There is no edge to this generation. Soft as warm Caramel.

Hector wrote:This whole millennium, players have been soft. Every single one of them wants to be the Michael Jordan of board room, rather than the MJ of the basketball court. They get their money & immediately they want to be CEO's.

There is no edge to this generation. Soft as warm Caramel.

I agree with that. Guys in the 80 and 90s wanted to destroy each other. Now it's like ok to lose. The best players want to form super teams so they don't have to work as hard and take nights off.

Uptown wrote:I get your point but its not so much that the talent of the elite players of today isn't as good as the elite players of the past, its just the game is so watered down with expansion, etc. There are 30 teams today, whereas there were only 23 teams in 1988....that's close to 84 more roster spots!!!

And for the record, saying that Melo isn't good enough to start in the 80's or 90's is a ridiculous statement especially when you realize guys like Mike Saunders, Mario Elie, Johnny Newman, Richard Dumas and Laphonso Ellis to name a few were starting SF's in the league during the 80's and 90's

The game has changed drastically; which, also contributes to the level of talents we now have. Guys are scoring more, and also making a lot more money. Therefore, they have different priorities.

EnySpree wrote:

nixluva wrote:

Knixkik wrote:Today's players are just so much more athletic. How do some of the non elite PGs in the 90s even get the ball up the court against Westbrook, wall, Paul, rondo, etc?

Those same players were going against guys like AI, Kenny Anderson, Francis n Steph. Guards weren't all slow back then.

Tim Hardaway, rod Strickland, nick van exel, Kevin johnson, Gary Payton.....

I mean cone on..... stop the bull****

And look deep on teams benches in the 90s, you will see guys who could never play in today's game. The league had the stars back then, but much less depth.

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:If you had the right time machine and could take a .500 team now and have them play a .500 team from the 90s in a 7 game series, I think the team now would win - probably in a 4 game sweep.

Will never know.

Bonn1997 wrote:If you had the right time machine and could take a .500 team now and have them play a .500 team from the 90s in a 7 game series, I think the team now would win - probably in a 4 game sweep.

+1

Going from decade to decade, players just get better because training and development is better.

Vmart wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

Vmart wrote:I look at it from franchise player just how many were present I counted maybe 4 or 5 at best. Duncan who has been since his arrival, Dirk, LeBron, Durant, Paul, possibly Harden, worst defensive player I have ever seen though. If you watched in the 80-90s there were so many. Jordan, Dr.J, Shaq, Kareem, Bird, Magic, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson,Moses Malone, Karl Malone, Barkley, Drexler, Thomas. I know I'm probably leaving off another 5 players.

There is such a drop off in talent in today's NBA. Now it's just about players that know how to promote themselves not so much about their talent or skill level.

The drop off in franchise players is clear, but the league as a whole has more overall talent.

No they don't back then teams had two or more players that were good and played high level basketball. I'll give you an example the Kings which played in Kansas City had Reggie Theus and Eddie Johnson on the same team and they were one of the worse teams in that era. Boston Celtics had 5 or 6 players that would have been stating material on any team today and probably be the best players on that team. Same case can be made for the Sixers and Lakers. The league is watered down now to much expansion along with just having to many undeveloped talent.

There was better balance in previously decade, I'll agree with that. You absolutely can't say players off the bench in some teams would be the best players on some teams today, it's not even realistic. You are talking 20 years in difference if we are saying 90s. Think about it. Compare the 70s to the 90s and tell me the level of play will be even comparable. Sure you have your stars that are 20 years ahead of their time and can dominate any era, but players are much better now, it's not even a comparison.

EnySpree wrote:

Hector wrote:This whole millennium, players have been soft. Every single one of them wants to be the Michael Jordan of board room, rather than the MJ of the basketball court. They get their money & immediately they want to be CEO's.

There is no edge to this generation. Soft as warm Caramel.

I agree with that. Guys in the 80 and 90s wanted to destroy each other. Now it's like ok to lose. The best players want to form super teams so they don't have to work as hard and take nights off.

Buddha bless you!

Knixkik wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Knixkik wrote:

Vmart wrote:I look at it from franchise player just how many were present I counted maybe 4 or 5 at best. Duncan who has been since his arrival, Dirk, LeBron, Durant, Paul, possibly Harden, worst defensive player I have ever seen though. If you watched in the 80-90s there were so many. Jordan, Dr.J, Shaq, Kareem, Bird, Magic, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson,Moses Malone, Karl Malone, Barkley, Drexler, Thomas. I know I'm probably leaving off another 5 players.

There is such a drop off in talent in today's NBA. Now it's just about players that know how to promote themselves not so much about their talent or skill level.

The drop off in franchise players is clear, but the league as a whole has more overall talent.

No they don't back then teams had two or more players that were good and played high level basketball. I'll give you an example the Kings which played in Kansas City had Reggie Theus and Eddie Johnson on the same team and they were one of the worse teams in that era. Boston Celtics had 5 or 6 players that would have been stating material on any team today and probably be the best players on that team. Same case can be made for the Sixers and Lakers. The league is watered down now to much expansion along with just having to many undeveloped talent.

There was better balance in previously decade, I'll agree with that. You absolutely can't say players off the bench in some teams would be the best players on some teams today, it's not even realistic. You are talking 20 years in difference if we are saying 90s. Think about it. Compare the 70s to the 90s and tell me the level of play will be even comparable. Sure you have your stars that are 20 years ahead of their time and can dominate any era, but players are much better now, it's not even a comparison.

I didn't say that players off their bench, I was referring to player on the starting five. And possibly their sixth man in some cases. You guys have to remember these were 3-4 year college player when they came out. Their skill level and their basketball IQ was higher than the players today. Now plAyers are coming into the NBA undeveloped raw talent that takes anywhere from 3-4 years to develop. The players from the past may not have been as athletic but they were better prepared and their skill level as higher.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

Vmart wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:If you had the right time machine and could take a .500 team now and have them play a .500 team from the 90s in a 7 game series, I think the team now would win - probably in a 4 game sweep.

Will never know.

Obviously we won't but players are so much more athletic now and have so much smarter shot selection that I can't imagine it being close.

Smarter shot selection? If they have better shot selection why are their shooting percentages abysmal.

defenses have improved at the same rate? If you look at shot charts, you'll be amazed at the decrease in mid range jump shots and increase in 3s, especially corner 3s. A team from the 90s that doesn't even know the particular importance of protecting against corner 3s on defense and the importance of staying away from mid range shots on offense would be at a big disadvantage.

Defense has improved? Man now your just making excuses defense is at an all time low. There is no hand checking, player effort level on the defensive side is at an all time low. Face the reality of the situation skill level has dwindled over years along with knowledge of the game.