KD thinks the current era is "PEAK" basketball

[StrongLurk]

https://streamable.com/cj4wo5

I get what he is saying in some sense when looking at the high level of talent/skill, the depth of talent, and the game being as global as ever (Joker, Giannis, Luka, Embiid, etc.).

But I still can't say this is peak basketball because the rules and formatting of the game over the last couple of years has simply made things too easy. Players are simply ALLOWED to be more skilled (depends on how you few things). All these crazy dribble moves and general movement on the court would be travels, carries, or not fouls in pretty much all past NBA eras. But now, it's "more skilled ball than past players".

True greatness is when players and teams OVERCOME difficulties, but the current NBA is doing everything in it's power to make the game EASIER for stars, not harder.

I agree that coaching is as good as ever and, specifically, long distance shooting by all players/positions has dramatically improved. But everything else going on is due to rules/formatting.

The average ORTG for teams over the last 5 years is honestly disgusting and there needs to be more defense in the regular season.

[warriorfan]

KD also said he took the hardest path and he doesn’t understand why he isn’t in the GOAT convo

I would take anything he says with a grain of salt

[dazzer87]

:roll:

[ArbitraryWater]

When KD is analyzing basketball itself hes pretty spot on


got a good reputation around those parts

[3ba11]

Minnesota's coach gave zero props to KAT for dropping 60 because he said it was a pathetic display of defense and basketball (1:11 mark):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XguDQuEKyRQ

[SouBeachTalents]

KD is spot on. When you see the supposed "best player" in the game doing this in the 3 point contest compared to what players do today, it's frankly not even a contest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjukb2NttM&ab_channel=ctsa028

You had absolute scrubs like Vernon Maxwell and John Starks making the Finals as the teams 2nd option, while now you consistently see much more talented teams and players battling it out in the playoffs.

The only truly great 2nd option back then was Scottie Pippen, who was winning 55 games on his own, so no surprise he was able to rack up so many championships with that stacked of a supporting cast. The league has much more parity and competitiveness today, no more 10 ppg 2nd options like Jeff Hornacek in the Finals.

Personally, I'd say 2012-2020 was the real peak of basketball, when you still had insane skill and shooting combined with a more defensive environment, which was an era LeBron dominated by a substantial margin.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

KD is spot on. When you see the supposed "best player" in the game doing this in the 3 point contest compared to what players do today, it's frankly not even a contest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjukb2NttM&ab_channel=ctsa028

You had absolute scrubs like Vernon Maxwell and John Starks making the Finals as the teams 2nd option, while now you consistently see much more talented teams and players battling it out in the playoffs.

The only truly great 2nd option back then was Scottie Pippen, who was winning 55 games on his own, so no surprise he was able to rack up so many championships with that stacked of a supporting cast. The league has much more parity and competitiveness today, no more 10 ppg 2nd options like Jeff Hornacek in the Finals.

Personally, I'd say 2012-2020 was the real peak of basketball, when you still had insane skill and shooting combined with a more defensive environment, which was an era LeBron dominated by a substantial margin.

Now MJ was the supposed "best player" in the 90s... :lol

Damn. This board and some of the posters have really gone off the deep end. Hate to see it

[tontoz]

KD also thought it was a good idea to team up with Kyrie :lol

[Full Court]

KD is spot on. When you see the supposed "best player" in the game doing this in the 3 point contest compared to what players do today, it's frankly not even a contest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjukb2NttM&ab_channel=ctsa028

You had absolute scrubs like Vernon Maxwell and John Starks making the Finals as the teams 2nd option, while now you consistently see much more talented teams and players battling it out in the playoffs.

The only truly great 2nd option back then was Scottie Pippen, who was winning 55 games on his own, so no surprise he was able to rack up so many championships with that stacked of a supporting cast. The league has much more parity and competitiveness today, no more 10 ppg 2nd options like Jeff Hornacek in the Finals.

Personally, I'd say 2012-2020 was the real peak of basketball, when you still had insane skill and shooting combined with a more defensive environment, which was an era LeBron dominated by a substantial margin.

^Get a load of this idiot. :roll:

I guess Stockton and Gary Payton weren't great players now.

[SATAN]

It makes sense given the sheer magnitude of LeBron's talent in comparison to the rest of the league and him retiring soon. We have witnessed peak basketball and a perceived decline is inevitable.

