Is the 80s still the best collection of basketball in terms of talent and teams?

[3ball]

Hmm. The 80's were indeed loaded, but I think the best players from 2010-2020 would beat the best players from 1980-1990 in a game or a series.

The shooting alone would be too much. The 80's wouldn't be able to keep up.

So today's game can't win at actual BASKETBALL - they can only win if we give them an extra point on their shots..

But if we took away their extra point (took away the 3-point line) and put them in the 70's, they would get blown away at actual BASKETBALL

but yeah, if we give them an extra point on their shots, then yes, they might win, otherwise, they completely suck at BASKETBALL

[72-10]

1991 is might be better than 1981. But, I'm not sure that 1992 is better than 1982.

[Im Still Ballin]

For sure.

- Lakers
- Celtics
- Late 70's/early 80's Philly
- Late 80's Detroit
- Don Nelson's Milwaukee

The '90s had expansion teams come in and somewhat dilute the talent. Prior to the '80s, the talent pool was smaller and fragmented due to the ABA which folded in 1976. With the advent of the Illegal Defense Guidelines, hand-check reinterpretation, and Bird and Magic being drafted, the '80s was ripe for a commercial explosion.

[2much_knowledge]

Sure thing. 80s had the best crop of stars playing at the same time and it had the skill and also the toughness

[Mr. Woke]

Nope. It was a weaker era (and had less parity, if parity is something that you care about).

The modern era (2010 onward) is the toughest/most competitive era in NBA history.

[2much_knowledge]

Nope. It was a weaker era (and had less parity, if parity is something that you care about).

The modern era (2010 onward) is the toughest/most competitive era in NBA history.

Most talented and thats about it really

[John8204]

It's the 1950's because you only had 8 teams so basically every team had a championship, HOF or Top 75 guy

Lakers (Mikan, Baylor)
Hawks (Pettit)
Warriors (Arizin, Chamberlain)
Celtics (Cousy, Jones, Sharmann, Russell)
Nationals (Greer, Schayes)
Royals (won a title)
Pistons (Yardley)

[3ba11]

.
.
I'm now convinced that MJ's prime was actually 85-91':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uamkj03x7Rs


It makes me wonder about the 80's where a couple stacked super-teams dominated - a player was lucky to be on those teams.. Only in the 90's where many teams had similar talent levels (parity), did the cream rise to the top with no luck needed.

[TheGoatest]

The 4 decades since the introduction of the 3 point line:

1. 2010s
2. 1980s
3. 2000s
4. 1990s

The 2020s are so far shaping up to be somewhere between #2 and #3.

[999Guy]

23 teams, more than half of them shitty. Yet still 16 out of 23 teams made the playoffs.


The thing that distinguished the non-MVP level player having Pistons was defense and toughness, and that was by the very late 80’s. Most of the decade consisted of shit strategy and soft approach to the game. Little defensive mindedness.

Absolute shit era. A few high level peaks and primes but every decade has them.

It’s really an indefensible point to believe the 80’s were even good in a way that stands up to time. Let alone the best, ever.

[light]

Except for the fact that players didn't take care of their bodies and smoked cigarettes and drank beers at halftime and did tons of coke in general and also steroids. Yes, except for those things.

[FKAri]

Not overall but the late 80s is the pinnacle of American basketball in terms of talent.

[8Ball]

The 4 decades since the introduction of the 3 point line:

1. 2010s
2. 1980s
3. 2000s
4. 1990s

The 2020s are so far shaping up to be somewhere between #2 and #3.

2020s shaping up to be #2 pretty definitively.

Luka / Giannis / LeBron / Jokic / Curry / Durant

[8Ball]

.
.
I'm now convinced that MJ's prime was actually 85-91':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uamkj03x7Rs


It makes me wonder about the 80's where a couple stacked super-teams dominated - a player was lucky to be on those teams.. Only in the 90's where many teams had similar talent levels (parity), did the cream rise to the top with no luck needed.

If MJ's prime was 85-91, then the bulls winning 72 games in 96 was about his team being the most stacked of all time, until the Warriors won 73 in 2016.

I'm glad you admitted this.

[3ba11]

If MJ's prime was 85-91, then the bulls winning 72 games in 96 was about his team being the most stacked of all time, until the Warriors won 73 in 2016.

I'm glad you admitted this.

That's just how great he was that he could be MVP, scoring champ and 1st team defense despite being 70% of his athletic peak

Jordan had 100% athleticism from 85-88'... 95% in 89-90'..... 85-90% from 91-93'.... And 65-75% from 96-98'

Look at the video - he was otherworldly from 85-88'