I disagree. Maybe you need to go back and watch some old games. Players were pressured so much more in the backcourt with a hand on the hip during their trip up court than in todays game.
The video is silly. You can't take calls out of the context of the game and the recent histories between the teams. In the early 80's you'd see guys punching each other and stay in the game. Hand checking was not called much though Jordan got that call like he got a lot of superstar calls. Hell Jordan hand checked all the time, stuck that forearm out there or put his hand on the player's hip.
So you're saying... *increased* scoring happened due to *allowing* illegal defense ?? LOL, by accident, you said that. Keep in mind illegal defense opens up shooters because their defender's proximity (or lack of) isn't illegal.
Who cares? Ron Artest went into the stands and started a riot in 2004. Neither of these things was commonplace.
Reading is hard, don’t worry. What I said is that it took a long time for scoring to increase once they got rid of “illegal defense.” Meaning, it took teams years to adjust to seeing defenses more complicated than what we had in the 90’s. Which was, stand in front of the offensive player and defend with your hands... When they stopped allowing handchecking and starting allowing “illegal defense,” defenses got better. That was my point.
Yep. The myth is that today's NBA players don't care about playing defense. It actually takes a lot more skills and court awareness to play defense in today's NBA. It's not just about being rough and tough.
If you're using league scoring averages as your offensive measure, the largest year-to-year discrepancy in the past 20 years was '99 to '00 -- the first year handchecking was eliminated. League scoring *increased* by almost 6 points between these seasons. Coincidentally, 2000 also featured the most perimeter players in history Top 10 in scoring up until that point. The next closest scoring difference year-to-year past 20 years is less than 4 points and there's usually only ~1 point variance.
You’re ignoring my only point though. The Illegal defense rule changed in 2001. Obviously a response to the raised scoring averages caused by outlawing handchecking. The 2001 season saw averages drop 3 points, and the league didn’t reach triple degit averges until late into the decade. While the 90s averaged well over 100 ppg for the entire first half of the decade. And I’d argue that the late 90s scoring decrease came from the great stars of the 90s starting to age. Regardless, the 2000’s was the lowest scoring decade in modern nba history. The only decade that scored less was literally the 1st 10 years of the league.
So, the elimination of handchecking had a greater impact on scoring (6 points) than illegal defense (3 points). The 00s decade was the lowest scoring *before* illegal defense was eliminated but scoring gradually increased after its abolishment. There was no big mystery. Don't let Yao's limitations skew your viewpoint.
Your talking a one year major adjustment Vs a decade of results... and yes it gradually got higher because offenses are constantly adapting. You’re point on 3 pointers is undeniable, but I would argue that players started shooting a higher volume of 3s in response to more complex defenses that are far more difficult to penetrate against. It’s just so obvious when you go back and watch the actual games. MJ never saw the team defense that Harden and LeBron see... That’s just a fact!
Watch today's game, handchecking is alive and well - most players get handchecked when they make a move
Jordan had somebody in the paint waiting. More skilled shot blockers than today's league. Jordan averaged 20 points at age 40 without illegal defense.
If you're argument is that MJ was good, then I agree lol. However, if you can watch games from the 90's and think that the defense then was better than it is now, then theres no point in discussing it further.
What you're really saying is today's defenses are more complicated. I agree with that. However, complicated doesn't necessarily equal "better". I think -- and statistics show -- physicality affects defense more than schemes. Similar had happened football too where physically has been removed. Offenses, namely QBs, are ballin too.
The problem is, the statistics show the opposite lol. The whole “Lakers-Celtics beating the **** out of each other era” gave up close to 110 points a game over an entire decade! We’ve only just now gotten back to those numbers. And you pointed out the reason we are back to those numbers, guys can shoot 3s now! Imagine how much points those shitty defenses would’ve given up if Magic had a jump shot... I just don’t know how anyone could possibly think that anyone on the Bad Boys Pistons, for example, would have a chance in hell at stopping Harden, LeBron, Steph, Dame, Kyrie, KD, Giannas, etc.
And I have to address this statement a bit more... It simply couldn’t be more untrue. Think about the best defenses over the years. Most of them have a couple of players that aren’t considered plus-defenders. Meaning, a good defense is FAR more about communication, rotations, and scheme than about physical ability. Now, physicality obviously helps. Look at how we defended GS in the WCF... Yeah, we were really physical and that effected them, but what made the defense really successful was a commitment to a strict game plan that allowed for lesser “physically skilled” defenders to contribute to a really good defense. In the NBA especially... Offense is about physical skills and attributes. Defense is about commitment and scheme.
The FT disparity between 80s and current is another factor in raw point totals -- almost 6 attempt difference.
