Proof: Basketball today>>>>> Old era ball

[DonDadda59]

"All you have to do is look at the stats," Bird says. "There's better shooting back then...

Highest League eFG%, NBA History
1) 2013-14 .501
2) 2009-10 .501
3) 2008-09 .500
4) 1994-95 .500 ([COLOR="Red"]3 point line shortened[/COLOR])
5) 199-96 .499 ([COLOR="Red"]3 point line shortened[/COLOR])
6) 2010-11 .498
7) 2007-08 .497
8) 2012-13 .496
9) 2006-07 .496
10) 1984-85 .496


Only 3 of the top 10 shooting seasons were not from the post early-mid 2000s rule changes NBA. 2 of them were years the NBA moved the 3 point line closer.

Obviously, the skill level is not where it was at one time."

AKA Larry Legend thinks players were more skilled in the past...

[GODbe]

Proof isn't needed honestly. Just working eyes and common sense.

[Marchesk]

Proof isn't needed honestly. Just working eyes and common sense.

Wilt, Baylor, and Gus Johnson looked pretty damn awesome in Cavs videos.

[TheMan]

I'm guessing you were born in 2003

Like someone else mentioned, I love how OP ignores what Bird said about offensive skill being worse today...dat agenda

[DonDadda59]

Like someone else mentioned, I love how OP ignores what Bird said about offensive skill being worse today...dat agenda

Not only that, but since now old school players are apparently preaching Gospel...

[INDENT]Someone, however, thinks otherwise, and that other person is former Lakers great Jerry West. The former Lakers general manager voiced his opinion about the NBA today and the upcoming draftees this year on ESPN Radio with Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Rusillo:

[B]"Just look at the league, this is the weakest I

[ImKobe]

beta getting ethered left n right

[Dr.J4ever]

Highest League eFG%, NBA History
1) 2013-14 .501
2) 2009-10 .501
3) 2008-09 .500
4) 1994-95 .500 ([COLOR="Red"]3 point line shortened[/COLOR])
5) 199-96 .499 ([COLOR="Red"]3 point line shortened[/COLOR])
6) 2010-11 .498
7) 2007-08 .497
8) 2012-13 .496
9) 2006-07 .496
10) 1984-85 .496


Only 3 of the top 10 shooting seasons were not from the post early-mid 2000s rule changes NBA. 2 of them were years the NBA moved the 3 point line closer.



AKA Larry Legend thinks players were more skilled in the past...

This is deceiving. In context, I think what they(Bird, Ainge, Scott) were talking about is FG%. The fact that teams then shot the ball at a much higher %, and on average had 20 more PPG.

However, if you are making a point about defense, then EFG% is not a good way to compare defenses across eras since they didn't shoot the 3 nearly as much as they do today.

Players shoot so many more 3s today with so more accuracy. This of course will raise Effective Field Goal %.

If any body here is unclear about EFG%, here is the definition below:

"Sporting Charts explains Effective Field Goal Percentage - eFG%

Basic basketball statistics have long been unfair to players who shoot a lot of 3-pointers. Players who take and make a large number of 3-point shots often don't have a very impressive field goal percentage, but that doesn't tell the whole story in terms of the points that player produces.

Take, for example, a player like Hall of Fame center Bob Lanier. He generally did all his scoring around the basket. He had a career field goal percentage of 51.4, but since he did all his scoring in the lane, his effective field goal percentage was also 51.4.

Now by contrast, let's look at a player like Hall of Fame guard Reggie Miller, who made 2560 3-pointers during his career. His career field goal percentage was 47.1, but because of all the 3-pointers he made, his effective field goal percentage was all the way up to 54.4."

So in eras(1980s) where PPGs by teams were so much higher and traditional FG% were also higher, they didn't take so many 3s also. This made them at a disadvantage when you compare them to teams in this era, if you use the advanced stat tool of EFG% .

Additionally, Larry might be correct, that players back them were more skilled(perhaps), but now there's no denying the most important thing he, Ainge, and Laker Coach Scott revealed and agree on: that their eras defenses are not nearly as complex as today's defenses.

If you watch the game closely today and you're honest to yourself, this is really basic basketball knowledge.

[Dr.J4ever]

I also want to know people's opinions on this from the article:

"Scott points out that the best of today's players are more athletic and just as skilled. "There weren't any 7-footers who could guard on the perimeter like Garnett" he says, and no do-it-all superstars.........."

I certainly remember it this way. I don't remember centers back then who blitzed on the pick and roll the way it is commonly done today.

[Bandito]

It's common knowledge. Only MJ stans, Wilt stans and Kareem stans are delusional enough to think otherwise.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo this fgt is back


Well he's been back for a long time but now the alts triumvirate is officially back!!!!

[Encre92]

Not one single player in the 70s/60s would start on any team in today's league. Not one.

Meanwhile you take our top 40-50 current players and they will be top 10 in the old era.

[StephHamann]

Basketball today>>>>> Old era ball

[Paul George 24]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/stor...finals-meeting

From the wise words of the great bird and ainge themselves- ""For the fans' point of view, talk with them," says Bird, a Hall of Fame player who now is president of the Pacers. "I like to watch it either way." "I love the game today," says Ainge, then the guard that Lakers fans loved to hate and now the Sporting News' executive of the year for his work as the Celtics' general manager. "I love the energy. I love the defensive intensity. Coaches and teams have more resources, more scouting, more technology. I think it's an evolution of the game."


"All you have to do is look at the stats," Bird says. "There's better shooting back then, better defense now. Obviously, the skill level is not where it was at one time."

"Offenses are a little more complex because the defenses have forced that," Ainge says. "In the '80s, defense was important but you didn't do as much double-teaming, you didn't do as much trapping. You played guys straight up.


Care to defy the greats who ACTUALLY PLAYED DURING THAT ERA?

wait i thought defense was terrible in this weak era and lebron would get destroyed by the old pistons.

Imagine Wilts era

FLASE,BIG MAN TODAY DORSN'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY DEFENCE

[Paul George 24]

Not one single player in the 70s/60s would start on any team in today's league. Not one.

Meanwhile you take our top 40-50 current players and they will be top 10 in the old era.

WILT CAN

[LAZERUSS]

Young school kids in the early 60's...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soLH6bau9uo

[Paul George 24]

It's common knowledge. Only MJ stans, Wilt stans and Kareem stans are delusional enough to think otherwise.