The players were more skilled-- except for thunderous dunking, of course! Check out some highlights on Earl Monroe or Dave Bing or Gus Johnson...
This has to be one of the most idiotic posts I've seen on this board. And if this is your thinking on the use of this meme, I think it's only working in your own mind.
let me guess: The less athletic a player is, the more skilled a player is. The players were less athletic back in the day. Therefore, the players were more skilled back in the day.
The players woudl be just as awesome today with modern techniques. Arguing that their skills wouldn't translate is like saying Isaac Newton was an idiot because he figured out something that all 5th graders know now.
It isn't right to compare what Elgin Baylor was doing to what players today do. Obviously, the game evolves. But clearly, from the video, he was a trailblazer. Its like watching a player transplanted from the future playing in the 50s/60s, with all those off-balance, hanging layups.
Elgin Baylor was the first modern small forward. He was the first that had the skills of ball handling of a guard and the leaping ability to play above the rim and score over the centers of his day. Baylor and Jerry West basically carried the Lakers to numerous finals appearences, but they were never good enough to beat the Celtics.
I like the analogy. Repped. People don't understand that it is pointless to compare players from different eras, especially if the generations are past thirty years apart. The advancements in nutrition, technology, and medicine, not even considering basketball strategies and techniques are things that people take for granted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYt4Er-vzQ0 Baylor is more athletic, and has more moves than Carmelo Anthony... EVEN AS HE WAS IN THE 60s He'd dominate today.
Strong statement, without basis of course. Baylor is pretty athletic and is pretty unorthodox in his manner of scoring. That's actually what you wanted to say.
From those highlights, I'd say he was very good at using his body to create space for a shot. The way he created contact in the post is very similar to the way McHale created space in the post. They both seemed to just catch their defender under them and lean in to the defender for a sort of turning hook. McHale's shot was more like a hook, but Baylor did the same thing -- catching his defender under his upper body on the turn-around -- except he wasn't taking hook shots, he was doing like a lean-in jumper. Impressive.
Let me clarify what I said. There were exceptions but most players in the 50s and 60s would get dominated today. The best player in the early 50s was Mikan. Guess what would happen to him in the modern era.... Of course modern training techniques would make them more athletic but a lot of those players did not have the natural athleticism necessary to even start today. They would be role players. Athleticism matters a lot in the nba. You can train to become more athletic but there is a limit. Some people are simply more naturally athletic/talented, etc. Also saying players in the 50s and 60s were more skilled is pretty baseless. The game was in its developmental stages back then. Field goal percentages were also downright pitiful.
If he was so awesome, why did it take him so long to win a championship? And why did he need to be on a team with 2 other HOFers (one was one of the best EVER to play)? And why the EFF did this "incredible" 70's player shoot 43% lifetime from the field? I guess 43% from the field was unearthly in the 70's...in the 90s and 2000s they're called Allen Iversons...yawn... The most shots he ever took in a season was FREAKIN 33 a game...Jordan's most ever shots per game was 27...how the eff did he get that many shots at a clip of about 43% when Jordans' was about 50%? It's pathetic how old dudes need to justify their teenage man crushes when they were growing up...seriously, the guys now a days are pretty decent players...no need to say "durrr...uh...my hero can beat up your hero...durrrr.." cmon guys...and by "guys" I mean Cavaliers FTW or whatever your past moniker was...
