NBA might be less 'physical', but its certainly more physical

[theaussieguy]

and by 'physical' i mean less touching and contact on defence allowed and all that jazz.

But besides that, its blatantly obvious that there is a large discrepancy between the size and speed of players from the early nineties to today. Every single player at every position on the floor is bigger, quite simply bigger, stronger and faster.

When it comes to talking about old time greats, and if they could dominate in the league today, people need to realize, that NBA today IS a much more physical game. Everyone is lifting, everyone is on a small dose of test and hgh, every single aspect of the game has been nailed down to a science. I honestly don't think someone can say for certain that a player from the fifties could play today. How do you know how their body's will react to the drugs and the intensified training? What im getting at its all just a waste of time, stay in denial all you want but the game is constantly evolving and demanding of top tier athletes, and im afraid to say it but many of these old time greats were anything but, and its a very real possibility that in today's league some of them could just not cut the cake.

in this day and age its physicality first, skills second

[D.J.]

There's less contact overall, I agree. But when there is physicality, more injuries occur because the guys are bigger and stronger. 25 years ago, it wasn't rare for a 6'7"-6'8" guy to barely hit 200 pounds. A player the same height today is a good 220-225 and it's all lean muscle.

[ProfessorMurder]

Rules implemented to make the game less physical... Players bulk up.

Smart.

[LAZERUSS]

There's less contact overall, I agree. But when there is physicality, more injuries occur because the guys are bigger and stronger. 25 years ago, it wasn't rare for a 6'7"-6'8" guy to barely hit 200 pounds. A player the same height today is a good 220-225 and it's all lean muscle.

And yet guys like the 6-8 Kevin Love run away with rebounding titles, a 6-0 Paul leads the league in assists, and even a 37 year old 6-2 Nash, playing 33 mpg, can lead the league in apg, as recently as a couple of years ago.

Muscle, size, and even leaping ability do not guarantee anything in the NBA. Never has.

[D.J.]

And yet guys like the 6-8 Kevin Love run away with rebounding titles, a 6-0 Paul leads the league in assists, and even a 37 year old 6-2 Nash, playing 33 mpg, can lead the league in apg, as recently as a couple of years ago.

Muscle, size, and even leaping ability do not guarantee anything in the NBA. Never has.


It doesn't guarantee anything, but guys who don't like working out are going to be a step behind. Even MJ needed to start working out. A player like Kevin Love would not be leading the league in rebounds 20 years ago.

[highwhey]

And yet guys like the 6-8 Kevin Love run away with rebounding titles, a 6-0 Paul leads the league in assists, and even a 37 year old 6-2 Nash, playing 33 mpg, can lead the league in apg, as recently as a couple of years ago.

Muscle, size, and even leaping ability do not guarantee anything in the NBA. Never has.
Those are high bball iq players. Your average NBA player is pretty athletic though. It takes a lot strength to box out an average nba forward or even defend him.

[TheMarkMadsen]

and by 'physical' i mean less touching and contact on defence allowed and all that jazz.

But besides that, its blatantly obvious that there is a large discrepancy between the size and speed of players from the early nineties to today. Every single player at every position on the floor is bigger, quite simply bigger, stronger and faster.

When it comes to talking about old time greats, and if they could dominate in the league today, people need to realize, that NBA today IS a much more physical game. Everyone is lifting, everyone is on a small dose of test and hgh, every single aspect of the game has been nailed down to a science. I honestly don't think someone can say for certain that a player from the fifties could play today. How do you know how their body's will react to the drugs and the intensified training? What im getting at its all just a waste of time, stay in denial all you want but the game is constantly evolving and demanding of top tier athletes, and im afraid to say it but many of these old time greats were anything but, and its a very real possibility that in today's league some of them could just not cut the cake.

in this day and age its physicality first, skills second


http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/50-david-robinson.jpg

Bigger. Stronger. Faster

http://thesource.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/dm_130424_nba_gasol.jpg

[DonDadda59]

And the leading scorer in the league is this physical specimen:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/jess40404040/kevin-durant.jpg

[ProfessorMurder]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3636/3447265718_150fd07372.jpg
http://www.thefablife.com/files/gallery/the-patricks/patrick_ewing_g.jpg

Bigger. Stronger. Faster.

http://www.playersview.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Joakim-noah.jpg
http://rumorsandrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Pau-Gasol.jpg

[LAZERUSS]

I have said it before, but how many 7-3+ players have ever led the NBA in rebounding? ZERO. And yet a 6-5 Barkley did it once, a 6-7 Wallace did it twice, and a 6-8 Rodman accomplished it seven times.

And Rodman and Wallace were dominating players like Shaq, Robinson, and Ewing. Hell, an old Barkley was killing Hakeem when they were teammates.

