Basketball/NBA aficionados, please step in

[sportscribe]

Why do you guys think the average player in today's NBA is averaging less blocks than say in the 90's (or at least among the very top defensively inclined players)?

For instance, among the top 20 players in career blocks per game, only 2 of them are active players (which goes to highlight Anthony Davis' dominance on both ends of the court).

Rank Player BPG
1. Mark Eaton 3.50
2. Manute Bol 3.34
3. Hakeem Olajuwon* 3.09
4. David Robinson* 2.99
5. Elmore Smith 2.90
6. Alonzo Mourning* 2.81
7. Dikembe Mutombo* 2.75
8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* 2.57
9. Shawn Bradley 2.55
10. George Johnson 2.46
11. Patrick Ewing* 2.45
12. Theo Ratliff 2.43
13. Marcus Camby 2.40
14. Anthony Davis 2.38
15. Shaquille O'Neal* 2.26
16. Serge Ibaka 2.25
17. Bill Walton* 2.21
18. Larry Nance 2.20
19. Tree Rollins 2.20
20. Tim Duncan

So what could the main reasons for this be?

a) Decline of the center position?
b) Lack of legit 7-footers in the NBA?
c) The evolution of the modern big man to be less of a post player?
d) The evolution of modern basketball to be more of a perimeter-based game?

 

[killacal]

3s and uncontested lay ups

Shot selection is smarter and safer these days

 

[young yeesh]

Answer is D

THis is the era of the 3 pointer

 

[god shamgod]

There was no defensive 3 seconds before 01-02 season. You can stand in the lane as long as you wanted before

 

[Jplaya2023]

There was no defensive 3 seconds before 01-02 season. You can stand in the lane as long as you wanted before

no you couldn't

 

[Illified infinitely]

Style of play. And players getting more crafty. Rules protect the offensive player a lot too. Esp if you a high flyer that attacks the rim. One wrong block motion and your out the game

 

[DPresidential]

I know I'll get flamed but not only is the answer D but it's more evidence that the 3 point line should only be active in the 2nd and 4th quarters.

The game is filled with more talent than ever but it's not being showcases as much because of the analytics of the 3pt shot.

The entertainment side of basketball would benefit by a reduction of the 3pt volume.

 

[Malta]

It's a different game and guys like Eaton and Bol would get played off the court with constant screens to get them on PGs. It's why Boban really doesn't get minutes like that despite being efficient on offense, the opposing team goal is to get him isolated in space now.

When those guys played all they had to worry about was guarding their man who played near the paint so rotating over to get blocks was easier.

 

[hashmander]

D

 

[Rekkapryde]

It's a different game and guys like Eaton and Bol would get played off the court with constant screens to get them on PGs. It's why Boban really doesn't get minutes like that despite being efficient on offense, the opposing team goal is to get him isolated in space now.

When those guys played all they had to worry about was guarding their man who played near the paint so rotating over to get blocks was easier.

Kyrie on Mark Eaton

 

[Poitier]

Officiating and Euro systems.

We are living in the era of frauds where guys like Steph Curry can use 10000 screens and sit out whole playoff series but be called a GOAT.

 

[Poitier]

Take ball screens away and all that spacing and it'd be a famine out here @.number.(n)one.*

 

[LV Koopa]

Lol @ 3pters only being allowed in the 2nd and 4th quarters. Absolute stupidity.

Anyway you've also got to account for minutes and possessions. Instead of using blocks per game compare their block rate (block%).

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Because there aren't a bunch of big men camped out next to the lane anymore.

Back in the day, nearly every team had a center or power forward (or both) who couldn't do anything more than 5-10 feet from the rim. His defender would camp next to the hoop waiting for anyone to come down. That meant that you could have a Mark Eaton on your team (auto mechanic until 20 who never played basketball and just happened to be tall), who could just camp next to the hoop and wait for blocks.

Nowadays, those guys will get pulled all around the court against most teams because they'll be guarding a more threatening offensive option. If they're just a tall guy with no agility/skills, they won't even be in the game - they get played off the court. And if they are in the game they're not getting as many blocks.

Then add in the smarter shot selection and increase in threes, and it's a lot harder to build those blocks.

 

[FaTaL]

Why do you guys think the average player in today's NBA is averaging less blocks than say in the 90's (or at least among the very top defensively inclined players)?

For instance, among the top 20 players in career blocks per game, only 2 of them are active players (which goes to highlight Anthony Davis' dominance on both ends of the court).




So what could the main reasons for this be?

a) Decline of the center position?
b) Lack of legit 7-footers in the NBA?
c) The evolution of the modern big man to be less of a post player?
d) The evolution of modern basketball to be more of a perimeter-based game?

They are all taking charges these days