley vs Malone. I understand that I probably grew up watching the greatest of the GREATS play. I look at the leauge now and see a bunch of whiney cry babies. Guys like MJ didn't GET anything. He earned it! He wasn't a premeire player @ UNC. He had to freakin bust his ***! Guys like LeBron were HANDED the keys to the city before he played his first game. Millions doled out in his honor before he EVEN TOOK THE FLOOR! I think the last guy of my era (man I feel old) is Kobe. And it bothers me that after that, what's left. People forget, yeah he got signed out of h.s. But he didn't even START his 1st few years. Nick Van Exel had his spot. Kobe had to work his *** off to be what he is today. Sorry this thing is SO long but I just want to hear what you guys think. It just kind of bothers me. Sorry!
I read all the time about players now a days feeling entitled and whining for calls, and people forget that we live in a totally different time regarding our access to sports.
People forget that Barkley basically bitched and moaned his way out of Philadelphia. He was a top 5 player in the league and got traded for 20 cents on the dollar. We just didn't have twitter and 24 hour news cycles talking about Barkley being a selfish prick. We also don't have coverage of Scottie Pippen refusing to go into the game because the coach decides to run a play for a different player. Those actions would have been every where. What about the Pistons walking out on the Bulls in 91 not shaking hands, or every player complaining about MJ's special treatment by the refs.
If you don't think players like Durant, Paul, Wade, Lebron, Griffin, Howard, and Rose have worked their *** off to get where they are you are crazy. These guys are machines. They work hard. The talent pool in the NBA right now has never been higher. The bottom line on 90's basketball is that there will never be another Jordan. Never. He was the most competitive human being on the planet, as well as probably being one of the most athletic. That combination may never be matched again. That doesn't mean that the NBA still isn't awesome.
Also, you have to remember that everything seems cooler when looking back. Today's NBA is fantastic and with the one and done rule, it will only get better because people are already talking about Anthony Davis and the type of impact he will have on the league.
People forget that Barkley basically bitched and moaned his way out of Philadelphia. He was a top 5 player in the league and got traded for 20 cents on the dollar. We just didn't have twitter and 24 hour news cycles talking about Barkley being a selfish prick. We also don't have coverage of Scottie Pippen refusing to go into the game because the coach decides to run a play for a different player. Those actions would have been every where. What about the Pistons walking out on the Bulls in 91 not shaking hands, or every player complaining about MJ's special treatment by the refs.
If you don't think players like Durant, Paul, Wade, Lebron, Griffin, Howard, and Rose have worked their *** off to get where they are you are crazy. These guys are machines. They work hard. The talent pool in the NBA right now has never been higher. The bottom line on 90's basketball is that there will never be another Jordan. Never. He was the most competitive human being on the planet, as well as probably being one of the most athletic. That combination may never be matched again. That doesn't mean that the NBA still isn't awesome.
Also, you have to remember that everything seems cooler when looking back. Today's NBA is fantastic and with the one and done rule, it will only get better because people are already talking about Anthony Davis and the type of impact he will have on the league.
I don't think there will ever be another era of NBA basketball like the mid 80s to late 90s. Bird, Magic, Stockton, Malone, Jordan, etc, etc, etc. Those were some of the most best players in NBA history that all played together, and they all could easily be identified with a specific organization. Yeah, they all got paid, but they played their butts off to get those contracts and then they kept playing their butts off afterwards. It was just a different breed.
Now, don't get me wrong, there are some great players now that probably work just as hard and may be as talented, but the league is not the same environment today. There's more money, more glamour, and guys get paid based on potential or one decent year much too often. It's just not the same, and I wish there was a better way to trim the fat than there is today with the guaranteed contracts.
All that said, I also think it's crazy for people to say that the NBA isn't exciting anymore. You may get the occasional tank job during a regular season game but come playoff time, you'll see some of the best athletes in the world play the best basketball that you'll find anywhere. I feel sorry for the sports fans that miss it.
