Seven reasons why old school fans hate today's NBA!

[Hepcat]

And this fellow is only going back to the 1990's! Imagine what someone who remembers the NBA from the 1960's thinks.

What grates me the most these days is the lack of physicality in the paint and how players allow uncontested dunks. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and the "Bad Boy" Pistons would make sure that if you managed to dunk on them, you came away from the basket with bruised ribs. The players these days are all such pussies. Maybe it's because they're all player's union buddies.

[Buckalis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA5rjneqBKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ocqBqtaKC4

[Nemanja95]

I did'nt watch full Nba game few years. Right now, I m finished watching Spurs vs Suns 2007 . In big measure I watched Nba until 2012, since 2015 I watched so-so, until 2015 I don't watch at all .

Nba is reduced on few basketball elements, without any variations and differences by teams. So many shoots, so slowly pace, 1on1, pnr. Defense is decoration, nobody goes on offensive rebound, nobody play collectively .Why I should watch something like this ? Undoubtedly, Nba has many great players but there is no play. It`s just excellent players against other excellent players and other who is not excellent are decoration. On the other hand, there are so many players who made success in Nba who are disputable qualities.

That shows how much Nba makes false picture because there are not players against players and coach and coach club against club, but there is commercial fun in which result is not so important. Numbers and stats are almost equally important like results. Head league organization has almost surveillance on clubs and that becomes almost directed show. Knowing all that,interesting is how Nba keep looking on something good so many decades.

[Buckalis]

Before year 2000, NBA was an "anarchist" basketball game... USA's national team was loosing everywhere, they couldn't play defense, team defense was considered a "zone" and therefore illegal, they couldn't shoot, it was all depended on the player beating his opponent on an 1 to 1 opposition where the better player would of course win the battle, but the better team could still loose the game.

It was coach Pops after coming back from Europe who changed all that and brought the NBA back to lead basketball and be respected above all other leagues in the world... There is simply no comparison, today's NBA is worlds ahead of what the game looked like before 2000... Even the best teams would loose by 30+ points if it could happen and could meet one of today's NBA contenders...

If Giannis would have to play against an 1 to 1 defense where the defender isn't allowed to defend with "walls" or backing up players, who would then stop him from scoring more than 60 per game? ...It's all as simple as this!

[Katastroika]

Total opposite. Before year 2000 NBA US team had 0 losses - zero in total. In 1998 they played without NBA players due to lockout, 92/94/96/2000 0 losses. Real anarchist team before 1992 they lost because they played without NBAers. Actually they started losing with 2001 first time. Lithuania was close in 2000 to be honest
But that's it.

[Buckalis]

Total opposite. Before year 2000 NBA US team had 0 losses - zero in total. In 1998 they played without NBA players due to lockout, 92/94/96/2000 0 losses. Real anarchist team before 1992 they lost because they played without NBAers. Actually they started losing with 2001 first time. Lithuania was close in 2000 to be honest
But that's it.

Last win of the US team was 1996 in Atlanta... They then didn't see a win in a major tournament for 12 years until Pops returned from Europe and brought the (taught from his mentors Ivcovic and Obradovic) European culture of playing team defense... The team which was beaten by Greece during the 2006 World championship turnament had all Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James in the roster... Team US was beaten by their defense "eating" more than 100 points (for the 1st and only time in the US national team's history) in that game!

[Shawshank]

Last win of the US team was 1996 in Atlanta... They then didn't see a win in a major tournament for 12 years until Pops returned from Europe and brought the (taught from his mentors Ivcovic and Obradovic) European culture of playing team defense... The team which was beaten by Greece during the 2006 World championship turnament had all Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James in the roster... Team US was beaten by their defense "eating" more than 100 points (for the 1st and only time in the US national team's history) in that game!

Usa NT won Olympic games in 2000.

K.Bryant didnt played in 2006. Lebron and Carmelo was 21 and 22 old kids in 2006.

First time USA NT team collected from nba players was beaten in 2002.

