What was it like?

[Amoo316]

Re: What was it like?

I dunno, the league may have been the best from the 80's to the mid 90s... but right now I think we're in the midst of another golden age of basketball. I was born in 86, so I was a little late for the glory days, but watching games on ESPN Classic, I don't see basketball being that much better as a whole. In fact, it was a less athletic game and the hard-nosed defense that so many say is missing in today's game wasn't really as physical as I'd expect.

I mean, I appreciate those days for what they were, but sometimes I feel the memories get better with age and somewhat blown out of proportion.

I think a fair comparison would be to compare basketball then and now to football then and now. Same story, games is less "violent", but the players are bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic.

I'm only speaking about in the way the game was played, nothing more, just referring to the physical nature of it.

[Amoo316]

Re: What was it like?

I think another reason why I appreciate that era more other than the real defense that was played back then is that everything back then was "real" as far as rivalries between teams and hatred that some players actually had for one another and then you look at today where rivalries rarely exist like they did then and that most of the players are all buddy buddy with each other now so that makes me appreciate that era/style of ball even more.

It's a tough call, would we rather see true blood hatred or Olympic teams every 4 years. I loved the rivalries just like everybody else, but I also enjoy the opportunity to see things like the "Redeem Team".

[BlueNGold]

Re: What was it like?

Okay, I just got done reading Bird's and Magic's book When The Game Was Ours, and I have also read Bill Simmons's basketball book. Now, I did not grow up on MJ's Bulls. Never got to see the Celtics-Lakers battles of old. So, as a humble young hoopster, what was it like as a fan, being able to watch such poetry on the court?

I'm in the same boat as you. This is why I cherish every moment I get to watch LeBron.

[Brock]

Re: What was it like?

I used to watch some Celtics-Lakers-Sixers highlights (they didn't air NBA games back then where I lived) during the early-mid 80's. I didn't know all the players and my brother used to explain me everything. I remember I was a big fan of Kareem and hated Bird. But one thing was certain back then: Boston was our ENEMY...LOL.

funny, because today it's the opposite...


As for MJ, I started watching his games during the 1989-1990 season and by the next season I watched every game that was aired. Since I lived far far away, I had to wake up in the middle of the night to watch NBA games. And so I did...even if I had a major exam the same day, work, army, you name it! MJ was more important than all that...haha, good times!

Good thing I found some great online forum with TONS of old NBA games (70's, 80's, 90's, 2000's), so I can re-live it. I'm gonna create my own collection of old NBA games.

Can you post the link for that forum?

[youvalss]

Re: What was it like?

Can you post the link for that forum?

I'll PM you soon...

[Brock]

Re: What was it like?

Appreciate it, thanks.

[youvalss]

Re: What was it like?

Let's see if it works... (just a random clip, haven't watched it yet)...

<object width="640" height="461"><param name="movie" value="http://www.megavideo.com/v/4899F6ZG6539b9eee3ccc1ab36910230e8661ce6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.megavideo.com/v/4899F6ZG6539b9eee3ccc1ab36910230e8661ce6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="461"></embed></object>

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: What was it like?

youvalss, it doesn't work.

[youvalss]

Re: What was it like?

youvalss, it doesn't work.

It does work for me. Press 'play' twice (when it's green it'll play).

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: What was it like?

ah yah, ok

[youvalss]

Re: What was it like?

Man, Mahorn and Aguirre were good!

[Rocky]

Re: What was it like?

I partially blame ABC/ESPN for the state the NBA is in today.

They're overreliance on two or 3 superstars have really hurt the rest of the league. Back in the 90's, they made terrible teams like Ron Harper's Clippers or Jimmy Jackson's Mavs seem exciting. Today, nobody knows who is the best player on the Hawks, Jazz, Raptors, etc.

[Brankles]

Re: What was it like?

I know it was just one clip but nothing from that stood out. The players were much skinnier, shorter and couldn't handle post players on defense (maybe the post players were better back then?)

And LOL @ Cartwright's FT's

[youvalss]

Re: What was it like?

I know it was just one clip but nothing from that stood out. The players were much skinnier, shorter and couldn't handle post players on defense (maybe the post players were better back then?)

And LOL @ Cartwright's FT's

Players weren't that much skinnier. They were wearing short shorts that made them look much much skinnier. Shorter? Not really. The post game was more physical. I could see some hard fouls called today that weren't even considered fouls back then. The game was more physical back then. Today, you get the ball in the post and it's 90% that a foul will be called... Not to mention that you can't put 2 hands on the player, not to mention that you can't really push the guy... Did you see players fighting for the ball in the post??? That would't happen today - "no fighting please...".

But yeah, LOL at Cartwright's FT's, I couldn't stand it back then and can't stand it now.

[SPTO]

Re: What was it like?

The basketball played in the '80s (a little before my time as far as watching the game) to about '93 (I started really paying attention in '91) was up and down basketball at its best. A team like the Suns of recent years would be in hog heaven except they'd get killed defensively. The thing was the rules were such that you had big bad teams like the Pistons throwing guys down when they'd go down the lane. You had a very rough brand of basketball played under the basket, most of what went on back then would warrant an ejection today.

You couldn't afford to be a weak willed team in that era you needed guys who would dish out the punishment and be prepared to take it as well. At times it wasn't the most pretty brand of basketball but it was gritty, hard edged and if you had the right teams on the court could be very exciting.

I know by the later '90s the game had gotten so slowed down thanks to coaches like Mike Fratello and that's what killed the game. Every team was using that slow down style in order to keep close with the top tier teams. Some of that had to do with the stars of the earlier era getting older, way TOO MUCH youth coming into the game who needed to learn the intricacies of the game and finally expansion that was crammed in a 5 year time period where guys with inferior skill were taking up roster spots.

Stern and Co. changed the rules TOO much and now we're left with a game where the majority of players are soft and complain bitterly if they're grazed much less taken down. You add in the fact that ESPN started focusing way too much on the flashy plays and players and you have a situation where we glorify ball hogs who can get away with just about anything on the court because the defense can't do anything.

We'll never see basketball the way it was played back in the '80s to mid '90s.