Why do I keep hearing people say today's NBA players are bigger/stronger/faster?

[Screwface Exchange]

The players today are faster and more athletic. I watch tapes from 25 years ago and there is a noticeable difference in athleticism.

If you put a sprinter with an open lane in front of him, of course he will run fast. If i put Gary payton in front of him and allow me to hand check, and then have 2 big centers behind them that same sprinter is running anything.

Don't mix up speed of game and style of game into thinking that the players are quicker today.

They just have more open lanes, due to all the rule changes. Defensive 3 second calls, hand check's on perimeter, posting up on the perimeter rules as well. It's a different game they playing now.

 

[jadillac]

There's certainly no Karl Malone's or Kevin Willis' in todays game.

But on the whole, players are probably in better shape.

 

[FaTaL]

LeBron is 6'8" 260.... Pip was nearly 50 lbs less than him.


Bron and Scumbag Malone are roughly the same height/weight.

malone was 240

 

[Screwface Exchange]

LeBron is 6'8" 260.... Pip was nearly 50 lbs less than him.

Bro, its the days of the internet, you should be able to find more accurate numbers. As per wiki and nba.com Lebron is 6'8 250, Scottie Pippen was 6'8 228, how you figure thats a difference of nearly 50lbs?

It's these types of rounding up, and embellishments that got ppl thinking players are bigger and strong now.

look at that finals in 86 between magic n bird them lineups weren't a battle of sum slow midgets like you guys would make it seem. They called the Lakers Showtime for a reason.

celts,
pg 6'4 ainge
sg 6'4 johnson
sf 6'9 bird

lakers
pg 6'8 Magic Johnson
sg 6'3 byron scott
sf ' 6'9 ac green

I guess celts having 6'4 pgs are small these days compared to chalmers n parker at 6'2 n d wade is only 6'4.

 

[Crack Daniels]

There's certainly no Karl Malone's or Kevin Willis' in todays game.

Does LeBron James not ring a bell or are you trolling us

 

[Frump]

They are as a whole but they are not more skilled

Back in the day everyone at least could score if they had to there were no Reggie Evans or Tony Allens who struggle hitting wide open layups

 

[OGmittee]

This thread is horrible, OP is just flat out WRONG.

Ya there are some smaller guys still in the league but overall the size of the NBA player is a lot bigger

 

[jadillac]

malone was 240

You've GOT to be joking.

Karl Malone was built like a tree.

There's NO way Malone , as I remember him looking, was any less than 260.

 

[Screwface Exchange]

There's certainly no Karl Malone's or Kevin Willis' in todays game.

But on the whole, players are probably in better shape.

david west 6'9 250 malone was 6'9 259, similar style pf's. wld throw in a Zbo 6'9 260 as well in that same style and then boozer 6'9 266.

 

[jadillac]

david west 6'9 250 malone was 6'9 259, similar style pf's. wld throw in a Zbo 6'9 260 as well in that same style and then boozer 6'9 266.

I'd def throw MAlone, West, Boozer in the same category.

Zbo is kinda fat.

 

[#1 pick]

It's not that they are faster today. It's defensive is less suffocating. Getting rid of hand checking was one way they opened up the lanes for quick players to get to the hoop faster.

WTF are you talking about. It is way more suffocating today. That's a retarded post. Did you guys watch 80's and 90's Basketball?

 

[#1 pick]

If you put a sprinter with an open lane in front of him, of course he will run fast. If i put Gary payton in front of him and allow me to hand check, and then have 2 big centers behind them that same sprinter is running anything.

Don't mix up speed of game and style of game into thinking that the players are quicker today.

They just have more open lanes, due to all the rule changes. Defensive 3 second calls, hand check's on perimeter, posting up on the perimeter rules as well. It's a different game they playing now.

Dog you on a roll with stupid ass posts.

Once again, did you watch the 80's and 90's?

 

[Doobie Doo]

WTF are you talking about. It is way more suffocating today. That's a retarded post. Did you guys watch 80's and 90's Basketball?

I watched it plenty of times and yes defensive was harder in the NBA in the 80's and 90's. Who today had more suffocating defense then the Bad Boy Pistons, Mid 80's Celtics, showtime Lakers?

 

[havoc]

If you put a sprinter with an open lane in front of him, of course he will run fast. If i put Gary payton in front of him and allow me to hand check, and then have 2 big centers behind them that same sprinter is running anything.

Don't mix up speed of game and style of game into thinking that the players are quicker today.

They just have more open lanes, due to all the rule changes. Defensive 3 second calls, hand check's on perimeter, posting up on the perimeter rules as well. It's a different game they playing now.

What lanes are open in the NBA that players easily can go through without being defended? The new rules force many big men to help out on the defense. Now, today perimeter players have to beat two men to get to the paint. The rules has help many teams to play better defense. In this era, the PF and the Centers are no longer remain stationary on the paint waiting for a player to get to the lane. They come out of the low block and help shut down lane before a scorer get to it.

Look at the Spurs vs Heat finals. Look at the way the Spurs play a lot of help defense and clogged up the lane. There are no openings for Lebron to run through the lane.

 

[Danny Up]

It really is a myth or it could be the fact that's it's more players now which would tend to probably in crease the size of the average NBA player overall.