Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

That's why I appreciate a guy like Nash. No real physical gift, but his shooting, passing, and vision is perfect.

[23]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

I'd call Dirk a skill player... I think he would've fit in that time simply because he's not a wingspan, althletic freak type guy and those are his tools

KG showed he could play with guys in the 90's...

LeBron, special talent for sure

I would love to see how much Tony Parker would drive in on guys like Darryl Dawkins and Rick Mahorn types... They would've had his head seperated from his body to the front row

[OSUFan_88]

Assuming they could stay in front of him.

[23]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

Tony parker aint the fast man alive.. there were plenty of fast players in the league

Karl Malone would've definitely taken him apart

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

Tony parker aint the fast man alive.. there were plenty of fast players in the league

Karl Malone would've definitely taken him apart

Karl Malone aint the toughest man alive either

TP doesnt get the ESPN highlights but hes one of the fastest with the ball youll see...

I think what often gets lost is the current NBA players didnt vote on any rules changes to make the game softer, they play with the rules they are given...

I have no doubt alot of the players could play back in the day and vice versa...

[23]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

Im not calling him tough.. Im just saying back then you weren't just going into the lane scratch free like they do now... at that time fast or not, guys got clocked and sometimes they were normal fouls, sometimes the play just went on

Coleangelo was one of the guys who voted for these kinds of rule changes Stern gave him the go ahead to help come up with when he was putting togther his new team in TOR

Im sure some guys could play in both eras, some...but the same effect might be a bit different with the rules, medicines, technological advancements, etc..

Still... Im pretty much on the same page as Alex Brady

[1Rose]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

Karl Malone aint the toughest man alive either

TP doesnt get the ESPN highlights but hes one of the fastest with the ball youll see...

I think what often gets lost is the current NBA players didnt vote on any rules changes to make the game softer, they play with the rules they are given...

I have no doubt alot of the players could play back in the day and vice versa...

I think there is one thing we can say for sure though, that the players today would definitely be affected by the physical nature in the game of the past, no?

I mean it really seems like no secret that players today are generally soft. I understand the rule change was not the players decision, but I think the players have become a product of that, there has been less emphasis on fundamentals and more on the perimeter isolation game because there is no penalty for playing that way. Back then, the way the game was called, being fundamentally sound as a team was virtually mandatory. A team with one superstar and running through him every play wouldn't fly back then. For instance the LeBron Cavs teams probably wouldn't win 35 games in the 80s.

I guess that the point I'm trying to make here, is that athletically yes, players may be better now, but I think the transition that they would have to make to play the game the way it was played in the 80s, not only from a physicality standpoint, but from a fundamentally sound standpoint, would be much more difficult for them, than it would be for a player from the past playing in today's game. If that makes sense.

I mean I hate to bring up this example but I have to. Look at Jordan, he was 40 years old and dropping 40 with ease in this era on guys half his age. It's not all about athleticism. You imagine him playing today in his prime? He would be literally unstoppable with the way the game is called today.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

I think the NBA is soft, definitely...but again, thats the system the players today are forced to play in, I cant fault them for that....its not as if the rules would have changed back in the 80s your players then wouldnt have adapted if put in the same situation....

I think the whole "fundamental" thing has taken on something its not and is way overblown as well....but I wont even get into that...

I know its a losing battle around to even suggest the players today could compete with their predecessors, so ill drop it, it sure would be interesting to see though...

[TMagic]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

You shouldve known the answer you were going to get from this when you started this thread Mag, LOL...

and thats not saying I disagree..

Oh I definitely knew. lol.

I was just really curious as to why people thought that way. As I was sitting here, watching old playoff games from the late 80's and 90's, I couldn't help thinking to myself about how much different players are now.



One thing I think is being far undervalued is athleticism. Being a better athlete than an opposing player is a huge advantage. It's the reason a guy like Andy Rautins gets picked far behind a guy like John Wall. Speed, quickness, agility, strength, leaping ability, etc, are major factors in the sport of basketball.

Why was Blake Griffin able to be so dominant in his first year playing? He had a far better year than Tim Duncan despite Duncan being much more skilled/polished.

Would anybody say that Dwight Howard is more skilled than Pau Gasol? No. But everybody would put Howard ahead of Pau. What separates the two? Howards athleticism.

Players start declining as they get older. It's not because they are losing their skills, intelligence, or fundamentals. The sharp decline in their play is the loss of athleticism.