And how come James White, Gerald Green, and Ryan Hollins haven't come close to being great players. Hell, in three years of college ball, Hollins averaged 6 ppg and 4 rpg for cryingoutloud.

And how come the 7-4 340 lb Priest Lauderdale couldn't make an NBA roster?

[DonDadda59]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?

[highwhey]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?
/endthread

[JohnMax]

Look at track and field where many runners have broken 10 second barrier in 100M race.

[BoutPractice]

http://redsarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/nba_kevin_love.png

VS

http://cdnl.complex.com/mp/620/400/90/0/bb/1/ffffff/963b193225585b3fb4d87d704bc55508/images_/assets/CHANNEL_IMAGES/SPORTS/2013/01/the-25-greatest-centers-in-nba-history/nate_452713.jpg

http://kentuckybasketballforum.com/uploads/images/Davis-Robinson-top-player-candidates-C713VOPQ-x-large.jpg

VS

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/329138/a_malone_i_medium.jpg

[moe94]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l111/sdchaldo27/Fatboy_reacts.gif

[wakencdukest]

http://redsarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/nba_kevin_love.png

VS

http://cdnl.complex.com/mp/620/400/90/0/bb/1/ffffff/963b193225585b3fb4d87d704bc55508/images_/assets/CHANNEL_IMAGES/SPORTS/2013/01/the-25-greatest-centers-in-nba-history/nate_452713.jpg

http://kentuckybasketballforum.com/uploads/images/Davis-Robinson-top-player-candidates-C713VOPQ-x-large.jpg

VS

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/329138/a_malone_i_medium.jpg





Damn, Karl Malone had a tiny head.

[inclinerator]

i swear i saw this same thread a year or so ago

[BoutPractice]

Those photos remind me that Thurmond might be the most intimidating looking player ever.

[kNIOKAS]

NBA is less physical now because it is skill what sets best players apart from the rest. There's barely anybody who bullies his way to points.

Blame the rules.

[smoovegittar]

It's all about speed these days. That and a sweet jumpshot. I prefer the old days... less highlight reels, and more dominating in the paint.

[oarabbus]

http://redsarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/nba_kevin_love.png

VS

http://cdnl.complex.com/mp/620/400/90/0/bb/1/ffffff/963b193225585b3fb4d87d704bc55508/images_/assets/CHANNEL_IMAGES/SPORTS/2013/01/the-25-greatest-centers-in-nba-history/nate_452713.jpg

http://kentuckybasketballforum.com/uploads/images/Davis-Robinson-top-player-candidates-C713VOPQ-x-large.jpg

VS

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/329138/a_malone_i_medium.jpg


Anthony Davis (will be) >>> Malone though

[CavaliersFTW]

http://www.totalprosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/50-david-robinson.jpg

Bigger. Stronger. Faster

http://thesource.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/dm_130424_nba_gasol.jpg
Yeah, OP definitely showing signs of delusion

Modern centers like Anderson Varejao are "bigger stronger faster" than early 90's centers and have mastered the game better... righhhhhht :oldlol:

[CavaliersFTW]

I have said it before, but how many 7-3+ players have ever led the NBA in rebounding? ZERO. And yet a 6-5 Barkley did it once, a 6-7 Wallace did it twice, and a 6-8 Rodman accomplished it seven times.

And Rodman and Wallace were dominating players like Shaq, Robinson, and Ewing. Hell, an old Barkley was killing Hakeem when they were teammates.

And how come James White, Gerald Green, and Ryan Hollins haven't come close to being great players. Hell, in three years of college ball, Hollins averaged 6 ppg and 4 rpg for cryingoutloud.

And how come the 7-4 340 lb Priest Lauderdale couldn't make an NBA roster?
Rodman was about 6-6 without shoes, I say this because you refered to Barkley and Wallace by their without shoes heights, Rodman was shorter than Wallace, but taller than Barkley

[CavaliersFTW]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?
/thread :applause:

[La Frescobaldi]

https://cdn.iofferphoto.com/img/item/563/751/587/l_2010-11-panini-gold-standard-202-bob-lanier-d-299-c7cc.jpg

http://media.jrn.com/images/b99137062z.1_20131106192457_000_gtu3ata5.1-0.jpg

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/history/legends/dave-cowens/dave-cowens.jpg

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1020890!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/92g0fkjv.jpg

No, OP.

[ProfessorMurder]

All star SFs:

http://sneakersaddict.com/images/Dominique-Wilkins-Hawks.jpg

Bigger. Stronger. Faster.

http://media.mlive.com/pistons_impact/photo/tayshaun-prince-14jpg-020ce87f68b3b778.jpg

[HylianNightmare]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?
:biggums:

[LAZERUSS]

Those photos remind me that Thurmond might be the most intimidating looking player ever.