1992-2001 nba players have 0 looses.

Pop was on the Usa bench when Usa NT lost in 2002,2004.

Usa in 2002-2006 didnt sended their biggest stars and lost.

In 2008 USA federation had enough of loosing and sended biggest stars K.Bryant,matured L.James with D.Wades and won 2008 Olympics.

You obviuosly dont know history go to wikipedia and youtube in order to stop writting here your own imaginations what really was happening in those years.

[Nemanja95]

Doesn't make sense estimate level of Nba into results of Usa nt. They were often not completed, elimination system, dependence of quality of other nt... For example, 2012 and 2021 were close to lose, but 2016 they were not close to lose. What tells us that ?

[Katastroika]

Doesn't make sense estimate level of Nba into results of Usa nt. They were often not completed, elimination system, dependence of quality of other nt... For example, 2012 and 2021 were close to lose, but 2016 they were not close to lose. What tells us that ?

I agree, it's always dependable on availability of top players (difference makers) like in every other team in the world. IN 2002 they had defensively extremely good team with top star Reggie Miller but this team was not made for dog fights and FIBA handball with ultimate 24 shot clock until last second. Even though they lost games and title I still think they were best team in the tournament back then but simply haven't had cohesion. For Americans it will be important to have proper preparation and availability of 2-3 top class players which should be enough in regular circumstances. Of course they can lose a game, they always can, but it should be enough.

[LuDux]

Make Stuff The Same As In Good Old Days Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zONvMKkIpwA

[Katastroika]

This video is often thrown around in similar discussions. After following NBA all this years I think that playoff defense is in all 4 last decades very strong and on edge of unsportsmanlike. It wasn't always like in Detroit-Chicago series that hardcore old school fans point out, but also in old days very good. Generally offensive talent rose and that's the difference in my opinion.

[Buckalis]

Make Stuff The Same As In Good Old Days Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zONvMKkIpwA

Exactly... Defense was a joke in the league before coach Pops (practically) introduced it to the NBA after coming back from Europe... The fact that team US won the 2000 Olympics and the dream team all major tournaments before that, doesn't change a thing... Team USA had to bring up all their Top All Stars and score from 100 to 150 pts a game to win the titles, defense was still terrible!

"Bring back the old NBA" is absolutely a laughable statement... Any of the "old NBA" championship teams would lose by 30+ from any of today's contenders in the league if there could be a game against each other... Players like Giannis, or Durant, or James (until a couple of years ago) would average 60+ pts a game against these defenses! LOL... Imagine Giannis driving at the rim with no "wall" to protect it? Who would stop him? Neither Batman or Superman plays basketball!

[Nemanja95]

Video is ridiculous. Jordan in any situations on video made great move . Except that, is not intelligent trying to prove and compare defense in different decades, with one video.

[Buckalis]

Video is ridiculous. Jordan in any situations on video made great move . Except that, is not intelligent trying to prove and compare defense in different decades, with one video.

Jordan and every other great player, made what he should... He "reads" the fact that the defense is full of "holes" and executes them... We don't question Jordan's abilities here... It's the luck of defense if one compares those days with today's NBA which is the subject. Would Jordan be able to score 30 against the defense of today's Heat, or Bucks, or Suns?

[Nemanja95]

Jordan and every other great player, made what he should... He "reads" the fact that the defense is full of "holes" and executes them... We don't question Jordan's abilities here... It's the luck of defense if one compares those days with today's NBA which is the subject. Would Jordan be able to score 30 against the defense of today's Heat, or Bucks, or Suns?

Jordan would be able to score 50. Defense in Nba has gone last 5 years.

Tactically defensive lacks are not used, Jokic is defensively disastrous , how is possible such defensive hole is Mvp? On other hand, Teodosic is obvious disadvantage in defense that been exploit in Europe.

Obviously, in Europe there are no better players in offense then in Nba, but in Nba play is simplified and disguised that every player do what he can in extent of frame who is wanted.