[tpols]

KD is spot on. When you see the supposed "best player" in the game doing this in the 3 point contest compared to what players do today, it's frankly not even a contest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjukb2NttM&ab_channel=ctsa028

You had absolute scrubs like Vernon Maxwell and John Starks making the Finals as the teams 2nd option, while now you consistently see much more talented teams and players battling it out in the playoffs.

The only truly great 2nd option back then was Scottie Pippen, who was winning 55 games on his own, so no surprise he was able to rack up so many championships with that stacked of a supporting cast. The league has much more parity and competitiveness today, no more 10 ppg 2nd options like Jeff Hornacek in the Finals.

Personally, I'd say 2012-2020 was the real peak of basketball, when you still had insane skill and shooting combined with a more defensive environment, which was an era LeBron dominated by a substantial margin.


This is just a bogus post.

John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Kevin Johnson, Penny Hardaway, Shawn Kemp etc. we're all great 2nd options.

[ArbitraryWater]

^Get a load of this idiot. :roll:

I guess Stockton and Gary Payton weren't great players now.


Youre calling players with no scoring takeover ability "truly great". Stockton and Payton are nice no doubt, but theyd be insufficient help for many top players nowadays.

[Full Court]

Youre calling players with no scoring takeover ability "truly great". Stockton and Payton are nice no doubt, but theyd be insufficient help for many top players nowadays.

The post I was calling out mentioned "great second options." Did you not read it, or are you just making another silly post?

[Baller234]

"Skill" is subjective.

What we are witnessing is a totally different game from the one we grew up watching. Remove the 3 point line and more than half the league would be totally useless.

Guys back then had to be specialists.

[1987_Lakers]

Back in the 90's, you had the Spurs with David Robinson and a bunch of scrubs winning 55+ games on a yearly basis. The Knicks with John Starks as their 2nd option was the Bulls biggest rival throughout the early-mid 90's. No doubt there is much more talent today.

[Axe]

KD is spot on. When you see the supposed "best player" in the game doing this in the 3 point contest compared to what players do today, it's frankly not even a contest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjukb2NttM&ab_channel=ctsa028

You had absolute scrubs like Vernon Maxwell and John Starks making the Finals as the teams 2nd option, while now you consistently see much more talented teams and players battling it out in the playoffs.

The only truly great 2nd option back then was Scottie Pippen, who was winning 55 games on his own, so no surprise he was able to rack up so many championships with that stacked of a supporting cast. The league has much more parity and competitiveness today, no more 10 ppg 2nd options like Jeff Hornacek in the Finals.

Personally, I'd say 2012-2020 was the real peak of basketball, when you still had insane skill and shooting combined with a more defensive environment, which was an era LeBron dominated by a substantial margin.
Wow. This post surely did trigger some of the most notorious casuals itb. :oldlol:

[HoopsNY]

Back in the 90's, you had the Spurs with David Robinson and a bunch of scrubs winning 55+ games on a yearly basis. The Knicks with John Starks as their 2nd option was the Bulls biggest rival throughout the early-mid 90's. No doubt there is much more talent today.

"And a bunch of scrubs" wouldn't be fair. Rodman, Elliott, Strickland, Ellis, or Cummings weren't scrubs anymore than LeBron leading guys like Smith, Love, Green, and Korver to 50 wins in 2018, or Isaiah Thomas leading Boston to the #1 seed alongside Horford, Bradley, and Crowder. And I'd argue the former were much better than the latter.

You might say, well, those teams were one and done for the year, but then you have the Raptors doing the same thing from 2015-2018. Or is DeMar and Lowry so much better, and maybe Kawhi just won a chip with a bunch a scrubs a year later?

I remember the Spurs in 2001-2004 winning at least 58 games every single year, including the 2003 chip, in a stacked Western Conference. Maybe it was just all Duncan. Did you take a look at some of those rosters?

Or maybe the Grizzlies with Randolph/Gasol/Conley were so much better as they consistently won 50-56 games for like three straight years with far superior talent? Maybe Dirk was leading a team of has beens to 57 wins and an eventual chip, idk, maybe they weren't competitive enough the previous years winning 50+ games.

I suppose there is an argument to be made for that, but it wouldn't necessarily be anything more than just splitting hairs. But to classify great teams as being one or two guys with a group of scrubs is pretty mind boggling.

Intuition tells me you'll probably isolate one or two of these examples to formulate a rebuttal.

The truth is, games aren't won on paper. You're obviously well aware of that. A great season or a great team, let alone a stretch of seasons, is more than just putting up a high box score with some fancy names. Plenty of teams learned that the hard way.