And yet Chamberlain used to throw him around like a rag doll. As physically as imposing as Thurmond was, NO ONE at the time claimed he was even remotely as strong, nor as athletic, as Wilt. Even Nate, himself, was in awe of Chamberlain.

[theaussieguy]

maybe i should of used an earlier time frame, early nineties is a bit too close, but i find it funny people are posting pics of clearly roided up anomalies (for the time) as proof

Go watch a youtube video or two and the difference is night and day, dat denial

[CavaliersFTW]

maybe i should of used an earlier time frame, early nineties is a bit too close, but i find it funny people are posting pics of clearly roided up anomalies (for the time) as proof

Go watch a youtube video or two and the difference is night and day, dat denial
A Thurmond or Lanier like center in the 60's and 70's was the norm there buddy... without a 3 point shot that was the absolute golden age of the center, and every team was desperate to put a highly skilled bruising big man in the middle to protect the basket, grab rebounds, score high percentage points, and enforce physical punishment when needed. The 90's produced great centers as well and was the 2nd golden age of centers, but even then the league had 'relatively' less of them than the 60's and 70's, as many teams didn't have any.

But no matter how you look at it, TODAY is much less physical, there are rules that deliberately were put in place to make it such. That's why idiots on here bitch about Roy Hibberts verticality defense, or Dwight Howard's goal tending, or Andrew Bynum's body block like they just committed murder. That shit was NORMAL at one point in time and fans wouldn't bat an eyelash at any of that crap. Younger fans today never experienced defense like that, and they act like perimeter players are entitled to not be breathed on when driving the lane because... well... that's what the NBA wants now a days. Uninhibited drives. I'm glad at least some big men get away with playing defense, particularly in the playoffs, like Hibbert. Honestly, I wish the NBA had more of that but it just isn't the product they want to sell anymore so rules and calls often go the other way (to the little guys driving, not the big guys enforcing).

[DonDadda59]

Go watch a youtube video or two and the difference is night and day, dat denial

2 of the 5 I listed from '94 (Robinson & Shaq):

Spurs vs Magic Full Game (Part I) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVQbFni3f8c)

2 of the 5 I listed from '14 (Melo & Durant):

Knicks vs Thunder (3 weeks ago) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s9S4-FxASU)

Dat Denial indeed :applause:

I'm convinced a big part of the problem is you're used to seeing games in HD. I think kids' minds see grainy footage and they automatically dismiss it because their brains aren't used to processing the images. I know it sounds crazy at first, but try a little experiment- watch some game footage from the mid-late 90s that's shitty quality, then watch THIS IN 1080P (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO4Ij4YNyQo)

And Keep in mind that was past his prime MJ. Makes a huge difference seeing past players in that quality I think. Too bad we can't see Wilt, Russell, etc like that.

[plowking]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3636/3447265718_150fd07372.jpg
http://www.thefablife.com/files/gallery/the-patricks/patrick_ewing_g.jpg

Bigger. Stronger. Faster.

http://www.playersview.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Joakim-noah.jpg
http://rumorsandrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Pau-Gasol.jpg

Its funny people get pictures of some of the most athletic and strongest players from back then, and compare it to those not considered at all for their athletic traits.

You have guys like Cousins, Drummond, DeAndre, etc all about 6'11ish and they weight in at 275lbs +, the lot of them. Ewing and Robinson, Hakeem, etc never played at that kind of weight.

[ProfessorMurder]

Its funny people get pictures of some of the most athletic and strongest players from back then, and compare it to those not considered at all for their athletic traits.

You have guys like Cousins, Drummond, DeAndre, etc all about 6'11ish and they weight in at 275lbs +, the lot of them. Ewing and Robinson, Hakeem, etc never played at that kind of weight.

It's funny that people try and whitewash the fact that there were hyper athletes in every year of the NBA. Posting a big time athlete from the past with a current successful player that is not reliant on athleticism proves that idea wrong.

People act like every player now is massively ripped, and 15 years back there were only weaklings. It's a God damned professional sport, there's athletes all over.

http://ussportsdownunder.com/v2/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Muggsy-Bogues-Australia-620x400.jpg

Bigger. Stronger. Faster... At least Jennings is taller.

http://galeri7.uludagsozluk.com/272/brandon-jennings_331817_m.jpg

[DonDadda59]

Its funny people get pictures of some of the most athletic and strongest players from back then, and compare it to those not considered at all for their athletic traits.

You have guys like Cousins, Drummond, DeAndre, etc all about 6'11ish and they weight in at 275lbs +, the lot of them. Ewing and Robinson, Hakeem, etc never played at that kind of weight.