Now, don't get me wrong, there are some great players now that probably work just as hard and may be as talented, but the league is not the same environment today. There's more money, more glamour, and guys get paid based on potential or one decent year much too often. It's just not the same, and I wish there was a better way to trim the fat than there is today with the guaranteed contracts.
All that said, I also think it's crazy for people to say that the NBA isn't exciting anymore. You may get the occasional tank job during a regular season game but come playoff time, you'll see some of the best athletes in the world play the best basketball that you'll find anywhere. I feel sorry for the sports fans that miss it.
It's not a brawlers game anymore as the demand for post dominance has dwindled. It's dwindled because guys that are 6'10 can handle the ball like a point guard and shoot like two guards. There are also no "enforcers." You'll never have another Charles Oakley, because face it, the money matters. It matters to damn much to have Durant go out for 6 weeks because someone thugged it up to protect the rim. So, the games are less intense in what I think is a good way.
And like OMlawdog said, if you think the current crop of stars didn't work their asses and earn their money then you are kidding yourself. The money is more because they are making the owners and the networks more. Simple as that. Lebron got millions of dollars out of the gate because the day he was drafted, he instantly made the Cavaliers a crap load of money on jerseys and ticket sales, and he instantly added viewers for the networks. He deserved those checks.
And like OMlawdog said, if you think the current crop of stars didn't work their asses and earn their money then you are kidding yourself. The money is more because they are making the owners and the networks more. Simple as that. Lebron got millions of dollars out of the gate because the day he was drafted, he instantly made the Cavaliers a crap load of money on jerseys and ticket sales, and he instantly added viewers for the networks. He deserved those checks.
Lets remember he was on a rookie contract his first three years in the league. That may be the best bargain in the history of sports. Three years of Lebron James for about 12 million dollars. The value of the Cavs I think doubled.
Jordan got 30 and 33 million a year his last two years with the Bulls, and that is in 1997-1998.
What also fails to get mentioned is that there used to be only 24-25 teams in the NBA. There are 30 teams now. Imagine if you just dropped the 6 worst NBA teams, and added those players to everyone's roster. Do you realize how loaded the teams would be.
The problem in the NBA isn't the stars making money, hell Durant, Kobe, Lebron, and Wade are all probably underpaid. Its players like Marcus Thornton making 10 million a year. The NBA is vastly overpaying the middle class.
Jordan got 30 and 33 million a year his last two years with the Bulls, and that is in 1997-1998.
What also fails to get mentioned is that there used to be only 24-25 teams in the NBA. There are 30 teams now. Imagine if you just dropped the 6 worst NBA teams, and added those players to everyone's roster. Do you realize how loaded the teams would be.
The problem in the NBA isn't the stars making money, hell Durant, Kobe, Lebron, and Wade are all probably underpaid. Its players like Marcus Thornton making 10 million a year. The NBA is vastly overpaying the middle class.
but I love the NBA. I'm a huge Lebron James fan, and have been ever since he was in high school. I remember watching him play the first(I think) ESPN televised high school game, and from then I was hooked on watching the guy.
Bill Simmons wrote an article not too long ago on Grantland(not a huge Simmons fan, but his NBA knowledge is unquestionable) that compared the talent from the mid 80's-mid 90's to now. He thinks that it's very comparable. The amount of young talent in the league is unreal. If you watched the rookie-sophomore game last Friday night, you could tell that these 19,20, 21 year old guys can absolutely ball, and are only going to get better with more experience. The depth at the top of the league as far as talent is unreal. I know a lot of people hate Lebron, and I get some of that, but talent-wise, he's as far up as anyone that has ever played the game. Kobe is a legend. Dwight Howard is the best big man in the league since Shaq. Durant is awesome. CP3, Deron Williams, Melo, Blake Griffin, DWade. I mean the list goes on and on of top tier guys that would've been top tier guys back then too. Don't kid yourself. I would suggest going to read Simmons' article. I believe it was his 3 part all-star break half season review where he talks about it.
Bill Simmons wrote an article not too long ago on Grantland(not a huge Simmons fan, but his NBA knowledge is unquestionable) that compared the talent from the mid 80's-mid 90's to now. He thinks that it's very comparable. The amount of young talent in the league is unreal. If you watched the rookie-sophomore game last Friday night, you could tell that these 19,20, 21 year old guys can absolutely ball, and are only going to get better with more experience. The depth at the top of the league as far as talent is unreal. I know a lot of people hate Lebron, and I get some of that, but talent-wise, he's as far up as anyone that has ever played the game. Kobe is a legend. Dwight Howard is the best big man in the league since Shaq. Durant is awesome. CP3, Deron Williams, Melo, Blake Griffin, DWade. I mean the list goes on and on of top tier guys that would've been top tier guys back then too. Don't kid yourself. I would suggest going to read Simmons' article. I believe it was his 3 part all-star break half season review where he talks about it.
All of you make valid points. OMlawdog, the social media aspect of it is VERY true! But I absolutely LOVE things like what Dirk did last year as far as not shaking Wade or LBj's hand post game because of the sneezing fiasco. I think that rivalries are born from moments like that. I remember my Knicks adopted the Bad Boy Pistons moto. If you come down the lane, ypu would get the HELL knocked oyt of you THEN another guy would bust your *** again before you hit the ground. That was what I remember about that era of basketball. I loved watching 80pt defensive games like that. But I think Seshomoru kind of hit it as well. We lack TRUE big men in the NBA. Everybody wants to shoot 15 foot fadeaways. No pre-pass blockouts, no sealing, no drop steps! No REAL bigs is BAD for this leauge! I watch shows like "Open Court" on NBA tv & hear Charles, Shaq, Reggie, CWebb & etc talking about the difference in the eras. And I think Charles is onto something. He said when he was drafted by Phila he had guys like Moses Malone, Dr.J, Dawkins get after him & mentor him as to the in's & outs of the leauge. Everybody in the leauge now, us out for tv spots, twitter followers, money & shoe ads. Where in those days, guys just wanted rings. I agree guys like KD3 & Melo are great! Long & great at offense. But neither can d up on most guys at thier position.
and was the #2 overall pick leaving college early. The NBA is really good right now, best it's been in a decade or more. And there are tons of young stars after Kobe. To say otherwise is just, well, wrong.
there is also a lot of good defense being played, despite the stereotypes. Except for Washington and Charlotte, about any team can win on a given night.
And right now Lebron is just sick. He actually improved a ton in the post game in the offseason.
And right now Lebron is just sick. He actually improved a ton in the post game in the offseason.
But here's what I understand... If you think everyone just shoots 15 foot fade aways then you really aren't watching any NBA games.
Oh, and 80 point games suck. If I want to watch a bunch of basketball where they can't shoot and score, I'll turn on a college game.
Oh, and 80 point games suck. If I want to watch a bunch of basketball where they can't shoot and score, I'll turn on a college game.
There's more cities that still want teams (Montreal, Seattle, Anaheim, etc.), and the Jeremy Lin saga just illustrates how there may be more players out there who can contribute that no one realizes are good.<div>
</div><div>I still wish Jarvis Varnado could get a chance like Jeremy Lin finally did.</div>
</div><div>I still wish Jarvis Varnado could get a chance like Jeremy Lin finally did.</div>
I absolutely love watching NBA basketball. Few other sports offer the excitement and display the athletes you see on a nightly basis in the NBA. I worry what the league will become once Kobe retires. The Suns Lakers match ups between Raja Bell and Kobe were what hooked me on the sport. I hope the passion and intensity of the games can be maintained in the future with a world that offers so many distractions.
and agree with Barkley when he bitched that the level of play in the NBA these days is almost embarrassing. And, mind you, I like the NBA and watch it constantly.
We have the greatest generation of athletes to ever step into the NBA, 6'8"-6'10" guys who can shoot from 27 feet and beyond, post up (for today's game), rebound, block shots, dribble like a 6'1" point, and throw it down on anyone. Watching the things these guys can do is alot of fun from an athleticism viewpoint, but I also think that we now have a league full of guys who are more athletes than basketball players. They are freak athletes, but they get by based primarily on that and less on their ability to manipulate the game to fit them. Jordan, Byrd, Malone, Barkley, Stockton, Hakeem, etc were all great at this.
Again, love the NBA, but I feel like the product is inferior to the 90s. I think a 90s All-Decade group in their prime destroys an All-Star group from today.
We have the greatest generation of athletes to ever step into the NBA, 6'8"-6'10" guys who can shoot from 27 feet and beyond, post up (for today's game), rebound, block shots, dribble like a 6'1" point, and throw it down on anyone. Watching the things these guys can do is alot of fun from an athleticism viewpoint, but I also think that we now have a league full of guys who are more athletes than basketball players. They are freak athletes, but they get by based primarily on that and less on their ability to manipulate the game to fit them. Jordan, Byrd, Malone, Barkley, Stockton, Hakeem, etc were all great at this.
Again, love the NBA, but I feel like the product is inferior to the 90s. I think a 90s All-Decade group in their prime destroys an All-Star group from today.
Give me 5 guys who are a 4 or a 5 in the NBA right now BESIDES Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, Aldridge and Zebo who ACTUALLY post up w/out shooting a fadeaway or a reverse pivot move? I'm pretty sure you can't. I didn't say I don't watch the NBA. Btw I guess you like you football games PAC12 style huh? 50-45. I actually LIKE defense in my games. Not a damned Allstar game that's dunks and alley all game long. But the NBA was WAY better in the 90's. Sorry, but its true.
Zebo shoots fadeaways. It's not his entire game but its part of it.
Most of the non-freakish athletes that are post players "post up".
The ratings got really bad there in the early 2000's because the NBA game became so defensive minded. Lots of zone defense clogging the lanes and really slowing the tempo down to a crawl. It was really......really boring. Like Sesh said, teams have gone away from that brawler type attitude for the most part. You still have teams that play good defense though.
Most of the non-freakish athletes that are post players "post up".
The ratings got really bad there in the early 2000's because the NBA game became so defensive minded. Lots of zone defense clogging the lanes and really slowing the tempo down to a crawl. It was really......really boring. Like Sesh said, teams have gone away from that brawler type attitude for the most part. You still have teams that play good defense though.
Griffin is a face up reverse pivot take you off the dribble kind of player. Plus about 75% of his points are from alleys. I'm not sure about Petro. Who does he play for? But Hibbert is a good old school post player as well as Bynum. Gortat does shot from the perimetet a little BUT I do see him post up alot in Phoenix's offense passing out of the post to the cutters.
I watched the game as I was going to bed and the guy was amazing. He went for 38 points, 11 boards, 5 assists, a couple of blocks and zero turnovers. He scored the 38 points on around 22 shots. He was in complete control. His post game has improved a ton, and he simply took his game to another level. I haven't really been paying attention due to Lin and Durant, but he is easily the best player in the NBA right now, and Im not sure anyone is really that close.
If Lebron gets over the hump and wins a title this year, he will have won his first title earlier than Michael Jordan. I didn't believe it myself until I looked it up. If this guy puts together the mental part and develops a killer instinct, all bets are off on the ceiling of this guy. Im not sure its in his DNA, but if it is, Im not sure what the ceiling is.
If Lebron gets over the hump and wins a title this year, he will have won his first title earlier than Michael Jordan. I didn't believe it myself until I looked it up. If this guy puts together the mental part and develops a killer instinct, all bets are off on the ceiling of this guy. Im not sure its in his DNA, but if it is, Im not sure what the ceiling is.
