1984 NBA Legends Game (Old Timers Game) Highlights:

[CavaliersFTW]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsz3wLZfwSo

Hal Greer looked amazing for being 48 years old :applause:

[WillC]

I've watched the whole game a few times in the past few months. Here are my observations/highlights:

- Connie Hawkins skying towards the basket (wish there was more footage of him in his prime)
- Oscar Robertson and Bob Pettit working the two-man game
- Pistol Pete getting hot early in the second half
- Earl Monroe's modern moves juxtaposed against old-school dribbling, hook shots and set shots from the likes of McGuire, Schayes, Sharman and Heinsohn
- Great shooting from Hal Greer, Sam Jones and Jerry West
- Nate Thurmond dominating the boards
- Rick Barry looking like he should still be playing in the NBA

[dr.hee]

Some great ball movement right there. Dudes could play :applause: I'd rather watch those retired guys than Rudy Gay jacking up 35 shots...

[Kblaze8855]

Funny hearing talk about how bigmen back then couldnt shoot and Dave Debusscheere is wetting transition pullup jumpers with a foot on the 3 point line at 44. He and Redd Kerr were passing like Vlade divac.

[senelcoolidge]

Just shows how great these guys were when they are old and way way past their primes and still making terrific plays.

[Miller for 3]

smh, 50 and 60 year old playing more fundamentally sound and well executed basketball than 85% of the current teams in the league. I would bet thousands of dollars that a team of 50 year old players from the 80s could win 45+ games and make the conference finals

[JimmyMcAdocious]

lol, no. There's no way 50 year olds would last through an 82 game NBA season and then the playoffs.

Look at how Shaq's career ended. He was jogging up the court in his normal manner and it was it for him. He wasn't even 40, was he?

Who is 50 right now? Imagine current Terry Porter trying to stay in front of Westbrook. Or Karl Malone chasing these 3/4 PF combos on the perimeter.

Maybe if it were a halfcourt game of 21 and a 1 game season.

[CavaliersFTW]

Might I state the obvious too, that anyone here who once tried to say they could 'play' in the 1950's, 60's, or 70's (lmfao) is full of copious amounts of shit. Those players in that 'old timers' game even as old men would probably wipe the floor with a modern D-League squad in a pickup game let alone a squad of keyboard warriors on ISH. Even with aged bodies those players still display all-time IQ, natural talent, and competitive drive/pride. Those guys as old men would destroy anyone on ISH, let alone when they were in NBA form :oldlol:

[CavaliersFTW]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212310

:roll: anyone who thinks this would get absolutely murdered and shutdown by 60s players when they are 50 years old let alone during their primes - imagine some snot nosed kid trying to drive on Nate Thurmond, or trying to stop a backdoor play past a screen from Bob Pettit or Wes Unsled :roll:

[Psileas]

It takes a special kind of stupidity to make a thread close here.

Having said that, I wonder why the 1984 game is the only one available (up to now). This was a regular All Star Weekend feature back in the 80's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Star_Legends_Game

[CavaliersFTW]

It takes a special kind of stupidity to make a thread close here.

Having said that, I wonder why the 1984 game is the only one available (up to now). This was a regular All Star Weekend feature back in the 80's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_All-Star_Legends_Game
I don't know, I looked for the others, haven't found anything yet :(

[SHAQisGOAT]

Those fundamentals man. Skill stays and those guys had it in bunches, plus some of them still showing good athleticism for a men of their age/shape.

What about some of those bigs hitting long-range shots, plus Kerr or Debusschere making some great passes. Oscar could still hit those fadeaways, Pearl still dazzling, Barry looking like he had left a year ago or so. Shooters still showing how to do it. Thurmond was a beast. Hawkins still soaring. Pistol was "still" 35, in good shape and that amazing skill never leaves, such a shame for injuries, he was at his best and slowly changing his playing ways in the late 70s before he got injured, could've won one with Boston after also.

I would love to see some of this again nowadays but it's difficult, during those games some players were running out of air with oxygen masks also, even falling to the ground, those are old men with high competitive nature that used to play at pro level and give it their all.

[SHAQisGOAT]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212310

:roll: anyone who thinks this would get absolutely murdered and shutdown by 60s players when they are 50 years old let alone during their primes - imagine some snot nosed kid trying to drive on Nate Thurmond, or trying to stop a backdoor play past a screen from Bob Pettit or Wes Unsled :roll:

Ignorance of some people :facepalm :facepalm

[CavaliersFTW]

Those fundamentals man. Skill stays and those guys had it in bunches, plus some of them still showing good athleticism for a men of their age/shape.