The dudes in red take the dudes in black's lunch money, with very little effort, f*ck outta here :oldlol:

And let's not even start with the damn Diesel. Stop it.

[turnaroundJ]

I have said it before, but how many 7-3+ players have ever led the NBA in rebounding? ZERO. And yet a 6-5 Barkley did it once, a 6-7 Wallace did it twice, and a 6-8 Rodman accomplished it seven times.

And Rodman and Wallace were dominating players like Shaq, Robinson, and Ewing. Hell, an old Barkley was killing Hakeem when they were teammates.

And how come James White, Gerald Green, and Ryan Hollins haven't come close to being great players. Hell, in three years of college ball, Hollins averaged 6 ppg and 4 rpg for cryingoutloud.

And how come the 7-4 340 lb Priest Lauderdale couldn't make an NBA roster?

You just listed 3 elite freaks of nature. Ben Wallace literally lifted weights right after games and was damn athletic too. No one is saying that height leads to rebounding titles.

[CavaliersFTW]

Its funny people get pictures of some of the most athletic and strongest players from back then, and compare it to those not considered at all for their athletic traits.

You have guys like Cousins, Drummond, DeAndre, etc all about 6'11ish and they weight in at 275lbs +, the lot of them. Ewing and Robinson, Hakeem, etc never played at that kind of weight.
All of those guys are 6-9 ish not 6-11ish, and only Drummond and Cousins are 275 or more.

So... 2 out of the top 3 'big/athletic' guys you could think of are Bob Lanier's size. In a 30 team league. And this is in the era of weight training. And none of them are even allowed to throw that weight around on the defensive end. That's pretty sad don't you think?

[andgar923]

This man led the league in scoring 4 times in the 2k era, finished 2nd three times and 3rd two times.

All at a whopping 6'0 165 pounds (if that)







http://images.askmen.com/galleries/men/allen-iverson/pictures/allen-iverson-picture-2.jpg

[La Frescobaldi]

maybe i should of used an earlier time frame, early nineties is a bit too close, but i find it funny people are posting pics of clearly roided up anomalies (for the time) as proof

Go watch a youtube video or two and the difference is night and day, dat denial

http://toolbox.studiobanks.com/content/arhenetwork.com/highlights/333.jpg

The Captain didn't get that barrel chest from body sculpting. He worked on a farm, doing heavy work all day.

You know, there's lots of stories about Wilt Chamberlain, how strong he was and all - and he was amazing. I saw him do a lot of things, like bodily lift two players off the floor, one in each hand, and set them on their feet.

But Willis was strong as a bull. He could move Wilt around under the basket sometimes, and he was the only guy you could say that about. Not even Wayne Embry or Wes Unseld could move that man around.
The thing about Willis tho, not only was he powerful, arms, legs, core, but he had a great outside game too, so you couldn't ever know what to expect.

Reed would get rebounds he had no business getting because he would crash from outside and guys would just go flying in all directions.

By the 4th quarter in the Garden the other team was physically exhausted, their whole front court, from trying to box him out........ and then Clyde would start to drive.... and when that happened? It was nothing but tears and sobbing on the visitor's bench.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Damn! OP got owned and exposed big time :roll:

Next time don't post so much bullshit :lol

[ILLsmak]

Rules implemented to make the game less physical... Players bulk up.

Smart.

I dunno if that's sarcasm, but it really is smart. More and 1s, more initiating physicality (and getting the calls.)

If you think about the way the game is called, the actual burst speed of a first step is more important. That would be a strength related thing... even moreso than a 40 yard dash. If you can jet to the spot and catch a defender off guard you are gonna get fouls a lot. It happens all of the time.

-Smak

[ILLsmak]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?

If you actually take position and play style into account, it IS tilted in the favor of the new era.

We gonna act like James Harden isn't a pretty big dude considering that he's a scoring/slasher finesse player? We gonna act like Bron and Melo aren't beastly size for SF? We gonna act like Kevin Love isn't strong? I dunno... lol weird point you are making.

-Smak

[SHAQisGOAT]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?

:applause:

[La Frescobaldi]

If you actually take position and play style into account, it IS tilted in the favor of the new era.

We gonna act like James Harden isn't a pretty big dude considering that he's a scoring/slasher finesse player? We gonna act like Bron and Melo aren't beastly size for SF? We gonna act like Kevin Love isn't strong? I dunno... lol weird point you are making.

-Smak

All very valid, as usual for -Smak.

The point overall is that past days had monstrous strong guys too. They ain't suddenly stronger today than they were 10, 20 or 50 years ago. Probly not stronger than they were 500 years ago either, truth be told. Lifting weights doesn't give the same kind of power that heavy work does; ask Rodman about that.

[sportjames23]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?


/thread