What... exactly do you mean by that...? Maybe I'm a little slow this early in the morning but that doesn't make too much sense to me. If you had any examples (if that's possible) then please lay them out.Lion O said:
The NBA is not a post up league. Shaq dominated the leauge as a post up player, and that's really about it for recent memory. Kareem could play the post, but his wasn't a power game. That offense evolved to run through Magic anyway. The Bulls certainly weren't. It was Jordan, Pippen, three point shooters, and a rebounders. The Pistons? Thomas was their leading scorer. The Rockets? The Dream was more like Kareem than Shaq. The Spurs? Duncan has a fantastic 15ft game, is in no way a power post man, and they pick and roll with Manu or Parker.
NO ONE plays the power post game anymore, and hardly anyone has for quite a while. Defenders are just to damn good now for you to get the ball that close to the basket with limited space to move unless you are the size of Dwight Howard. Offensive players are so freaking athletic today, that if you get them one on one from ten to fifteen out, it's all but over. The beauty of it is that they can shoot a fade, drive, pull up, dish, dunk, and so on. Rudy Gay can do absolutely anything he wants if he gets somebody one on one, and it's absolutley beautiful. And now that they don't let you forearm a guy without suspension, we're getting to see great basketball, not a slug fest.
Hibbert and Bynum? Role players. The Lakers have routinely won without Bynum, and the Pacers go as Granger goes. And as DCD said, Zbo has a sweet, sweet fade. Most of his best work is done 10 feet out. Gasol would be there post option, but even he shoots pick and pop 10 footers routinely. Yep, an enormous 7 footer routinely drains the pick and pop jump shot.
People like you annoy me because you automatically assume that low scoring is some grand homage back to the days of hard nosed defense. It's not. It's just that there was a lot of terrible offensive basketball back then because the players weren't as talented.
NO ONE plays the power post game anymore, and hardly anyone has for quite a while. Defenders are just to damn good now for you to get the ball that close to the basket with limited space to move unless you are the size of Dwight Howard. Offensive players are so freaking athletic today, that if you get them one on one from ten to fifteen out, it's all but over. The beauty of it is that they can shoot a fade, drive, pull up, dish, dunk, and so on. Rudy Gay can do absolutely anything he wants if he gets somebody one on one, and it's absolutley beautiful. And now that they don't let you forearm a guy without suspension, we're getting to see great basketball, not a slug fest.
Hibbert and Bynum? Role players. The Lakers have routinely won without Bynum, and the Pacers go as Granger goes. And as DCD said, Zbo has a sweet, sweet fade. Most of his best work is done 10 feet out. Gasol would be there post option, but even he shoots pick and pop 10 footers routinely. Yep, an enormous 7 footer routinely drains the pick and pop jump shot.
People like you annoy me because you automatically assume that low scoring is some grand homage back to the days of hard nosed defense. It's not. It's just that there was a lot of terrible offensive basketball back then because the players weren't as talented.
is probably Durant. I think it's pretty close between the two. The only thing I like that LeBron has over Durant is his mass. I still think Durant needs to get bigger but he seems to be perfectly content where he's at now.
When he wan in high school and college, he was just so much better than anyone else that you couldn't keep him off the rim. Defenses in the NBA could do that because they didn't fear an outside shot by him. Well, he's got that now, and he's absolutely lethal.
Look I like Barkley, but he is king of "Back when we played" like somehow they were all better shooters, knew how to box out, and could execute back door cuts. He must have forgotten about Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp, and young Jordan caring about scoring. Also someone tell Chris Paul that he doesn't know how to play PG.
Were there great players when Barkley played? Absolutely, probably some of the greatest ever, but if you think an all star team with Lebron, Wade, Durant, Paul and Howard couldn't match up with a 90's all star team, you are kidding yourself.
Also, lets not forget one of Barkley's biggest issues was being able to stay in shape. You never hear about today's NBA elite players having to stay in shape.
Last night Lebron played all five spots on the floor, and if you think Charles Barkley could carry Lebron's head band on the court, you are crazy.
Were there great players when Barkley played? Absolutely, probably some of the greatest ever, but if you think an all star team with Lebron, Wade, Durant, Paul and Howard couldn't match up with a 90's all star team, you are kidding yourself.
Also, lets not forget one of Barkley's biggest issues was being able to stay in shape. You never hear about today's NBA elite players having to stay in shape.
