After watching Showtime Lakers, no way could today's players compete with them

[90sgoat]

That’s true but all I’m saying is if you watch an entire game you will come to realize that today’s players don’t have the talent of the past inside the 3 point line. It’s a very big gap.

What surprised the first time I watched Bulls Lakers in 91 was how good Worthy was on offense, had the entire package, including post game, mid range, driving. Definitely the third best in that series.

[3ba11]

What surprised the first time I watched Bulls Lakers in 91 was how good Worthy was on offense, had the entire package, including post game, mid range, driving. Definitely the third best in that series.

Worthy was completely hobbled and injured in the 1991 Finals, yet he still nearly outplayed Pippen and hit far more timely buckets.

In 1987, Worthy carried the Lakers to the Finals with 30 on 62% in the WCF and then he won FMVP in 1988, so Worthy has many examples of PERFORMANCE that topped anything Pippen ever did.. Worthy was 1st option over Kareem and Magic for the 87-89' Playoffs and had many dominant performances.

Otoh, Pippen has zero great performances and simply lives off the 6 rings that MJ carried him to... Everyone that won more than 2 Finals needed a teammate to get 25 ppg or FMVP for at least 1 of the Finals, but Pippen peaked at 21 ppg and is 0/6 in FMVP, so he's literally the least help ever for than anyone that won more than 2 chips.

[Xiao Yao You]

Someone like Dennis Johnson would be a superstar today and he was only a role player on Celtics.

Players were not allowed to carry and palm in the 80s which made the players look much worse than they actually were, but Dennis Johnson doesn't look awkward even by today's standards.

Tom Chambers would be a huge star today, 6'10'' and very athletic, run like a guard. Ralph Sampson is basically Wemby etc.

Not palming or not gather stepping and all the other shit they do today doesnt look awkward to me.todays players certainly dont look right to me

[Micku]

The math wouldn't have worked out. You are trading 3s for 2s. And back then, they weren't used to defending the 3. They would usually coincide to it because it was considered to be a bad shot.

You are right that teams like the Lakers and the Celts were quick and decisive on their shots. And the fast breaks were crazy. But it was a different game back then with different rules. Players today can't get away with some of the stuff they do now. Back then they would call carry, moving screens, and all of that. That Harden step back is a travel.

With that said, they can shoot the ball out of the gym. The 80s teams likely wouldn't be able to keep up. And the sets that they run now is much more complicated. Some of the moves that players would make now would be revolutionary back then. The Euro step, the crazy step backs, and etc. Even GSW being so mediocre now, they would probably break the league back then because they never seen stuff like that. They took the Jazz pick and roll offense and just expanded it. The spacing is crazy now.

However, not to say the 80s star players can't play in today's rules. Superstars can play in any era. And the Lakers were stacked. Give them time to adjust to the game, and they'll be good.

[90sgoat]

The step backs would be called travel for sure.

[sdot_thadon]

So you admit it then, that other than the 3 point shot, 80s teams are better. Make the simple era adjustments 80s style and the 2025 teams have no shot. That’s all I’m saying. Just agree.

It's a stupid point it'd make a ton more sense if you were comparing to an era without the 3 point line, or a shorter line. Real life differences. You're over here claiming Carl Lewis could beat Usain Bolt of he was missing a leg lol. It's a stylistic difference not a handicap to hand out to reach your desired conclusion. Whenever someone approaches a debate trying to add/remove things for either side they've already lost and just won't admit it.