Why are the classic teams so popular?

[tomriddle]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

For me it's a combo. I'm 44, and that's when Basketball was at it's peak for me. All of those classic teams are ones I watched during my heyday. To replay all of those classic battles is priceless to me. The irony is that I'll probably play those games more than Association, my normal favorite mode. I can't see myself wanting to play with the Cavs a whole season, and I'm not gonna hop on the bandwagon and take my talents to South Beach! Maybe I'll do the Pacers, they are only 1 1/2 hours away......

do an association incorporating the classic teams in there

1, 2, 4 classics or all of them

dont matter none the options are tremendous right now

hell replace your sucky cavs with the classic cavs team!

[sniperhare]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

I don't care for them, but I've only in the last year or two started playing basketball games or watching any.

[statum71]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

I don't care for them, but I've only in the last year or two started playing basketball games or watching any.

Well thats why you can't appreciate it. Because you missed the good 'ol days. LeBron, Kobe, Wade or anybody against one another today just can't measure up the those classic Bird/Magic showdowns.

[RonnieG]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Hands down the NBA was better back in the 80s and 90s. Today the league is full of prima donnas who will play for the highest dollar.

In the 80s you had the following rivalries:

Lakers/Celtics

Bulls/Pistons

Pistons/Lakers

Hawks/Cavs

Pistons/Celtics

In the 90s you had:

Bulls/Knicks

Bulls/Pacers

Knicks/Pacers

Sonics/Blazers

Rockets/Knicks

Rockets/Hawks

I mean hell it was too many rivalries to name. Jordan against Bird. Bird & Magic. Hakeen & Ewing. Hakeem & Moses Malone. Parish & Kareem. Jordan & Reggie Miller. Malone & Rodman.

Seriously in the regular season it was intense, but came playoff times you knew somebody was going end up with stiches before the series was over. They actually battled.

Took more skill back then to play. Now they got zone defense, a shorter 3pt line, ticky tack fouls.

Add the Knicks and Heat to the list of rivalries from the 90s.

[BearClaw]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

I wasn't alive for most of the good rivalries but the this films I've been showed from my coaches and family really show how difficult it was to play back then. Players getting clotheslined on the fastbreak, intentional elbows in the paint and just the raw emotion was so enjoyable to watch. Now players can get a technical for even approaching a ref after a foul no matter how your tone/disposition is when talking to them. One can only imagine how many players Joey Crawford is going to eject this year if the rule holds up through the preseason.

[RonnieG]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Overall, I like the 80s and 90s better. But there are some things I like about today. For example, I like that the game has become less about 2 man isolations. I like that it has opened up the floor and given space to perimeter players.

But there are things I dont like. One, is that the new rules make comparisons to players from that era apples and oranges. I think if Jordan played in a league where there was no handchecking and didnt allow defensive 3 seconds, he could score more than 50 pts per game. Yes, I think Jordan is THAT much better than anyone playing now. Olajuwon might have been the best center in the history of the NBA and he rarely gets proper acknowledgment because he played during the same time Jordan did.

One thing I like about the 90s is that it truly was a man's game. But this all can be linked back to one game where Jordan went off for 59 pts against the Pistons and Daley realized he had to try something different. So he ratcheted up the defensive intensity so much that the Pistons of the late 80s redefined what a foul was. Of course, the referees had to go along with this, which they did. Simply put, the style of play that the 90s are known for came about because Jordan was simply too hard to stop. And the end result was the league looking the other way on a lot of contact that was never remotely tolerated in years before or since. And the cool thing about it is that even though Jordan knew the Pistons (and later the Knicks) were going to try to annihilate him when going into the lane, he never backed down. He stuck his nose in there over and over and took it as a challenge instead of crying to the league. Again, it was a man's league back then. So, when you achieved statistical excellence back then with the level of contact that was allowed, it meant more.

Essentially, it was the players of that era who made it appealing. And when a lot of them started to retire, you had a mixed bag of Euros and 19 year olds getting a lot of playing time and so it became a challenge maintaining the same level of play with that level of contact. And you started seeing more and more games that were 72-75. The skill and polish was no longer there offensively.

