Nikola Jokic: Basketball is better today

[ghostwriterx]

I’m aware of all parties involved. Not sure why you’re telling me this.

adquate training and "exposure" wouldn't help guys like Starks and Oakley compete in this era, they just weren't talented enough.

 

[Bop Gun]

The players are not better today. Yall need to stop saying that silly shyt.

The fact of the matter is, if that was true, every single team would have ZERO issues with depth on their rosters.

I couldn't care less what somebody does in the offseason against LA Gym youtube hoopers. At least 80 percent of the players in the NBA are incapable of creating their own shot. Hell, Klay Thompson is going into the Hall of Fame and he can't create space with his own dribble. Damian Lillard is in Top 75 All Time and he struggled to lead his teams to the Play In. No legitimate success.

Once sports gambling dies down, the NBA will have a precipitous drop in ratings and financial earnings.

 

[duckbutta]

So much better

When Wemby goes from the 3 to the pain in one dribble they say he's "1 of 1"

 

[ghostwriterx]

The players are not better today. Yall need to stop saying that silly shyt.

The fact of the matter is, if that was true, every single team would have ZERO issues with depth on their rosters.

I couldn't care less what somebody does in the offseason against LA Gym youtube hoopers. At least 80 percent of the players in the NBA are incapable of creating their own shot. Hell, Klay Thompson is going into the Hall of Fame and he can't create space with his own dribble. Damian Lillard is in Top 75 All Time and he struggled to lead his teams to the Play In. No legitimate success.

Once sports gambling dies down, the NBA will have a precipitous drop in ratings and financial earnings.

Reggie Miller couldn't create his own shot and is the HOF. Klay was better than him.
Dame had more playoff success than T-Mac.

 

[OsO]

Are the players today better shooters? Absolutely.

Can they manipulate the pick and roll better? Absolutely.

Better on the fast break? Generally yes.

But there are many facets to the game.

Better individual defenders? Absolutely not.

Better team defense? Absolutely not.

Better midrange scoring? No.

Better post scoring? No.

Better iso players? No. Most players today have an average iso game because the pick and roll is so utilized.

Better rebounders? No.

Better handles? Generally, no.

Passing I would say is about equal.



So my point is, it's a nuanced debate when you dig into the details.

 

[BlackAchilles]

Dino Radja would drop a thirtyburger on his head

 

[Bop Gun]

Reggie Miller couldn't create his own shot and is the HOF. Klay was better than him.
Dame had more playoff success than T-Mac.

Reggie Miller was the clear best player on Indiana, and a #1 Option his entire career. At no point in his career would Klay have been signed to lead a team and be their #1 Option. He was always sidekick status, which isn't a bad thing.

Dame will always be one of the most overrated players in NBA History. Not much difference when compared to his own teammate CJ McCollum.

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

adquate training and "exposure" wouldn't help guys like Starks and Oakley compete in this era, they just weren't talented enough.

That’s your assumption that could very well be right or wrong. What we know for certain is they never got the chance

 

[bzb]

it is absolutely true the league is better today than 30 years ago.

the best players from back then are as good as the best players today. but the "role players" have caught up and surpassed old heads. the other main difference is with the 3ball, but that gap is easy to bridge.

this topic comes up frequently. all things being equal, refereeing etc, the players have gotten better.

now the rule changes? that was different...

 

[Po pimp]

I feel like if you're a great player, you could've played in any era. Aside from rule changes, where it's better now it's that the role players of today are more skilled and have more freedom to do more than in past years. Because the role players are better, it actually makes it easier for the superstars to operate.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

The players are not better today. Yall need to stop saying that silly shyt.

The fact of the matter is, if that was true, every single team would have ZERO issues with depth on their rosters.

I couldn't care less what somebody does in the offseason against LA Gym youtube hoopers. At least 80 percent of the players in the NBA are incapable of creating their own shot. Hell, Klay Thompson is going into the Hall of Fame and he can't create space with his own dribble. Damian Lillard is in Top 75 All Time and he struggled to lead his teams to the Play In. No legitimate success.

Once sports gambling dies down, the NBA will have a precipitous drop in ratings and financial earnings.

Imagine being this disconnected from reality.

 

[CoCKy GeNiuS]

So much better

When u really sit back and let it process u realize this is just absurd, outlandish, out of control.

This is so foul that he should be called for a foul for traveling this foul.

But these dudes walk around and talk like they are better their O.G.s...

No you're not better you're just spoiled, pacified, and allowed to perform loosely on the court. Where is before there were firm rules, respect, and real levels to the hoop game.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Are the players today better shooters? Absolutely.

Can they manipulate the pick and roll better? Absolutely.

Better on the fast break? Generally yes.

But there are many facets to the game.

Better individual defenders? Absolutely not.

Better team defense? Absolutely not.

Better midrange scoring? No.

Better post scoring? No.

Better iso players? No. Most players today have an average iso game because the pick and roll is so utilized.

Better rebounders? No.

Better handles? Generally, no.

Passing I would say is about equal.



So my point is, it's a nuanced debate when you dig into the details.

The large majority of the no's you've put forward are wrong, but I just want to highlight the ones in bold because they're particularly glaringly wrong.

Defenses, both individuals and team defense are infinitely better than they were 30 years ago. Actually defending jumpshots are a recent phenomenon, and what I mean by that is - stopping the offensive player from getting to their spot, rising up, and getting a shot off. 30 years ago, defenders would either watch their opposite take a jumpshot with a cushion or make a haphazard attempt at throwing an arm in the air.

Here's an example -


This isn't the regular season, this is the Finals; this isn't a role player, this is the best player in the league.

Now just look at the lack of defense being played on MJ. Nobody bothered to close out on his 3s and nobody tried contesting his jumpshots in the post.

This is just a microcosm of all defensive play during that era.

Because ISO and post-play were the shot profile of that time, you essentially had to worry about your matchup and that was it. You didn't have to worry about running out to the 3-pt line to defend the open man, you didn't have to worry about hedging on PnR, you didn't have to worry about making a rotation when a defender got caught trying to defend a PnR; you didn't have to worry about every single position being capable of putting the ball on the floor, you didn't have to worry about a center creating offense behind the arc, you didn't have to worry about any given player being able to dribble with both hands.

There's infinitely more space to defend today, there's infinitely more versatility with how different positions create offense, there's infinitely more shooting to account for, there's infinitely more freedom in how players operate.

That's forced defenders, defenses and schemes to advance to account for that.

 

[CoCKy GeNiuS]

Are the players today better shooters? Absolutely.

Can they manipulate the pick and roll better? Absolutely.

Better on the fast break? Generally yes.

But there are many facets to the game.

Better individual defenders? Absolutely not.

Better team defense? Absolutely not.

Better midrange scoring? No.

Better post scoring? No.

Better iso players? No. Most players today have an average iso game because the pick and roll is so utilized.

Better rebounders? No.

Better handles? Generally, no.

Passing I would say is about equal.



So my point is, it's a nuanced debate when you dig into the details.

Today they have no real individuality and intangibles to their game. It's all manufactured with unlimited screens, picks, threes, and creating fouls. This is also the main reason there is a certain demographic being seen more and more on the floor. Because real game, skill, and athleticism is being phased out by this new synthetic way of playing.

 

[Trojan 24]

Joker is right, Wemby done saved the NBA