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Why Today's NBA Sucks!

by lcombs
16 replies
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I defy any NBA fan to watch this and still claim to be an NBA fan of how it's played today.

Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 – January 5, 1988) was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and played for three NBA teams until injuries forced his retirement in 1980. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game. (All of his accomplishments were achieved before the three-point line was introduced to NCAA basketball, and despite being unable to play varsity as a freshman under then-NCAA rules.[1]) Maravich died suddenly at age 40 during a pick-up game as a consequence of a previously undetected congenital heart defect. One of the youngest players ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Maravich was cited by the Hall as "perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history".[2] In an April 2010 interview, Hall of Fame player John Havlicek said "the best ball-handler of all time was (Pete) Maravich."

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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

      The Big O was my first favorite NBA player and the one I tried to copy the most. One of the biggest compliments I ever got was when my ex first saw an old clip of the Big O and said that my shooting form looked like his.

      As a kid growing up in Denver, the ABA holds a special place in my heart...Here's an old ABA'er:

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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        I have long stopped watching the NBA.

        Yes, the glory days are long dead and buried and I doubt that they will ever be
        coming back.
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        • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
          Its the shorts. longer shorts slow down modern player. too much extra weight on the thighs
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          • Profile picture of the author Josh Monroe
            Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

            Its the shorts. longer shorts slow down modern player. too much extra weight on the thighs
            I used to HATE the old style shorts.

            It was like one slip and BOOM your nuts would be hanging out :rolleyes:

            In comparison though, I've always wondered why World Peace seems to wear 'tighter' shorts than the others, if what you said is true, then thats probably the reason.
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
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  • Profile picture of the author lcombs
    These guys knew how to play the game!
    This isn't a one star and a supporting cast.
    If you need to, go back and watch Birds passes.
    Maravich's assists.
    Russel's determination and toughness.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
    Well, I am still a fan of the NBA. There are some great players around now who would have been great in any era. I don't see why you think the NBA "sucks" now. Because there were great players in the past?
    Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

    I defy any NBA fan to watch this and still claim to be an NBA fan of how it's played today.
    But, if we are going to talk about great players from the past I'll add Rick Barry to the discussion. he was a great shooter and an equally great passer. Being a Warrior fan since the late 60's he was a favorite of mine. I even shot free throws underhand in high school games sometimes.

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    • Profile picture of the author lcombs
      Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

      Well, I am still a fan of the NBA. There are some great players around now who would have been great in any era. I don't see why you think the NBA "sucks" now. Because there were great players in the past?

      But, if we are going to talk about great players from the past I'll add Rick Barry to the discussion. he was a great shooter and an equally great passer. Being a Warrior fan since the late 60's he was a favorite of mine. I even shot free throws underhand in high school games sometimes.

      Rick Barry - The Miami Greyhound - YouTube
      There are a few,very few, great players today. But, mostly, it's become a slam-dunk contest with a star player and 4 supporting cast.

      Jerry Lucas was another great one.
      In fact, it's his silhouette that's used as the NBA logo.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by lcombs View Post

        There are a few,very few, great players today. But, mostly, it's become a slam-dunk contest with a star player and 4 supporting cast.

        Jerry Lucas was another great one.
        In fact, it's his silhouette that's used as the NBA logo.
        Jerry West is The Logo.
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        • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
          My list of current great players in the NBA. ( Not in order )

          LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett.

          I think that's a pretty conservative list. I didn't list too many younger players who I don't think have quite earned the label "great" yet but there's probably another dozen who can reach that level with a few more good years and another group of very young players who might surprise and have great careers.

          There's more teams in the NBA now than in the past so the talent level may be diluted a bit but I don't see a big drop off really.

          here's another old timer I loved to watch:

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    IMO, the biggest difference between players today and the old school guys is today's players are more "athletic", meaning they can run and jump.

    But they are missing many of the old school skills, like the 15-20 ft jumper. I remember when Al Mcguire would announce college games and call a shot from the top of the key a "20 ft layup" because players used to hit it so often.

    Another big thing today's game is missing is skilled centers playing in the post. Forget about guys like Kareem and Wilt for a second...Centers like Dan Issel, Bob Lanier, Dave Cowens, Willis Reed, Artis Gilmore, a healthy Bill Walton, Moses Malone, Billy Paultz, Bob McAdoo, Wes Unseld would be the best centers in the NBA today. Today's "centers" think they're 7ft point guards.

    And whatever happend to the outlet pass like Walton and Unseld used to throw where they'd get the rebound and a split second later they hit the guard at half court with a bullet?

    What about the hook shoot? It's probably the most unstopable shot in the history of the NBA. Today, they all shoot a jump hook, but it isn't nearly as accurate and doesn't have the range of the old school hook. If I had a kid, he'd be shooting a hook shot with both hands from the time he was 5.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      Can't argue with any of that Kurt. I almost didn't list Howard because of his lack on offensive skills and with Shaq retired there aren't too many quality centers.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

        Can't argue with any of that Kurt. I almost didn't list Howard because of his lack on offensive skills and with Shaq retired there aren't too many quality centers.

        Shaq was a dominate force. But even with Shaq I remember how Akeem abused him in the NBA finals that year. Granted, Shaq was very young and became a much better player.

        People talk about how much more athletic players are today and Wilt didn't play against great athletes. But how many 7 footers today are border-line Olympic level high hurdlers like Wilt was? How many of them could block 7 of Kareem's sky hooks in a single game?

        I watched both Wilt and Akeem play against Kareem. Wilt was getting old, but if we just compare pure athleticism, Wilt was a much better athlete than Akeem even at that stage of Wilt's career, and Akeem was a great athlete, based on how they both looked against Jabbar. I never saw Akeem block a Kareem sky hook.

        There are some great players now, no doubt. But I'd take a player like Bernard King over Carmelo any day.

        As a purist, I blame a lot of it on dunking and the 3 point shot. Players spend too much time practicing both and not enough time on all the other aspects of their game.
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        • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
          Being a Warrior fan I saw Bernard King play a few hundred times on TV and several times in person. Great exciting player.

          Yep, again the center position is weak these days. Hey, don't forget to include Nate The Great Thurmond among those great centers of the past! Kareem used to say Nate played him better than anyone else.


          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post


          There are some great players now, no doubt. But I'd take a player like Bernard King over Carmelo any day.
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