What happened to NBA basketball?

Question

Please, someone tell me. Remember back in the 90s and early 2000s when it was so exciting. From the Knicks-Pacers rivalry, Lakers dynasty, and last but not least, Air Jordan. I mean, I remember when it was so exciting to watch. Guys like Reggie in his prime, MJ, Penny in his prime. I want to know you opinion on what went wrong. I mean, if you think it is better nowadays, you need to stop lying to yourself. Either that, or you are to young to remember when the NBA was actually worth watching. Peace!

I agree with all of you, except for jamdballa92, who is obviously too young or retarded to understand what basketball used to be like.

Hey CS, i guess you are too much of an idiot to understand basketball, because the NBA now sucks. The ratings don't lie. I think you are one of the only people left that actually think the NBA is worth watching.

Answer 1

Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johns all retired.

Answer 2

I think it's four major things:

1) rule changes
2) money
3) talent disparity
4) bad draft system

1) rule changes: Prachant has it right to an extent with all the rule changes. The changes prevented people from playing hard nosed defense like we saw in the 80s and 90s and now the only defenses that work effectively is one that the spurs implement, a very slow and deliberate defense. Even though teams like the Suns and the Warriors have found some success in a high paced offensive style, over a 7 game series, that's tough to keep up. Plus, when faced against such a slow and deliberate team (minus parker) that frustrates you, teams like the Suns that need a rhythm to flow fall apart. At the end of the day, the boring defensive teams like the Spurs and Cavs (who would suck in the west but are a good defensive team in the east) get ahead because they not only play "good defense" but they mentally get inside someone's head.

2) money - You have very few guys that have the same heart that players did in the past because it IS all about the money and endorsements rather than playing a competitive exciting game. players care more about how to position themselves for their free agency, how to get their next endorsement, etc etc. But they don't play the game for the sake of winning, which is all it should be about. the nba is becoming more a corporation than a sport.

3) talent disparity - Plus, the disparity of talent between the east and the west is just ridiculous. van gundy said that he could think of possibly 6 teams on the west that could all beat the cavs and he's right. so once you get through the first and second rounds of the west, there's no one really exciting anymore. especially when the spurs go to the finals. i know they try to hype this as "lebron's time" but clearly the guy hasn't learned to play smart basketball yet.

4) the draft system sucks - i was sad to see the first and second draft picks go to the west because once again, the west just gets stronger and the east falls apart. the draft isn't designed to equalize the teams enough and that's why you've seen some of these problems of the power shifting west because when the draft matters, like this year or when duncan was drafted, teams that really need the help don't get it.

Answer 3

Jerry colangelo (former GM of the suns) formed a committee along with David Stern to discuss a change of rules 2001

Oh they changed the rules alright


The changes are:

All existing illegal defense guidelines will be eliminated.

A defensive 3-second rule will be established, limiting the amount of time a defensive player may stand in the lane when he is not closely guarding anyone.

Reducing from 10 seconds to 8 seconds the amount of time a team will have to advance the ball past midcourt.

Redefining what constitutes a foul to allow for brief contact initiated by a defensive player if it does not impede the progress of a player with the ball.


Colangelo did Stern a favor and helped put together the US olmpic team in return Stern let him make the changes that would help his team's style of play in the future (no d all out offense)...they had marbury at that time but when he was traded, they signed Nash to fully utilize Marion's athletic abilites and talent


Ever since then the NBA has become soft, boring and refs show too much bias towards superstars (Good for wade and lebron bad for Richard Jefferson and Kobe)

Ratings have gotten worse since the end of the first year when rule changes was implemented (SHAQ AND KOBE WON A CHAMPIONSHIPthat year)...it has been downhill since then

Answer 4

Oh, so if anyone disagrees with you they are too young or retarded? Nice. Way to open up the dialogue, Stalin! I enjoy the NBA these days because I love the game, and despite the shortcomings these guys are still the best at what they do. And that is ALWAYS thrilling to watch. If you think it's boring now, perhaps you don't understand the game well enough. (I suppose this is where I should put in some stupid comment about how you're retarded if you disagree with me, right?)
RESPONSE: Well, I was trying to make a point about the pointlessless of name calling, but I give up. You're the idiot. You definitely don't understand basketball OR ratings, which change for a lot of reasons...idiot. The NBA spread their programming out to multiple cable channels, reducing the amount of viewers. A lot of people can't even watch their local team unless they have cable. Not to mention that people have a ridiculous amount of entertainment options compared to even 10-15 years ago. Idiot.

Answer 5

The way the game was handled back then was different from now. I remembered i watched the Celtics vs. Bulls game where MJ scored like 63 points on them. When they fouled, they fouled hard. Refs never used to get in the way of the players. Now that the NBA wants a new "image" refs have to call every ticky-tack foul. Even retarded stuff like Amare and Diaw coming off the bench and getting suspended a game. That is not cool and i'm not even a suns fan. The new NBA is filled with pretty boys that call foul everytime they get touched.

Answer 6

Too many rule changes and too many young kids getting paid before they prove themselves in the league, not before they get there.

It has never been more about money than it is now. Individual success means more dollars for the athletes. That's the first thing on their minds. Then as they get older, some of them do realize that it's a team sport, but only after they get their endorsement deals.

Also, I think the biggest factor is free agency. It's not like the old days when the core unit of teams would stick together for years. Now superstars play for a team for a couple years, then free agency kicks in, and another team offers them much more money. It' s only natural that they follow the money. But that's why teams are not as good as they were in the past. No one stays together long enough.

Answer 7

i remember when the Lakers vs the Celtics was prime time...and the 76ers vs the Celtics...and when the Bulls would beat up on everyone, but still had a very good rivalry with the Knicks...and the Knicks vs the Pacers...and the Knicks vs the Heat...and Lakers vs Phoenix....and the Bulls vs Detroit.
All I can say is that today we don't even have players that stay with a team long enough to even make a rivalry. the closest thing we have right now is Spurs-Suns.
Rivalries were normally started in the heat of the playoffs....but now even the playoff teams just don't have the appeal anymore.
the NBA has become a mere product, instead of a FANTASTIC sport to watch like it used to be.

Answer 8

The money-grubbin', slam-dunking criminals that entered the league up to 10 years ago. If you want any purity in your basketball, The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are good; they're clean-cut championship winners.

Answer 9

March Madness baby. NBA sucks.

Answer 10

the 2003 draft class...

Lebron James
Darko Milicic
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Dwayne Wade

and so on...including Kirk Hinrich, Luke Walton, Brian Cook, Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels, etc.