What about some of those bigs hitting long-range shots, plus Kerr or Debusschere making some great passes. Oscar could still hit those fadeaways, Pearl still dazzling, Barry looking like he had left a year ago or so. Shooters still showing how to do it. Thurmond was a beast. Hawkins still soaring. Pistol was "still" 35, in good shape and that amazing skill never leaves, such a shame for injuries, he was at his best and slowly changing his playing ways in the late 70s before he got injured, could've won one with Boston after also.

I would love to see some of this again nowadays but it's difficult, during those games some players were running out of air with oxygen masks also, even falling to the ground, those are old men with high competitive nature that used to play at pro level and give it their all.
Those were available because of the mile high altitude in Denver (the locality of the 1984 game), these guys were healthy former pro athletes in their late 30's, 40's, and 50's not bed ridden old men in their 80's :lol the Oxygen masks were shown in the tv-spot 'highlights' of the game cause they looked funny but pretty sure those guys wouldn't have needed pure oxygen had they played the game somewhere else. I've seen highlights from 1 other 'old timers' game, didn't see any oxygen masks required for it

[LAZERUSS]

Regarding some of these topics, I have read those that have claimed the WNBA players of today would wipe out the NBA players of the 60's.

Yep...we see a ton of 6-10 gals with (Men's) World-Class leaping ability (Russell); or that are 6-11 with a longer wingpsan than Chamberlain, and who are built like Dwight Howard (Thurmond); or 6-6 230 lb gals that have as high a vertical as MJ (Gus Johnson); or 6-5 gals that play like Pistol Pete; or 6-8 230 lb women who was Kevin Love before Love was (Lucas); or 7-1 290-310 lb women, with a 7-8 wingspan, a 40+ vertical, bench-pressing 450-500 lbs, and running a 4.6 40 (at 290 lbs and at age 27.) And don't forget, KAJ, who started playing in the NBA in 1969.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Those were available because of the mile high altitude in Denver (the locality of the 1984 game), these guys were healthy former pro athletes in their late 30's, 40's, and 50's not bed ridden old men in their 80's :lol the Oxygen masks were shown in the tv-spot 'highlights' of the game cause they looked funny but pretty sure those guys wouldn't have needed pure oxygen had they played the game somewhere else. I've seen highlights from 1 other 'old timers' game, didn't see any oxygen masks required for it

Yeah didn't think about that one, still look at the way those guys are playing, they don't have young bodies anymore and they can't play any other way really, that could lead to major damage, they had some nasty fouls on some of those games also (just goes to show what they were dealing with). Some of those who've participated were still young and in good shape for their age, others were considerably other and some just out of sports shape completely.

[CavaliersFTW]

Yeah didn't think about that one, still look at the way those guys are playing, they don't have young bodies anymore and they can't play any other way really, that could lead to major damage, they had some nasty fouls on some of those games also (just goes to show what they were dealing with). Some of those who've participated were still young and in good shape for their age, others were considerably other and some just out of sports shape completely.
Didn't one or two players tear up their knees real bad and that's why the games had to be stopped? I think I recall reading that like, David Thompson or somebody destroyed their knees in one of these games.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Didn't one or two players tear up their knees real bad and that's why the games had to be stopped? I think I recall reading that like, David Thompson or somebody destroyed their knees in one of these games.

Yes I recall that too. Really fun game to watch but consequences are definitely there.

[jongib369]

Would V-span even start on this team? :confusedshrug:

[RichieW]

Didn't one or two players tear up their knees real bad and that's why the games had to be stopped? I think I recall reading that like, David Thompson or somebody destroyed their knees in one of these games.

Dont think it'd make a difference, players from the modern era care too much about their image. Most wouldn't want to risk how fans remember them I suspect.

[Random_Guy]

beautiful game and footage. its amazing how they can just group together and play as if they've been playing for a long time together. fundamentally good passing and shooting ability is on full display here. the centres were extremely mobile much to my surprise(I admit i dont follow a lot of old school basketball). Their amazing ball movement just goes on to show just how talented these players are. Respect.

As for current day athletes, I guess the game is just different. I dont think the current day players practice less, its just the reliance on athleticism makes us feel as if they dont practice the fundamentals anymore. Sure modern post threats are lacking, but the guards are surely as good if not better. The rules are different, and we just have to adjust.

[PHILA]

It's unfortunate the old school games from the 50s & 60s are so scarce. You can only imagine watching a game of these players in their prime years.