And so they changed the rules opening up the game, especially for perimeter players. After they cracked down on hand checking, and opened up the game--ie after the rules changes around 5 years ago-- the FG%s increased at every distance on the floor. And this makes comparisons skewed.

Jordan never played in an era where there was no handchecking.

I realize its about other past greats like Magic and Bird and its not only about Jordan. But Jordans a huge part of this nostalgic pull whether its for him or the style of play the 90s were known for.

But also, like many have said, players back then didnt like each other and they didnt apologize for it. They werent manipulated into pretending to like someone because someone might call them a "*****". No. Magic and Bird didnt like each other for most of that rivalry. And when Isiah tried to freeze Jordan out in the 85 all star game, it was a mistake Isiah paid for 7 years later when Jordan froze him out of being on the Olympic team.

[todd_10]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

I just love the fact you get to play as part of history. The Bulls teams from back then, Celtics, and Lakers too, there's so much prestige behind those teams from that era.
It doesn't hurt that the G.O.A.T's in there either

[statum71]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Add the Knicks and Heat to the list of rivalries from the 90s.

The only bad thing is the NBA wants their games "cleaned up" for lack of a better term.

The Heat and the Knicks were fouling hard, almost coming to blows, technicals, coaches storimg the floor... it just goes on. And thats what made it great to watch.

It would be nice if some that intensity could be in the game. But I know they gotta keep that "E for everyone" rating.

[Romeclone]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Just to add one more thing. I thing for me, one of the reasons I like the old teams so much is how well it's done.

When I first heard about it, I was not too fired up about it, after playing the game it's just WOW.

They nailed it, they got not only the signature moves down for MJ but also went so far to get down the other stars and even guys like Bill Cartwright lol.

They also did the arenas soooo well. It's great to play in the old Memorial Coliseum in Portland with the white paint and the old forum in LA and of course the REAL madhouse on Madison, Chicago Stadium. It just would not have felt right playing with those teams in the Staples Center with all the flashy scoreboards and such. Well done 2k.

[pantherp]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

For me its a combination of both. Watching basketball in the late 80's and 90's I loved the rivalries and the unique identities of each team. Every team was different and you knew coming in what you were going to get. If you played the Knicks you were in for a physical, brutal beat down. The Warriors were going to run you up and down the floor, and don't get me started on the Lakers. I played Tecmo Basketball religiously back in the day and I always download the classic rosters people post on 2K Share. Now that we can play some of those teams right out of the box, life is good! Now if we could get a retro version, say of any year between 85-99 I will throw out every other game in my library.

[statum71]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Just to add one more thing. I thing for me, one of the reasons I like the old teams so much is how well it's done.

When I first heard about it, I was not too fired up about it, after playing the game it's just WOW.

They nailed it, they got not only the signature moves down for MJ but also went so far to get down the other stars and even guys like Bill Cartwright lol.

They also did the arenas soooo well. It's great to play in the old Memorial Coliseum in Portland with the white paint and the old forum in LA and of course the REAL madhouse on Madison, Chicago Stadium. It just would not have felt right playing with those teams in the Staples Center with all the flashy scoreboards and such. Well done 2k.

I agree. And just to think...my boy is a Laker fan. And he didn't even notice it was The Great Western Forum. I'm like what??????

That is the FIRST thing I noticed about the old Lakers. That legendary old building. After that I went straight to see the old Boston Garden.

[BattalionBlazer]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Gotta go with both.

[DustinT]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

You see the Sonics anywhere else in the game? Nope.

[Humble_Thyself]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

Both.

But really, it's refreshing to roll with some classic guys after playing 2k10 into the ground with the current rosters.

I still haven't even played outside of the Jordan challenges. I'm having too much fun dominating with Jordan, practicing the variety of plays the Bulls run from 86 to 98 in scrimmage mode, and then strategizing ways to tear up my opponent.

It's a blast running up against Drexler, Stockton, Kemp, Bird, Nique...loving it.

[statum71]

Re: Why are the classic teams so popular?

You see the Sonics anywhere else in the game? Nope.

I think that Glove-Shawn Kemp team was 'bout the best they ever had.