Overrated defense of the 80s/90s

[Deuce Bigalow]

The "bad boy" Pistons were known as the premiere defensive team of its era. Lets take a look at what they held their opponents to.

Opponents stats
87-88 Pistons: 104.1 PPG/46.7 FG%
88-89 Pistons: 100.8 PPG/44.7 FG%
89-90 Pistons: 98.3 PPG/44.7 FG%

The Pistons in 88-89 ended up winning the championship, their defense was good enough to be ranked 3rd in the league. They were some "bad boys" on the defensive end locking down opponents to 100 points.

Lets compare that to the Mike Antoni Los Angeles Lakers

Beware. Reading below this sentence may be harmful to some posters with 80s/90s nostalgia.

Opponents stats
12-13 Lakers: 100.3 PPG/44.6 FG%

This current defense in this era is good enough for 19th best.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Except that they weren't playing against equal quality offenses. Offenses back then were substantially better for a variety of reasons (more pass-first PG's, better team play, better fundamentals, less micromanagement by coaches, and most importantly greater concentration of talent (most teams had 3-4 guys who could get you 18-22 ppg on any given night, and good teams had 4-5 such guys).

Today's teams would NOT hold the teams of the 1988 NBA to the same averages that they're holding 2013 teams to. Fact.

[DatAsh]

Defensive rating is tied to offensive rating. Those same statistics could just as easily be used to conclude that the 80's and 90's offenses were better than the offenses of today.

I don't agree with either conclusion per say, but it is what it is.

[Colbertnation64]

Not that I agree with the OP, who is an idiot but...

Except that they weren't playing against equal quality offenses. Offenses back then were substantially better for a variety of reasons (more pass-first PG's, better team play, better fundamentals, less micromanagement by coaches, and most importantly greater concentration of talent (most teams had 3-4 guys who could get you 18-22 ppg on any given night, and good teams had 4-5 such guys).

Today's teams would NOT hold the teams of the 1988 NBA to the same averages that they're holding 2013 teams to. Fact.

is a prime example of someone who is equally idiotic, just on the opposite end of the spectrum.

[Round Mound]

Except that they weren't playing against equal quality offenses. Offenses back then were substantially better for a variety of reasons (more pass-first PG's, better team play, better fundamentals, less micromanagement by coaches, and most importantly greater concentration of talent (most teams had 3-4 guys who could get you 18-22 ppg on any given night, and good teams had 4-5 such guys).

Today's teams would NOT hold the teams of the 1988 NBA to the same averages that they're holding 2013 teams to. Fact.

[Leviathon1121]

Except that they weren't playing against equal quality offenses. Offenses back then were substantially better for a variety of reasons (more pass-first PG's, better team play, better fundamentals, less micromanagement by coaches, and most importantly greater concentration of talent (most teams had 3-4 guys who could get you 18-22 ppg on any given night, and good teams had 4-5 such guys).

Today's teams would NOT hold the teams of the 1988 NBA to the same averages that they're holding 2013 teams to. Fact.

Not to mention the greater number of serviceable centers. Having a quality big man with good fundamentals in the middle just makes the game so much easier for teams as a whole to run efficient offenses. It is a position that has been dying for awhile and is on it's last breath in today's NBA.

[TheBigVeto]

Any post 1999 Lakers will win 9 games max when they play in the 80s.
Fact.

[Chapallaz]

So you didnt see those games? Other era other style of play. Other scores.

[madmax]

Except that they weren't playing against equal quality offenses. Offenses back then were substantially better for a variety of reasons (more pass-first PG's, better team play, better fundamentals, less micromanagement by coaches, and most importantly greater concentration of talent (most teams had 3-4 guys who could get you 18-22 ppg on any given night, and good teams had 4-5 such guys).

Today's teams would NOT hold the teams of the 1988 NBA to the same averages that they're holding 2013 teams to. Fact.

LMAO at this agenda driven fool

[chips93]

Defensive rating is tied to offensive rating. Those same statistics could just as easily be used to conclude that the 80's and 90's offenses were better than the offenses of today.

this

[PistolPete44]

keep overrating this era to make kobe looks like GOAT
you will fail.

[ThaRegul8r]

Oh, look! Another "tear down a past era in order to prop up the one I actually watched!"

[The Iron Fist]

Except that they weren't playing against equal quality offenses. Offenses back then were substantially better for a variety of reasons (more pass-first PG's, better team play, better fundamentals, less micromanagement by coaches, and most importantly greater concentration of talent (most teams had 3-4 guys who could get you 18-22 ppg on any given night, and good teams had 4-5 such guys).

Today's teams would NOT hold the teams of the 1988 NBA to the same averages that they're holding 2013 teams to. Fact.

Lol "fact".

Prove it then.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Not that I agree with the OP, who is an idiot but...



is a prime example of someone who is equally idiotic, just on the opposite end of the spectrum.

No, I'm not equally idiotic, because I believe that today's defenses would hold offenses of, say, 1988 to averages somewhere between what teams from 1988 held them to and what 2013 teams hold teams to today. Nice try, though.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Lol "fact".

Prove it then.

lol @ you if you think that the teams of the late 80's/early 90's wouldn't score more against teams today than today's teams do. So sad, so blind.