Last night Lebron played all five spots on the floor, and if you think Charles Barkley could carry Lebron's head band on the court, you are crazy.
It's even scarier now when you see that he's working on developing a post up game during the season. Not just that, but ti's also interesting seeing him working on moves that he's gotten from other players. Namely, the 1 legged fade away that he took from Dirk. This dude's range when he gets everything in order will be something worth seeing.
The guy has a scoring title is almost 7 feet tall and once he gets to the timeline you have to guard him.
Can you imagine a 7 game series between the Thunder and the Heat for the NBA title? Yes, please.
By the way, the depth of the NBA is fantastic. Look at these potential 1st round matchups:
Miami/New York - Really in the first round?
Chicago/Boston - Last gasp
OKC/Denver - First to 130 wins
San Antonio/Memphis - Please
Clippers/Dallas - I mean come on
Lakers/Houston?
Can you imagine a first round series with LA/LA. That would be awesome. How about a 2nd round playoffs with OKC, Memphis, LA, LA? A Chicago/Miami Eastern Conference finals?
The NBA playoffs are going to be better than freaking ever.
Can you imagine a 7 game series between the Thunder and the Heat for the NBA title? Yes, please.
By the way, the depth of the NBA is fantastic. Look at these potential 1st round matchups:
Miami/New York - Really in the first round?
Chicago/Boston - Last gasp
OKC/Denver - First to 130 wins
San Antonio/Memphis - Please
Clippers/Dallas - I mean come on
Lakers/Houston?
Can you imagine a first round series with LA/LA. That would be awesome. How about a 2nd round playoffs with OKC, Memphis, LA, LA? A Chicago/Miami Eastern Conference finals?
The NBA playoffs are going to be better than freaking ever.
And practically quit watching it during the Pistons/Bulls era. The Pistons made it so damn ugly and I just never felt like anyone was ever a true threat to beat Jordan so there was little suspense. I think today's NBA is better than anytime since the early 90's for me.
He can make a 3 whenever he wants to, got a mid range, and can get to the rim. He's incredible offensively. I still think he is behind Lebron as far as post up game, transition, and defensively. I know DHoward will probably get DefPOY every year until he retires, and rightfully so, but LBJ has got to be a close 2nd. He defended every spot on the floor last night. From 7' Camby to 6' Felton. He's playing all around as well as he ever has, and that includes when he was going for 35 a night in Cleveland.
The Playoffs are going to be awesome. The western conference is wide open. Obviously the Thunder are the favorites, but Durant has to go off EVERY night for them to have a chance. And theres the deal where Westbrook takes more shots than Durant on most nights because he has this "get mine" attitude. I think they'll prolly make it out of the West, the Clips might give them some trouble though, but I dont' think they have enough post presence/depth to beat Miami in a 7 game series. The Heat's depth is ridiculous this year. They have a second 5 that could make adecent NBA team-Norris Cole, Battier, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Dexter Pittman.
The Bulls are similar to the Thunder in that Rose has to go nuts for them to win a lot of games, and it's hard to do that for 4 games out of 7 when teams know that if they shut you down, then they're going to win.
The Playoffs are going to be awesome. The western conference is wide open. Obviously the Thunder are the favorites, but Durant has to go off EVERY night for them to have a chance. And theres the deal where Westbrook takes more shots than Durant on most nights because he has this "get mine" attitude. I think they'll prolly make it out of the West, the Clips might give them some trouble though, but I dont' think they have enough post presence/depth to beat Miami in a 7 game series. The Heat's depth is ridiculous this year. They have a second 5 that could make adecent NBA team-Norris Cole, Battier, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Dexter Pittman.
The Bulls are similar to the Thunder in that Rose has to go nuts for them to win a lot of games, and it's hard to do that for 4 games out of 7 when teams know that if they shut you down, then they're going to win.
Never said otherwise. But I think the 90s had better basketball players than today. Today's game has much better athletes as a whole.
