During those days, opponents were enemies, at least when they were on the court vs each other, many despised each other even off the court making the rivalry stronger.
The competitiveness, defense, pride, and will to win, made the game personal and much more intense.
While today, many players in the league are friends with one another.
The NBA promotes highlights, dunks, and attracting a fan base, while protecting the players that generate $ and fans for them.
So you just cannot compare....

During those days, opponents were enemies, at least when they were on the court vs each other, many despised each other even off the court making the rivalry stronger.
The competitiveness, defense, pride, and will to win, made the game personal and much more intense.
While today, many players in the league are friends with one another.
The NBA promotes highlights, dunks, and attracting a fan base, while protecting the players that generate $ and fans for them.
So you just cannot compare....

I see this claimed a lot, but I don't think it's true. There are plenty of stories of great players who were good friends with other great players. Wilt and Russell; Magic and Isiah; Jordan and Ewing; Jordan and Barkley; Ewing and Mourning. I think the reason it appears that players are closer now is because anytime someone so much as looks at another player cross-eyed they're immediately ejected and the NBA suspends them for 5 games.

Nalod wrote:
Mason and LJ never played together.

LJ as small forward could not guard Lebron.

Nobody can now. And not then.

Lebron is the size of Oak. That is scarey.

Knicks playes slow ball and Ewing could not run.

Personally I think the current knick team would beat the snot out of the team from 20 years ago.

Heat swept us now and would win by 50.

The speed of Joel Anthony and Haslem would have done ok. Ewing still gets 30 btw.

LBJ have a tough time against the roster? Did Jordan? Lebron is bigger and faster. Jordan shot better from the outside.

Im going to stop here because the real question is:

Does the Heat beat Jordan and the Bulls? There were 6 of them and they had different looks.

jazz74 wrote:with today's rules, not well. oak, mase and starks would foul out most games. ewing will do well since it will benefit the most.

Zone defense would hurt Ewing. Dude was not a good passer nor motivated to do so. Maybe he learns in the new era but the double team on him swatting the ball from him would be a problem.

A guy like Hubert Davis should start and Starks off the bench. I can't recall if they were rostered the same year.