I do think the physicality of the game was more prominent in the 90s, maybe the 80s a little more. I'm honestly confused here, but I thought this was basketball, not fight club. It's not really the players' fault, especially when its been something the league and consumers have wanted outlawed from the game. I have to agree with you, today's players are called soft, because the league makes them focus more on skill, finesse, and strategy, yet if they start giving to many hard fouls and fighting...people, especially fans, analysts, and critics start referring to them as thugs. C'mon now, over the last 16 years, the only players that have average 10 free throws or more per game are Durant, Harden, Howard, LeBron, Martin, Wade, Kobe, Iverson, Pierce, Arenas, O'Neal, Maggette, and Stackhouse. It topped out with Howard at 11.7, no point guards made that list, unless you count Iverson and Arenas. Talent is definitely heavier on the wings nowadays, than it was in 90s. http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/free-throws/sort/avgFreeThrowsAttempted/year/2000 Someone should ask Barkley, does he feel that he's a top 5 power forward of all time? See what his answer is, then someone should ask him should be rated lower, because he never won a championship. Oh vey, I think KJ is a fantastic NBA player, but to say he would dominate is stretching a little. More effective, yeah, but c'mon now. I like KJ and he does have superior point guard skills to Westbrook, but his overall athleticism pales in comparison. KJ had really good explosion, but Westbrook, maybe one of the most explosive point guards I've ever seen, along with Derrick Rose, Penny Hardaway, and Michael Ray Richardson. I never thought KJ possess that kind athletic dominance in his game, like those players did. You also have to take into consideration would he be playing against better individual defenders and zone defenses. To be honest about KJ, he was a tier below a player, like Penny Hardaway who was robbed of his athleticism with injury, I know the same thing happen with KJ, but Penny seemed like a more impactful player, more comparable to a McGrady, Carter, or even Kobe or Lebron, though with point guard skills. I agree with these two statements. It's no one's fault that the center position has kind of sucked for the last decade or so. It happens in every sports, there are always lull periods are particular position that make the position seem very mediocre. Prime example, the quarterback position around 1999-2004 and 1980-1984 was nothing to write home about until the influx of great QBs from particular drafts.
that's what I mean, they ran back then. I don't think they could run in today's NBA, the teams that run now have shooters from 1-5, they would just get outgunned.
Also, you have to look at the talent and athleticism, as well on a team, like Golden State or the Clippers. Bogut Lee Igoudala/Barnes Thompson Curry That team would be a nightmare defensively for the Barkley-led Suns. Going back to my other point, there's no way they'd beat a team, like the Lakers (Bynun/Gasol/Odom/Kobe) or Spurs. They didn't have the size to beat a team, like that and both team had more depth as well. The Pistons and Celtics would shut them down, thoroughly, similarly to how Chicago did. Focus mainly on KJ. I'm still laughing at Barkley, thinking one of his teams in Phoenix could beat a Miami-team. Essentially, the Suns had same weakness as the Heat did, and to lesser extent Chicago. Problem for Phoenix, they did not have a 3rd star, while the Heat have 3 stars who were elite scorers, versatile on the court, and very much, unselfish. Also, like Chicago, they play outstanding, eraser-level defense, and remember this is in age where rules tend to favor offenses. Another part, alot of people are missing, if a team is able to be a great defense squad, now, with more regulation against hand-checking, hard-fouls, and physical play doesn't it speak volumes of how great their team defense is in an era that supposed to favor high scoring. That's why I appreciate a teams, like the Spurs, Pistons, and Celtics, because they played dominant defense in an league that tried to abolish it.
It's your IMO, but to me it's stupid and probably more about hatred for Kobe than basketball. Lebron's playing with 3 superstars and the best supporting cast in the NBA. Until he wins a ring without D.Wade, he will never be in that MJ, Kobe class. It's only fair, Kobe did it without Shaq
Andrew Bynum (2007-2010) = top 3 center Pau Gasol (2007-2010) = top 5 power forward Lamar Odom (2007-2010) = one of the best 6th men in the league Phil Jackson (2007-2010) = Arguably, the greatest NBA head coach ever. Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) = Renowned defensive specialists Don't make it seem like Kobe was all on his lonesome.
Lebron has trouble with defenders in today's game being physical with him, you really think guys like Pippen wouldn't lock his azz up? Lmao. Man, Pippen in his prime would've given Lebron ALL TYPES of problems. Those little spells (like the one in last years finals) where Lebron loses confidence in his jumper, would greatly be exposed in the 90's. Today's game is almost made for guys like LBJ, KD etc...There is NO WAY KD comes in the paint during the 90's and doesn't get bruised. No way
Nobody can do it by they're lonesome, Kobe included. But the cast that LBJ has right now is BY FAR better than any cast Kobe has had. Bynum, Gasol were once allstar centers. Wade & Bosh were superstars before they touched Miami, Wade already lead a team to championship prior to LBJ. Shaq was the only HOF caliber player that Kobe played with in his 5 rings. LBJ currently has HOF players, but yet people use the whole,"but, but he had Shaq" against Kobe. It's as if Kobe's the only player that played with HOF players, just hatred smh
