This Lakers/celtics show is pretty entertaining,

[coach66]

The NBA peaked.

 

[patdog]

Yeah. That was the golden age for sure. Great rivalry in every way. Contrasting styles, east coast - west coast, just really didn't like each other at all, and neither team was afraid to get physical when they needed to. More hall of famers on the court than not. And it wasn't just those 2 teams. The Sixers, Rockets and then the Pistons all had great teams too. I used to love to stay up late to watch Showtime back in the day.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Sorry, didn't see this post. You're right, this was the best time ever for the NBA, 1978-1988.

RIP

 

[The Usual Suspect]

Just watched it tonight. Good memories.

 

[Faustdog]

I'm enjoying it and loved to watch those teams. Had one of those life size ruler posters of Larry Bird on my wall.

But today's teams would smoke them.

 

[The Usual Suspect]

Depends on which refs were officiating (1984 or 2017).

 

[coach66]

Today's game is just a 3 point scoring fest so likely you are correct they could

not have kept up. With that said, it may be fair to say these present teams would struggle against those teams
in their era with their style of play.

 

[Bulldogg31]

not have kept up. With that said, it may be fair to say these present teams would struggle against those teams
in their era with their style of play.

Seems like the game back then was more of a team game that relied less on creating one-on-one matchups.

I haven't watched an NBA game in over a decade probably so I'm not sure what it looks like now, but my perception is that it's mostly 3-pointers and dunks.

 

[coach66]

Your perception is on, if a guy gets beat he generally let's the guys finish the

play on him. In the old days if a guy got beat he would invoke "The no dunks or layups Rule".

 

[DawgatAuburn]

In the 1984 Finals, the Celtics and Lakers combined, in seven games, to go 15 for 42 from three. That's 35.7% and roughly speaking the teams combining to go 2 for 6 in each game. Overall, they took 1,296 shots, or 185 per game (with two overtime periods).

In the 2017 Finals, the Cavs and Warriors combined, in six games, to go 137 for 359 from three. That's 38.1% and roughly speaking the teams combining to go 23 for 60 in each game. Overall, they took 906 shots, or 151 per game.

So no surprise, but the 84 teams played at a slightly faster pace than the 2017 teams but the current teams are more efficient with their possessions. Certainly the skill level of today's players is off the charts, but I do think the Warriors would struggle to guard Kareem, Magic and Worthy. Who's gonna guard Kareem? Draymond? Then Durant or Iguodala on Worthy with the other one taking Rambis. That leaves Curry and Thompson, and one of them has to check Magic? Child please. If they played West, Zaza and McGee more to help with Kareem, then one of the starters has to come off the court. I think they would have to do that or Kareem would destroy them with the skyhook. The Lakers are a decent matchup for the Warriors. Magic was tall enough to play off Curry to take away the drive, but still be able to close out on some of his long threes. Cooper/Scott on Thompson or Iguodala works. Worthy on Durant works. Rambis on Draymond would end in fisticuffs, and Kareem guards the rim while paying little attention to the crappy big in the game.

Lakers in 7

 

[coach66]

Well done.

nm

 

[Drebin]

In the 1984 Finals, the Celtics and Lakers combined, in seven games, to go 15 for 42 from three. That's 35.7% and roughly speaking the teams combining to go 2 for 6 in each game. Overall, they took 1,296 shots, or 185 per game (with two overtime periods).

In the 2017 Finals, the Cavs and Warriors combined, in six games, to go 137 for 359 from three. That's 38.1% and roughly speaking the teams combining to go 23 for 60 in each game. Overall, they took 906 shots, or 151 per game.

So no surprise, but the 84 teams played at a slightly faster pace than the 2017 teams but the current teams are more efficient with their possessions. Certainly the skill level of today's players is off the charts, but I do think the Warriors would struggle to guard Kareem, Magic and Worthy. Who's gonna guard Kareem? Draymond? Then Durant or Iguodala on Worthy with the other one taking Rambis. That leaves Curry and Thompson, and one of them has to check Magic? Child please. If they played West, Zaza and McGee more to help with Kareem, then one of the starters has to come off the court. I think they would have to do that or Kareem would destroy them with the skyhook. The Lakers are a decent matchup for the Warriors. Magic was tall enough to play off Curry to take away the drive, but still be able to close out on some of his long threes. Cooper/Scott on Thompson or Iguodala works. Worthy on Durant works. Rambis on Draymond would end in fisticuffs, and Kareem guards the rim while paying little attention to the crappy big in the game.

Lakers in 7

I do think that the officiating of this era has more to do with the improved scoring percentages and offensive efficiencies. I agree that there are better overall athletes today....but in 1984 Steph Curry would be having to pick himself up off the floor several times per game and that tends to impact his ability to shoot at a high level as the game progresses. Today's game has too many straight line drives to the basket and the biggest reason for that is a defender not wanting to accidentally clip the players head going for the ball and getting a flagrant 1 foul.

Today's rules are not good for the game. I didn't care much for the gorilla ball the Pistons played either, but it seems to me that we could play somewhere in the middle.

Remember the old "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" commercials? Back then, if you were coming into the paint with the ball, you were going to pay the price. That doesn't happen anymore. In my opinion, the game is poorer for it.

ETA: I think the Celtics would match up with today's Warriors,too. Green wouldn't be able to guard McHale either, and his physical play would frustrate the hell out of Green and probably get in his head. Ainge would struggle guarding Curry and Bird would probably struggle with Durant, but Bird would probably average 40 a game on the offensive end because the Warriors don't have anyone who could guard him. Maxwell and Thompson would probably cancel each other out.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

ETA: I think the Celtics would match up with today's Warriors,too. Green wouldn't be able to guard McHale either, and his physical play would frustrate the hell out of Green and probably get in his head. Ainge would struggle guarding Curry and Bird would probably struggle with Durant, but Bird would probably average 40 a game on the offensive end because the Warriors don't have anyone who could guard him. Maxwell and Thompson would probably cancel each other out.

You left out the Chief and DJ. DJ would absolutely have been on Curry and done a good job with him. Ainge was still a year away from a major role on that team. Gerald Henderson got more minutes in the backcourt with DJ. Parish and McHale would have presented major problems for the Warriors, not to mention Bird. But I agree with the premise. Celtics win that series too.

 

[mstateglfr]

Interesting that so many suggest play today isnt physical, or as physical as the 80s/early 90s.
Yes, there was an idea that nobody was gonna get a free shot back then and physical fouls were more prevalent then.

To me though, that doesn’t mean the game overall was more physical back then.

Couple things-

I am happy those hard intentional fouls don’t happen as often. Its total crap and isnt a legitimate basketball play. Intentional fouls have no place in basketball and should be treated accordingly. Make a play on the ball or you are being a little *****.

Pause a current game, especially the NBA finals that just concluded, and at any 1 time you will see 4 fouls on the court. There are only 5 matchups and 4 of the 5 are active fouls when you pause a game during half court play. That isnt an exaggeration- it’s a 17ing foul fest out there and there is no reasonable way for the refs to call all the fouls so it becomes the style of play.

Current physical play that’s complete BS-
- High ball screener is CONSTANTLY moving when they ‘set’ the screen. That’s a foul and isnt how it used to be 30 years ago.
- High ball screener holds the defender they are screening making it extremely difficult to play defense.
- Defenders flat out hold guys as they try to cut and run to an open space. Just straight up hold em.

Those 3 things happen on almost every half court set(since almost every half court set has screens, especially high ball screens). Its constant banging and holding over and over again. Its constant impeding one’s path of movement.
There are dozens of fouls, both on ball and off ball, in every half court set. Its absurd.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

It's amazing to me that Pat Riley was handed the keys to Showtime, won championships with that style, then went to the Knicks and in part set basketball down the road to what you see today with the rough and tumble style they played with. I guess he knew he wasn't going to beat the Jordan era Bulls with his squad playing Showtime style. And the Pistons had certainly started that in the late 80s early 90s.