Who thinks this NBA season will be cancled ?

[sweeeeet]

Well he took Orlando to the playoffs all by himself. That team really had nobody if you think about it.

Kidd is proof that you don't need to be the most athletic person to win a ring. But smart. That's why lebron is going to finish his career with no ring. Cause he's a dumb athletic player with no class.

Nothing wrong with football I was simply making a comparison lol. For example in the jets, they have two great cbs , revis and cromartie. Although cromartie is far more athletic revis is a far better player because he's smart.

kidd isn't a good example he never won a ring... he just helped win one... there's guys at the bottom of the bench w rings even though they had little contribution

I will agree that lebron is a bum that wont win... he plays for his ego.. sportscenter highlights and money (don't say he took less money in Miami... he didnt... Miami has no income tax)



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[sweeeeet]

id say the only team in the last 20 years to win a championship with solid team play that had no superstars were the 04 pistons... just smart players... hard workers .. heady basketball.. every piece fit .. but since or before then every team needs at least one superstar and in some cases 2 or 3

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[OneTenderRebel]

I am not buying the players were smarter "back then" argument. I think everyone wants to think the players back then were smarter to make them look better after the fact. Are the current group of NBA players a bunch of selfish thugs who just happen to be extremely good at basketball? Yes! but that doesn't mean they don't have basketball IQ. Players right now could go back to any point in time and just dominate. And by no means am I a youngin who has only seen the current crop of players play. I remember Jordan, Magic, Bird for the last 7 or 8 seasons. Now if those players had the same technology the players have today it would be a different story. Right now though, IMO, most starters in the NBA would have been stars even in the early 90's. I am not saying they would be Jordan or anything but the players now just have too much available to become better players.

[LegalAmerican]

You don't have to buy it. It's true whether you "buy it" or not. Your age also doesn't matter. What matters is your understanding of how the game is played now compared to back then. For example, back in the 90's, offense was a lot more complex and required deeper thought and focus. The offense in today's NBA is all about who can jack up the quickest three if you don't immediately get a dunk or layup off a fast break. I think Michael Jordan in his prime could own anyone in todays NBA except MAYBE Kobe Bryant. He would put up the best fight and then it would be LeBron. After those two, the talent drops off considerably. Obviously the athleticism is higher today than it was back then, but I don't think that overpowers mental stamina or basketball IQ.

Everything I just posted is relative to a hypothetical one-on-one situation. And that is where todays stars would stand the best chance. You put the teams from today against the teams from the 90's, and today's stars stand a lesser chance. Each starter on those teams in the 90's knew their role and did it. And they were good at it. Teams were deeper then, but the lesser known names weren't as respected because what they did wasn't considered spectacular. They were just doing what was expected. If they did the same things today, it would stand out more because it would appear more out of the ordinary. And i'm sorry, but I can name many many starters in today's NBA that would be on the inactive rosters of the 80's and 90's. No way in heck does someone like Tyler Hansborough start on the Celtics, Knicks or Lakers of the 80's. Or the Bulls, Heat, Knicks, Suns and Jazz of the 90's.

Obviously we will never know for certain because the totally different play styles. However it's fun to talk about the "what-if's" and such.

[OneTenderRebel]

You should read Bill Simmons "Book of Basketball" The players back then were not any smarter than they are today.

[LegalAmerican]

Okay let go of the "smarter" aspect for just a second and consider talent or other aspects. They weren't any more male back then than they are now either but that isn't the only thing we're discussing. I think the players today could be every bit as smart but have a lesser basketball IQ. (street smarts vs. how to play the game). But regardless of that, think of Pistol Pete Maravich averaging 44.2 ppg in college against opponents that were known for their defensive talent. Then think of Michael Jordan and how he could shake the best of defenders with ease and then rise up to hit the shot. Then consider Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy, or John Stockton seeing everything a defense had as they brought the ball up court. I honestly think Dominique Wilkins could beat Vince Carter in his prime, and I think they are super comparable.

[OneTenderRebel]

Okay let go of the "smarter" aspect for just a second and consider talent or other aspects. They weren't any more male back then than they are now either but that isn't the only thing we're discussing. I think the players today could be every bit as smart but have a lesser basketball IQ. (street smarts vs. how to play the game). But regardless of that, think of Pistol Pete Maravich averaging 44.2 ppg in college against opponents that were known for their defensive talent. Then think of Michael Jordan and how he could shake the best of defenders with ease and then rise up to hit the shot. Then consider Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy, or John Stockton seeing everything a defense had as they brought the ball up court. I honestly think Dominique Wilkins could beat Vince Carter in his prime, and I think they are super comparable.

Yes but you are taking the creme of the crop there. The average NBA player today could go and be a star at any other time period, not saying they would be the best. There will always be freak athletes that can transcend generational lines but players back then were not as in shape, didn't dedicate as much time (for the most part, some did), didn't have the tools afforded to them that current players do. You listen to any older player talk about current players and most of them will flat out say these guys are playing the game at a higher level than ever before.

[LegalAmerican]

Yes you are right there. I can certainly agree on that. I guess i'm trying to take the cream of the crop from each generation. I know that Stockton could destroy Mario Chalmers, and that isn't a fair comparison. I'm trying to compare Stockton to Chris Paul, Magic Johnson to Deron Williams, Jerry West to Paul Pierce, 'Nique to Vinsanity, MJ to Kobe or LeBron, etc......

I also apologize if my passion for the game comes off as more of an argument than a debate. I intend no offense to anyone and I just want to make that clear. But I do agree with you that some players can certainly transcend generations. I also think I will read that book you suggested because I love to read about the game. Thanks for the suggestion.

[OneTenderRebel]

Yes you are right there. I can certainly agree on that. I guess i'm trying to take the cream of the crop from each generation. I know that Stockton could destroy Mario Chalmers, and that isn't a fair comparison. I'm trying to compare Stockton to Chris Paul, Magic Johnson to Deron Williams, Jerry West to Paul Pierce, 'Nique to Vinsanity, MJ to Kobe or LeBron, etc......

I also apologize if my passion for the game comes off as more of an argument than a debate. I intend no offense to anyone and I just want to make that clear. But I do agree with you that some players can certainly transcend generations. I also think I will read that book you suggested because I love to read about the game. Thanks for the suggestion.

Took no offense at all, I also love basketball, sports in general for that matter. Simmons tries to use some theories on how to actually compare players of yesterday to today, it's obviously his opinion but he does as good a job as I have read. It would be amazing to be able to truly compare players though! How bout it science?????

[alboboy10]

Today the game is filled with idiot show offs and back then there was smart superstars.

We live in a time where lebron is the best. Lol! Lebron wade and bosh supposedly the best players in the game (all lack a brain) lost to a team filled with ancient stars and couple mediocre players.