A starting five of Stockton/Payton, Jordan, Pippen, Malone, Olajuwon/Shaq would embarrass today's All-Stars. The thing with that group is that they were all great defenders and could score as well. A bench of Kemp, Shaq/Olajuwon, Payton/Stockton, Grant Hill, Clyde, Miller, Ewing, anf Barkley could match up with them too. All of those outside of maybe Kemp will be Hall of Famers. And almost all of those guys played a significant part of their career against Larry Bird, who just missed making this list as he retired in 92.
As for Lebron, he is clearly the league's best player. He can score, defend, post, run point, run the floor, everything. He will be a first ballot HOF regardless of championships. And by the way, he may win a championship at an earlier age but not earlier in his NBA career.
Again, I like watching the NBA. But I think it has become a league of athletes moreso than basketball players. It certainly has some that are both, but it's not the trend.
A starting five of Stockton/Payton, Jordan, Pippen, Malone, Olajuwon/Shaq would embarrass today's All-Stars. The thing with that group is that they were all great defenders and could score as well. A bench of Kemp, Shaq/Olajuwon, Payton/Stockton, Grant Hill, Clyde, Miller, Ewing, anf Barkley could match up with them too. All of those outside of maybe Kemp will be Hall of Famers. And almost all of those guys played a significant part of their career against Larry Bird, who just missed making this list as he retired in 92.
As for Lebron, he is clearly the league's best player. He can score, defend, post, run point, run the floor, everything. He will be a first ballot HOF regardless of championships. And by the way, he may win a championship at an earlier age but not earlier in his NBA career.
Again, I like watching the NBA. But I think it has become a league of athletes moreso than basketball players. It certainly has some that are both, but it's not the trend.
And they are all for the most part are false. Technically the Thunder are a dual threat team with Durant and Westbrook being our main scoring options, but in actuality they are more of a 3 headed demon with Harden running the bench. There's a reason people feel he's the unanimous 6th man of the year.
Also, that's completely wrong that Durant has to go off for them to win big games. Say what you want about Westbrook but they need him to play the way he has. I'll be the first to admit that he's not a completely unselfish mainly because he will take bad shots almost every game, but he is not the ball hog that the media paints him out to be. I have absolutely no problem with him taking more shots than Durant when a majority of them are good looks. Another point that people fail to realize that for a scoring point guard he is in the top 10 of assist leaders and a majority of his assists go to Durant. There is no issue there like people want to believe.
Adding to that, they have some pretty decent role players that can get some key shots when needed in Cook, Sefalosha and now Ibaka who, might I add is the leading shot blocker. Depth is not an issue either. They're practically 3 men deep at every position. What other teams in the league do you know that can say that? The Heat may be more deep than they have been but in all close games they'll need 1 of LeBron, Bosch or Wade on the floor at all times and all 3 of them are starters. <div>
</div><div>ETA: Apparently my phone doesn't like new lines.</div>
Also, that's completely wrong that Durant has to go off for them to win big games. Say what you want about Westbrook but they need him to play the way he has. I'll be the first to admit that he's not a completely unselfish mainly because he will take bad shots almost every game, but he is not the ball hog that the media paints him out to be. I have absolutely no problem with him taking more shots than Durant when a majority of them are good looks. Another point that people fail to realize that for a scoring point guard he is in the top 10 of assist leaders and a majority of his assists go to Durant. There is no issue there like people want to believe.
Adding to that, they have some pretty decent role players that can get some key shots when needed in Cook, Sefalosha and now Ibaka who, might I add is the leading shot blocker. Depth is not an issue either. They're practically 3 men deep at every position. What other teams in the league do you know that can say that? The Heat may be more deep than they have been but in all close games they'll need 1 of LeBron, Bosch or Wade on the floor at all times and all 3 of them are starters. <div>
</div><div>ETA: Apparently my phone doesn't like new lines.</div>
I always thought Westbrook looks like he can pass as a relative of Quark from Star Trek. He and Reggie Miller both look like they could pass for a Ferengi.