It's huge in the game of basketball. And the NBA today is full of top flight athletes. This is probably the main reason after thinking about it and reading your guys' responses that I believe NBA players today are BETTER collectively than in any decade before.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

How is being undervalued when everyone has conceded the advantage players of today have is Athleticism?

[TMagic]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

I think the whole "fundamental" thing has taken on something its not and is way overblown as well....but I wont even get into that...

I know its a losing battle around to even suggest the players today could compete with their predecessors, so ill drop it, it sure would be interesting to see though...

I think so too.

This may be a VERY crude way to look at it. But playing ball, I'm not all that worried about matching up with an opposing guard that has great fundamentals. I can guard him all day.

The players that I struggle the most with are the ones who are crazy quick and can finish over the top of me, whether it be a jumper or a lay up. Then you give them space, and they can pop the jumper.

It's funny because since I've moved down here to Miami, at the gym I work at, I'm one of the better athletes anytime I play. And I can pretty much handle any guy that I guard.

But then there's always a time where another team has a good athlete and immediately, my teammates always say "you got him right?". lol

[TMagic]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

How is being undervalued when everyone has conceded the advantage players of today have is Athleticism?

It's being brought up, yes. But that's not the same as putting a high value on it.

We watch freaking wrestling most weeks, but that doesn't mean we think the show has really been on point Pack. lol

[RedSceptile]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

Why was Blake Griffin ableto besodominant in hisfirstyear playing? He had a far better year than Tim Duncan despite Duncan being much more skilled/polished.

I don't know about far better there numbers are comparable for the most part. Them when you consider Duncan did this all while playing beside David Robinson it's pretty astounding to consider his numbers were that good with a guy like that right beside him.

But yeah like Pack said pretty much everyone conceded the athleticism to this generation. Athleticism can only take you so far because once you start to break down no one cares that you were once one of the fastest from end to end on the court. That's why Kobe had aged so well, he had world class athleticism in his younger days but he honed his skills (specifically that deadly post game) to a point where once he slows down (which he will) he can still be effective.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

I don't know about far better there numbers are comparable for the most part. Them when you consider Duncan did this all while playing beside David Robinson it's pretty astounding to consider his numbers were that good with a guy like that right beside him.

But yeah like Pack said pretty much everyone conceded the athleticism to this generation. Athleticism can only take you so far because once you start to break down no one cares that you were once one of the fastest from end to end on the court. That's why Kobe had aged so well, he had world class athleticism in his younger days but he honed his skills (specifically that deadly post game) to a point where once he slows down (which he will) he can still be effective.

Bingo.

10 Char

[AlexBrady]

Re: Are The Current Generation Of NBA Players The Most Talented/Skilled We've Seen?

Oh I definitely knew. lol.

I was just really curious as to why people thought that way. As I was sitting here, watching old playoff games from the late 80's and 90's, I couldn't help thinking to myself about how much different players are now.



One thing I think is being far undervalued is athleticism. Being a better athlete than an opposing player is a huge advantage. It's the reason a guy like Andy Rautins gets picked far behind a guy like John Wall. Speed, quickness, agility, strength, leaping ability, etc, are major factors in the sport of basketball.

Why was Blake Griffin able to be so dominant in his first year playing? He had a far better year than Tim Duncan despite Duncan being much more skilled/polished.

Would anybody say that Dwight Howard is more skilled than Pau Gasol? No. But everybody would put Howard ahead of Pau. What separates the two? Howards athleticism.

Players start declining as they get older. It's not because they are losing their skills, intelligence, or fundamentals. The sharp decline in their play is the loss of athleticism.

It's huge in the game of basketball. And the NBA today is full of top flight athletes. This is probably the main reason after thinking about it and reading your guys' responses that I believe NBA players today are BETTER collectively than in any decade before.

Athleticism plays a part. Function, toughness, heart, commitment and understanding are crucial as well.

Blake Griffin played better than I expected but he didn't dominate (unless that bar has been lowered). His defense was pitiful, his post moves robotic, and his rebounding purely dependent on athleticism. If he wants to become a truly great player he should focus on footwork, boxing out, screening, and cutting.

I would actually rate Gasol ahead of Howard. Better passing, handling, footwork, post moves, and awareness. Howard is a terrific rebounder and shot blocker but his game is less than meets the eye.

Many players have to retire because their bodies can't take the pounding any longer. Wear and tear on the back, knees, feet, ect. Thats precisely what happened to Tim Duncan (who was a non athlete to begin with).