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Harlem has the '90s NBA pegged, tbh. Anyone who watched the Fratello-era Cavs and those Knicks-Heat 72-68 "thrillers" should be able to attest to how ugly the game was played back then.
Iso ball was a product of the rules primarily. About half the league had a dominant low post scorer as their primary option.
Harlem has the '90s NBA pegged, tbh. Anyone who watched the Fratello-era Cavs and those Knicks-Heat 72-68 "thrillers" should be able to attest to how ugly the game was played back then.
Payton was one of the best defensive player I've seen to be honest. The year he won DPOY, I still vividly remember his intensity. I'm not even exaggerating, he was really a lock down player. He was so crafty and he knew how to aggressively front players without fouling much. When GP stole a ball, it's usually a clean swipe.
And someone correct me, but I don't think he has above average wingspan.
94-98 was just horrible IMO. Once the 96 Rookie class started picking up steam though, the league slowly but surely became more entertaining again, then VC took the league by storm. 2000-2003 IMO was the peak. We got a healthy mix of up and coming players and remnants from the previous legendary talent pool all sharing the same stage.
I'd love to see Payton go 1 on 1 with Patty Mills in a full team game, tbh, would be fun to watch and a pretty even matchup IMO..
Malik Hairston aka Harlem is right sons. Do you watch the hardwood classics on NBA tv? PGs dribbling the ball like they are WNBA players, 10 players tangled toghether on the key, 18 foot jumpers being celebrated like three pointers, some of the most awful shooting mechanics ever seen.
I like Defense. So naturally I prefer the 90's. When I was a young booger eater I enjoyed the 'And1' tour. This is what the NBA has "evolved" into.
Gary was a physical defender, but he played in an era where you could grab, talk all game long to try to get into the other's player head, etc, without repercussions.
Many top defensive players of the time were the same (see our own Bruce).
A lot of those guys likely would be average defenders in today's game or foul out constantly, without having the shenanigans available in their toolchest. Defending today has a lot more to do with being smart about reading offenses, timing, reflexes, athleticism, etc. In other words, more skills based, IMO...
So today's offensive players have it easy
They would struggle in the 90s but today's rules make it easy for them to stat pad
Today's NBA is gay and soft
Yup. I have never seen or heard a player Pre 2005 state that the NBA today is tougher or more difficult.
'90s basketball
You literally do not have to have any fundamentals in today's game. It's all about dunks and alley oops.
I don't know about 'easy', you have much more athletic beasts now that you had back then. The game has evolved a lot offensively, and the 3 point game has become more prominent. Most teams have moved into a more modern NBA offense, with ball movement, stretch 4, etc. Some teams are still stuck with old systems, players and coaches that haven't moved on, and find themselves regularly in the lottery.
It's much more difficult nowadays to be called a 'great defender', which really only means you're getting the best of the best. Back then, a lot of guys that couldn't shoot or pass, were good enough to grab, push and find their niche as a 'lockdown defender'. You can see nowadays that's an extinct type of player (Tony Allen might be the last one). You need to be able to shoot or, at least, understand the team game and offense.
The 90s NBA teams and players were very fortunate to not have YouTube, Twitter, forums, etc, tbh..
It has given them an undeserved mystique and aura, when in reality, it was some of the worst basketball you'll ever see..
Today's fans complain about OKC and their lack of offensive creativity, yet they play the same style that virtually every single elite team in the 90s played
The majority of the 90s was teams that looked like the Indiana Pacers of the past 2 years, the same Pacers that today's fans complain about
Today's fans have been spoiled by the wizardry and ball movement of the Spurs and Lebron Heat..they complain about teams like OKC and Indiana and their lack of a system, but that's the only style that 90s teams knew how to play
Truth nuke tbh
I'd say the 2000-2010 was a tougher era.
Not really. The problem is just that some teams are slow to adapt. The cream of the crop the last few years (San Antonio, Miami, even the '11 Mavs), all had great ball movement, good defensive schemes adapted to their personnel, etc. Teams like OKC, Clippers, Warriors, your Rockets have the talent but not the system (yet), and are only one step away. I'm sure they'll eventually figure it out.
These athletic beasts lack fundamentals. Dwight is the best C by default. The SG position is extinct. Power Forwards would rather shoot jumpers than bang in the post and rebound
Harden has zero fundamentals, especially on defense, yet you ride his
Yet you say this is a tougher era
Harden has zero fundamentals, especially on defense, yet you ride his
You never had to have any fundamentals to play in the NBA. You did it you wanted to compete however. Dunks and alley oops don't win les, but there are 16 teams every year that never play past the regular season. That's a lot of dunks and alley oop demand.
One player =/= an entire eraYet you say this is a tougher era
What fundamentals are you talking about? Back in the day, the shooting mechanics were way worse, there was no ball movement, low-iq, iso-only offense was the standard...
GAME SET AND MATCH
my nuggrah
Plus, defensive fundamentals weren't a requirement as so many players got away with hacking, grabbing, and hard-fouling and calling it "defense"....
About the only thing the '90s has over this era fundamental-wise is post play, and even then, there's still players with very good post games in today's league....
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