Old fans complaining about 80's basketball

[1987_Lakers]

https://groups.google.com/g/net.spor.../c/_i748SYWaf8

https://groups.google.com/g/net.spor.../c/7NLxKkioZGo

From 1985 & 1986.

VanHandelDJ's profile photo
VanHandelDJ
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Feb 4, 1985, 12:49:17 PM
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>> Why is the NBA so boring? Except for maybe Boston, Philadelphia, and LA, I
>> doubt whether most of the readers of this note can name 2 starters on any
>> other team. The interest in the NBA is minimal. Most of the people I know
>> (are they the wrong people?) have no idea who's in first, what the divisions
>> are, or even what the team nicknames are. Is that because we don't have a team
>> here in Columbus? or is prevalent throughout the country? So tell me...why
>> isn't the NBA making it?
>> ...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus...
>
>I'll tell you why the NBA is so boring!
>
> 1. Zone defenses are not allowed --> detracts from defense
> 2. 3-to-make-2 free throws --> thwarts comebacks
> 3. Bad shot selection
> 4. One-on-one play
> 5. 3-point shots --> further encourages bad shot selection
> 6. 24-second clock --> encourages bad shot selection and one-on-one play
> 7. No necessity for coaching, therefore there is none -- it's sandlot bball
> 8. Refs don't call charging --> discourages good defense
> 9. Refs don't call traveling (better this year I've heard)
> --> allows for dunks from mid-court
> 10. 20-second timeouts --> to easy to get out of trap situations
> 11. too many playoff teams --> who cares about the regular season anymore

[1987_Lakers]

Finally somebody else who thinks the way I do, I have never been
impressed with Parish. Now that we're on this line of thought,
is anybody impressed with Moses Malone? Almost every game I see
him in he consistantly throws up bricks. I know he's a great
rebounder but when he goes inside and misses everything I wonder
why the sixers give him the ball at all.

[90sgoat]

Yeah, the NBA has had the same problems building up over a long time.

[iamgine]

These guys are probably dead.

[warriorfan]

Yeah, the NBA has had the same problems building up over a long time.

Yeah. What was said in the OP was fairly accurate. NBA has never really had much parity. There’s always been a couple top dogs then everyone else.

Then fans never like when they tinker too much with rule changes

Fans aren’t usually big on players with ugly play styles such as Moses, even if they are effective

[Phoenix]

In reality the league, at least from the point they started promoting individuals, has always put the 'business' aspect out front and affected the organic quality of the game itself. Even as an MJ fan in the 90s I always thought the idea 'its MJ, they won't call that on him' to be bullshit, just as some unproven rookie getting shafted because 'he's a rookie, he won't get that call yet'. Marquee names getting 'star' calls, select teams getting preferential treatment to sway outcomes, over-extended seasons and playoffs to maximize revenue.

[1987_Lakers]

Yeah. What was said in the OP was fairly accurate. NBA has never really had much parity. There’s always been a couple top dogs then everyone else.

Then fans never like when they tinker too much with rule changes

Fans aren’t usually big on players with ugly play styles such as Moses, even if they are effective

Moses shot around 46% from the floor as a big man in the mid 80's while every other good-elite center shot much more efficiently, I'd say that was a fair criticism by the old fan who posted that.