Predict the next NBA trend

[Hindenburg]

outdoor NBA with pets

[tmorgan]

Removal of primary ball-handling and distributing duties from the PG position.

We've already seen the decline of the true center (post play, never leaves the paint), so next could be the decline of the smaller PG that does nothing but distribute and shoot from outside. This would be the true end of positions -- players would still be different sizes, but everyone would have a role in defense, rebounding, passing, scoring, etc.

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

[Flight 22]

Wearing no underwear during playoff games.

[tape up]

NBA players abandoning the super team method to win championships and take some dang pride in being the sole leader to lead your team to a championship.

Remember the days when

Chris Paul was on the Hornets
LeBron was a OG Cav
Melo was on the Nuggets
Kidd was on the Nets
Pierce was the sole driving force of the Celtics
KG was on the Timberwolves
Kobe was the sole driving force of the Lakers
Pau was on the Grizzlies
Bosh was on the Raptors
Brandon Roy was on the Blazers
Durant was the sole driving force of the Thunder
Dwight was on the Magic
Wade was the sole driving force of the Heat


remember those days! I want them back! NOOOOOOW! Gimme gimme gimme


Now you have a 1 in 4 chance to predict the NBA Finals Champions before the preseason starts because the NBA has turned into a superteam joke. Where is the guts with superstar players anymore wanting to win one by themselves to create their legacy while also creating a even balance of power across the league where system, coaching and having 1 star leader meant the difference between winning and losing.

Melo is still the sole leader of the Knicks ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Tayswagzzz]

The Weeknd inspired hairstyles

[skones]

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Early in the sense that those players have been around for decades and have consistently achieved success in the league?

[tmorgan]

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Early in the sense that those players have been around since the 80s?

Early in the sense that I knew a nit-picker would bring up other players that have also been good in every facet of the game. That wasn't my point, but I expected that kind of response. Thank you for making me correct.

[spaceballer]

Stretch 5.

5-out-0-in offense.

[Rockmaninoff]

Regularly making bank passes off the backboard is the final frontier.

[bovice]

NBA players abandoning the super team method to win championships and take some dang pride in being the sole leader to lead your team to a championship.

Remember the days when

Chris Paul was on the Hornets
LeBron was a OG Cav
Melo was on the Nuggets
Kidd was on the Nets
Pierce was the sole driving force of the Celtics
KG was on the Timberwolves
Kobe was the sole driving force of the Lakers
Pau was on the Grizzlies
Bosh was on the Raptors
Brandon Roy was on the Blazers
Durant was the sole driving force of the Thunder
Dwight was on the Magic
Wade was the sole driving force of the Heat


remember those days! I want them back! NOOOOOOW! Gimme gimme gimme


Now you have a 1 in 4 chance to predict the NBA Finals Champions before the preseason starts because the NBA has turned into a superteam joke. Where is the guts with superstar players anymore wanting to win one by themselves to create their legacy while also creating a even balance of power across the league where system, coaching and having 1 star leader meant the difference between winning and losing.

It's hard to have that when the culture of fans and media is all about greatness = championships. That's just not true because 1 player by himself only has a minor impact on a team's path to a championship when you factor in front office decisions over the past years, coaching, injuries, teammates, etc...

Also, in the years you're talking about, there has always been a handful of teams that were 'contenders'. No one ever looked at Pierce's Celtics or CP3's Hornets or Bosh's Raptors as contenders.

[ken6199]

More polarized salary spectrum.

[skones]

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Early in the sense that those players have been around since the 80s?

Early in the sense that I knew a nit-picker would bring up other players that have also been good in every facet of the game. That wasn't my point, but I expected that kind of response. Thank you for making me correct.

It's not nitpicking. It's not even close to "early" given that Robertson, West, Bird, Jordan, Johnson, Kobe, etc. had pretty consistently dominated the "do it all" game long before Lebron. It's not a new trend. It's an old one.

[tmorgan]

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Early in the sense that those players have been around for decades and have consistently achieved success in the league?

So, your new version is "good players are good"? Thanks. So helpful.

If you can't remember the time when the vast majority of forwards were finishers on the break/defenders/rebounders OR perimeter scorers, then your memory is short. Of course there were exceptions, there are ALWAYS exceptions. During LBJ's time in the league, however, there has been a shift to less specialists and more do-it-all types, and he's the best of them. He's played over half of his career now, and been here for the shift, so I think it's reasonable to say he came early to the trend he's now a part of of.

Disagree? Fine. No need to be a PITA about it.

[spaceballer]

Removal of primary ball-handling and distributing duties from the PG position.

We've already seen the decline of the true center (post play, never leaves the paint), so next could be the decline of the smaller PG that does nothing but distribute and shoot from outside. This would be the true end of positions -- players would still be different sizes, but everyone would have a role in defense, rebounding, passing, scoring, etc.

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Even if all that comes to pass, I can't agree with the rebounding part. Taller guys (or guys with an aptitude for it despite size) are going to be at an advantage rebounding. And rebounding (and defense) schemes differ from system to system. If you've got a leak-out-fast-break system, then obviously your guards aren't going to be rebounding and it would make more sense for them to leak out rather than contest rebounds with taller guys. If you're doing gang-rebounding, that's a choice, but it puts you at a fastbreak disadvantage. It's trade-offs, and won't be the same on all teams.