[CavaliersFTW]

Dick McGuire and Bill Sharman are George Mikan era guards playing in that game, both retired before Wilt was even in the league - and even they knew what they were doing on the floor out there, boxing out running weaves etc. Albeit a bit slower than most of the others as they were on the wrong side of 55 - but their movements on and off the ball were very deliberate - they did not play like one would imagine a so called 'primitive' basketball player would play (clueless or inept). Sharman attempted (but missed) a 3 that rattled out the rim. Both he and McGuire brought the ball up the floor a few times and got a rebound our two. Neither played significant minutes though, as I said they were on the wrong side of 55.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Dick McGuire and Bill Sharman are George Mikan era guards playing in that game, both retired before Wilt was even in the league - and even they knew what they were doing on the floor out there, boxing out running weaves etc. Albeit a bit slower than most of the others as they were on the wrong side of 55 - but their movements on and off the ball were very deliberate - they did not play like one would imagine a so called 'primitive' basketball player would play (clueless or inept). Sharman attempted (but missed) a 3 that rattled out the rim. Both he and McGuire brought the ball up the floor a few times and got a rebound our two. Neither played significant minutes though, as I said they were on the wrong side of 55.

From everything (the little there is) I've seen from Sharman, dude had like 4-point range.

[Round Mound]

Regarding some of these topics, I have read those that have claimed the WNBA players of today would wipe out the NBA players of the 60's.

Yep...we see a ton of 6-10 gals with (Men's) World-Class leaping ability (Russell); or that are 6-11 with a longer wingpsan than Chamberlain, and who are built like Dwight Howard (Thurmond); or 6-6 230 lb gals that have as high a vertical as MJ (Gus Johnson); or 6-5 gals that play like Pistol Pete; or 6-8 230 lb women who was Kevin Love before Love was (Lucas); or 7-1 290-310 lb women, with a 7-8 wingspan, a 40+ vertical, bench-pressing 450-500 lbs, and running a 4.6 40 (at 290 lbs and at age 27.) And don't forget, KAJ, who started playing in the NBA in 1969.

:applause:

[jongib369]

:banana:

[stanlove1111]

Might I state the obvious too, that anyone here who once tried to say they could 'play' in the 1950's, 60's, or 70's (lmfao) is full of copious amounts of shit. Those players in that 'old timers' game even as old men would probably wipe the floor with a modern D-League squad in a pickup game let alone a squad of keyboard warriors on ISH. Even with aged bodies those players still display all-time IQ, natural talent, and competitive drive/pride. Those guys as old men would destroy anyone on ISH, let alone when they were in NBA form :oldlol:


IF u are overly impressed by the play in this game then you were never a very good basketball player. The play if awful, It looks like a game being played by old weak men. If you matched these guys against a really good high school team today the high school team would run them out of the gym..

The old timer games were embarrassing and hard to watch. I was always surprised any of them would agree to do it, thought there would be more professional pride.

The only thing I can think of that would be more boring and pathetic is todays all star game where nobody plays any defense so nothing that happens means anything at all.

[jongib369]

IF u are overly impressed by the play in this game then you were never a very good basketball player. The play if awful, It looks like a game being played by old weak men. If you matched these guys against a really good high school team today the high school team would run them out of the gym..

The old timer games were embarrassing and hard to watch. I was always surprised any of them would agree to do it, thought there would be more professional pride.

The only thing I can think of that would be more boring and pathetic is todays all star game where nobody plays any defense so nothing that happens means anything at all.
You don't have to be a good basketball player to have observational awareness on what makes a good one....XD.

[stanlove1111]

You don't have to be a good basketball player to have observational awareness on what makes a good one....XD.

Its helps. T doing nothing in this game that I couldn't do when I played..If someone is overly impressed with the play then they must not be able to do these things..

[Gotterdammerung]

You don't have to be a good basketball player to have observational awareness on what makes a good one....XD.
Correct.

You don't need to be a chef in order to know that the food tastes bad. :no:

[Random_Guy]

hmmm, dont really watch old timers but an observation i made was that guards post up a lot to get into the paint, something that modern guards hardly ever do. was that the norm back in the days cavsftw?

[Random_Guy]

oh wait ive posted in this thread before lol

[jongib369]

hmmm, dont really watch old timers but an observation i made was that guards post up a lot to get into the paint, something that modern guards hardly ever do. was that the norm back in the days cavsftw?
http://youtu.be/n_uAJlWP0lQ

[Random_Guy]

http://youtu.be/n_uAJlWP0lQ
will watch later, :D

[BoutPractice]

Those passes :eek: And Connie Hawkins' ridiculous hands...

I remember watching this vid... what I don't remember is Lou Hudson dream shaking into a sky hook! If you have good enough balance, what a move that can be.

And stanlove111, having no respect for those who actually know how to play is a sign of weakness. Means you have the sort of cockiness that can easily be turned against you in-game. The wrong sort, in other words.