Dawn of a new era?

[Wootabilitydotcom]

Re: Dawn of a new era?

I really only have one point to make in this thread and that is this:

The Jordan Rules - in today's NBA, all 5 of Detroit's starters would foul out by halftime. If you argue that, you truly do not watch professional basketball.

There is no denying that the defenses back in the old NBA were MUCH more physical than today's and that physical play was allowed and accepted. Zone defense was only implemented in the NBA when hand-checking was disallowed. Dirk Nowitzki is a strong candidate for MVP this year. If he played in the mid-80's, he'd be a good player that never played up to his potential because he couldn't handle the physical play.

[Sarah]

Re: Dawn of a new era?

I really only have one point to make in this thread and that is this:

The Jordan Rules - in today's NBA, all 5 of Detroit's starters would foul out by halftime. If you argue that, you truly do not watch professional basketball.

There is no denying that the defenses back in the old NBA were MUCH more physical than today's and that physical play was allowed and accepted. Zone defense was only implemented in the NBA when hand-checking was disallowed. Dirk Nowitzki is a strong candidate for MVP this year. If he played in the mid-80's, he'd be a good player that never played up to his potential because he couldn't handle the physical play.

Kind of like John Stocton and Nash. Stockton only won 1 MVP and he has to share it with Malone, while Nash won 2 back to back MVP. But it doesn't necessarily translate that Nash is way better than Stockton. But then if you have a Jordan or an Olajuwon in your era to compete with for the MVP award, good luck getting some.

[amra01]

Re: Dawn of a new era?

I think you're overrating that a little bit. Players are far quicker, longer, and athletic than now. I mean you got Branden Wright who's gonna be the #3 pick in the draft and his best attribute is that he's "long"......and players like that still have a hard time guarding the Kobe's, T-Mac's, and Carter's. Dream didn't have to deal with the double teams from all angles and all ends of the court and he didn't have to deal with these pseudo zones. I'm not saying he wouldn't be dominant in the L today, but he would be stoppable.

And I think you're stats are skewed a bit. It's extremely unfair to compare career averages to HS guys who sat on the bench.

Hakeem had double and triple teams all the time in his career, especially when he got his two rings but the team was build around him you couldn't let kenny smith or the other guards alone they would reign 3s all night. And he wasn't a Shaq type of player he could make this hooks around the basket and had a very decent jump shot near the basket had the quick spin offs etc etc he would be more dominant than ever today with his quickness and agility.