Fun fact: Our team which is seen as fast-paced, run and game type basketball with 106.2 PPG would be: 20th in 85-86 18th in 86-87 (second to last in Western Conference!) 15th in 87-88 (second to last in Western Conference!) 18th in 88-89 & 89-90 14th in 90-91 11th in 91-92 10th in 92-93 5th in 93-94 & 94-95 Just shows you in an era where most of the best defense was being played, the offensive talent was off the charts!
Defense was actually worse the further back you go. Teams today have extensive scouting reports and watch a lot more tape. Just like how technology improves with time, so does defense.
This. Coaches will from time to time openly joke about this. It's pretty tough to watch games from the 80's back for this reason.
Rockets at ~97 possessions per game. #1 in the 2013, DEAD LAST in 1986. Denver led the pace that year at 106 possessions per game. Seriously, this is one case where you do have to watch the games to understand its evolution through the years. Compared to back then, the D'Antoni suns look like the prime Spurs/Pistons of the last decade.