[skones]

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Early in the sense that those players have been around for decades and have consistently achieved success in the league?

So, your new version is "good players are good"? Thanks. So helpful.

If you can't remember the time when the vast majority of forwards were finishers on the break/defenders/rebounders OR perimeter scorers, then your memory is short. Of course there were exceptions, there are ALWAYS exceptions. During LBJ's time in the league, however, there has been a shift to less specialists and more do-it-all types, and he's the best of them. He's played over half of his career now, and been here for the shift, so I think it's reasonable to say he came early to the trend he's now a part of of.

Disagree? Fine. No need to be a PITA about it.

The "good players are good" argument is yours not mine, only it's more akin to "the guy who does everything great is the best." O rlly? I'm not being a PITA, you're just making a false claim.

The point is that the "do it all guys" have always won a lot of games because they "do it all." It's not exactly a new concept, nor is Lebron some new breed in that sense, he just happens to be the most prominent guy in this era, and be a generational athlete as well which coincidentally could push him into GOAT status eventually as the rest of his career shakes out. History in the league backs that claim.

I just don't know how you can look at today's league and claim that there are "less specialists" given the nature of the 3-D wing, the stretch 4, the defensive anchor, etc. If anything, well rounded players are fewer and further between, which would suggest that roles are becoming more defined to cover up players weaknesses. Teams are starting to find ways to win games in much different ways than they used to, and for the most part, it's predicated upon team basketball instead of that one completely dominant player.

[pbernardi]

Removal of primary ball-handling and distributing duties from the PG position.

We've already seen the decline of the true center (post play, never leaves the paint), so next could be the decline of the smaller PG that does nothing but distribute and shoot from outside. This would be the true end of positions -- players would still be different sizes, but everyone would have a role in defense, rebounding, passing, scoring, etc.

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Even if all that comes to pass, I can't agree with the rebounding part. Taller guys (or guys with an aptitude for it despite size) are going to be at an advantage rebounding. And rebounding (and defense) schemes differ from system to system. If you've got a leak-out-fast-break system, then obviously your guards aren't going to be rebounding and it would make more sense for them to leak out rather than contest rebounds with taller guys. If you're doing gang-rebounding, that's a choice, but it puts you at a fastbreak disadvantage. It's trade-offs, and won't be the same on all teams.

Two PG playing with three mobile forwards. It remembers me the Suns of 2014/2015, I think it will be a trend for next years.

[spaceballer]

Removal of primary ball-handling and distributing duties from the PG position.

We've already seen the decline of the true center (post play, never leaves the paint), so next could be the decline of the smaller PG that does nothing but distribute and shoot from outside. This would be the true end of positions -- players would still be different sizes, but everyone would have a role in defense, rebounding, passing, scoring, etc.

One might note that this is why LeBron is the best player in the game -- he came early (not first, but early) to the trend of the do-it-all wings, and he's the best combination of passing, scoring, rebounding, and defense in the NBA.

Even if all that comes to pass, I can't agree with the rebounding part. Taller guys (or guys with an aptitude for it despite size) are going to be at an advantage rebounding. And rebounding (and defense) schemes differ from system to system. If you've got a leak-out-fast-break system, then obviously your guards aren't going to be rebounding and it would make more sense for them to leak out rather than contest rebounds with taller guys. If you're doing gang-rebounding, that's a choice, but it puts you at a fastbreak disadvantage. It's trade-offs, and won't be the same on all teams.

Two PG playing with three mobile forwards. It remembers me the Suns of 2014/2015, I think it will be a trend for next years.

Well, the ASG did eliminate Centers from the ballot.

[TreymondGreen]

Starting line ups where everyone is 6 9+


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[tmorgan]

If anything, well rounded players are fewer and further between

This is the true nature of our disagreement. I disagree. I believe there are more and more guys outside the PG position that can (at least partially) run an offense, and I believe this is direction the league is going.

That's as far as I'm willing to discuss this on the GB, particularly with someone that clearly enjoys making sarcastic statements. I don't need the irritation.

[tayottt]

A few teams are already adopting this, but I think it will catch like wild fire:

Frontcourt Depth (Reducing the minutes of starting PFs and Centers)

In the modern NBA, so much of being a plus contributor at the 4/5 has to do with energy/force. The way bigs have to play now is extremely demanding (sprinting from end to end, screening, posting up, banging for boards, protecting the rim, etc.). As teams get smarter they will lessen the minutes their Bigs play and instead rotate five or six Bigs in each game to give bursts of energy. I also expect the great Bigs to be rested more frequently to preserve energy. Even if the reserve Bigs aren't nearly as talented as the starters, they merely need to do the grunt work well. If you can coach your bench Bigs to screen/defend/rebound at a high level for five minute stretches at a time it could be a major boon.

The Spurs ability to spell Timmy with Splitter, Diaw, Baynes, and others has been pivotal to his health in the post-season, and has boosted his efficiency as he's aged.

There is a reason why players like Paul George and Lebron don't want to play down. It is incredibly taxing on the body. As teams begin to better understand how to keep players healthy and how to increase efficiency we will probably see Bigs get reduced minutes across the league.