And it's not so much the players (which there was an amazing run of great ones with off the chart BB IQs from the late 70's to mid 90's) it's the game itself. When it comes to best on best, I believe if you took today's stars and transplanted them into '88 with their current mentality and understanding of the game, they get murdered. If players from '88 got transplanted into today's game it would take some adjustment, but them integrating into today's game would be far easier. If you took away the 3 point line, it would be a bloodbath. They just had so many more tools in their chest, especially when it came to shot creation, shot selection, craftiness and moves within 15 feet.
So much of the game today has stripped players of the things that made players great a long time ago. The rules make it far too easy for today's scorers to (or rather 3 point specialists) get their shots off. The rules reward players for initiating contact that often doesn't exist. This is big. It basically neutered fundamental defense. And ton of problems stem from this. The long and short of it is that players are essentially playing the BB version of pass skeleton in today's pace-and-space game.
There are obvious modern players that would have been great in any era. Statistically that has to be true. But there are sooooooo many players who have bloated statistics today, and would likely have been average in the early 90's because today's game rewards their raw athleticism without challenging their toughness, creativity and versatility. Today's games showcases strengths 10 times more than it exposes deficiencies.
One one hand there would probably be no place in the leage for guys like Michael Cooper and Dennis Rodman today. On the other hand, a fringe super star like Chris Mullins, and fringe all star like Detlef Shremph would have stats bloated far beyond their ability in a league that doesn't come close to equally rewarding effort on offense and defense.
Another way to think about this is I have a very good idea of how players with a wide range of differing skills from each other, like Nique, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Jeff Hornacek and John Stockton would translate into today's game... but I have ZERO clue how Trae's game or even Steph's would translate into the game in '88. They would definitely spend more time on the floor and less time at the free throw lines... and I don't think I'm being unfair when I say that.
And for the record, I wouldn't dare make the same comparisons about football, soccer or baseball. Boxing? Absolutely.
What say you Herb? I know which way this argument would be skewed, but I'd like to read your thoughts on my supposition.
@elevator
So much of the game today has stripped players of the things that made players great a long time ago. The rules make it far too easy for today's scorers to (or rather 3 point specialists) get their shots off. The rules reward players for initiating contact that often doesn't exist. This is big. It basically neutered fundamental defense. And ton of problems stem from this. The long and short of it is that players are essentially playing the BB version of pass skeleton in today's pace-and-space game.
There are obvious modern players that would have been great in any era. Statistically that has to be true. But there are sooooooo many players who have bloated statistics today, and would likely have been average in the early 90's because today's game rewards their raw athleticism without challenging their toughness, creativity and versatility. Today's games showcases strengths 10 times more than it exposes deficiencies.
One one hand there would probably be no place in the leage for guys like Michael Cooper and Dennis Rodman today. On the other hand, a fringe super star like Chris Mullins, and fringe all star like Detlef Shremph would have stats bloated far beyond their ability in a league that doesn't come close to equally rewarding effort on offense and defense.
Another way to think about this is I have a very good idea of how players with a wide range of differing skills from each other, like Nique, Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Jeff Hornacek and John Stockton would translate into today's game... but I have ZERO clue how Trae's game or even Steph's would translate into the game in '88. They would definitely spend more time on the floor and less time at the free throw lines... and I don't think I'm being unfair when I say that.
And for the record, I wouldn't dare make the same comparisons about football, soccer or baseball. Boxing? Absolutely.
What say you Herb? I know which way this argument would be skewed, but I'd like to read your thoughts on my supposition.
@elevator
Last edited:
