I haven't watched NBA games in years. As I am San Antonio Spurs fan since 1970s. I was curious so I watched highlights from last game between Spurs and Pelicans. I was shocked by current NBA players athleticism. The game was much faster paced than the games I watched when Jordan ruled the court. It seemed every player could dunk at will.

Basketball handling skills to maneuvering around the paint seemed absolutely superb. Both teams were simply filled with talented athletes. Is it just me or has the game evolved to a new height? I don't think the players from the past, I mean 1990s or 2000s can compete with the current class of NBA pro basketball players.

 

Watch Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors sometime.

The only NBA game I've seen in person was between the Spurs and the 76ers, in San Antonio. It was George (The Iceman) Gervin vs. Julius (Dr. J) Erving. Both now Hall of Famers but that shows how long ago that happened.

 

very different game with a very different set of rules and how they’re applied.

I recommend checking out the Denver Nuggets (for Nikola Jokic) and the Milwaukee Bucks (for Giannis Antetokounmpo). Those two players (for me) are the best representation of how cool the game can get as its evolved. Both are huge seven foot tall guys doing stuff that guys their size would never have considered doing prior to 2015 or so.

 

I preferred the old game especially before they let guys take two steps on a dribble. ( or three or four)
Imagine Dr J with an extra step!!!

Between the three and the extra step it did open the game up.
As a fan of a good low post game ( McHale, Bird etc.) the game has been gutted.

 

I haven't watched any B-ball in 50 years.

 

That's too bad Dave, the 80's had some damn good games.

 

Jerry, I guess I misspoke. I watched a lot of games when the Piston’s won two of their NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. Isiah Thomas and Bad Boys era.

 

Oh boy…. Knicks up 2-0 in the finals. As a NY sports fan, exciting. 50+ years…. However, basketball isn’t high on my list of sports.

The game I knew growing up isn’t there. The magic/bird era and MJ era. At times, the amount of pushing and shoving all over the court seems ridiculous. Under these rules, Lambeer or Rodman may have actually done real damage to people.

the gather? The euro-step? 3/4/5 steps and still no call? As my nephew says… the product is horrible, it’s unwatchable. I probably agree, except the knicks are almost there. I feel like I’m watching high schoolers on the court at a park just beating on each other.

oh well…. Rant off, go Knicks!

 

^ totally agree. I have not watched any B-ball since the Lambeer & Rodman days. I don't recognize the game. It's more like football with a round ball.

Sorry, I guess I'm just repeating myself after looking back at earlier posts.

 

It was troubling to me to see the NBA players not showing proper respect for the "Stars and Stripes" during playing of our National Anthem.
I really tried to get excited about the game but with such blatant display of disrespect for what used to be accepted as a norm, I lost my renewed interest.
It is sad but we are living in different times.