Proof the quality of NBA players is going down.

[killacalijatt]

Howard and Harden are legit talent, the difference is they dont have the drive to win.

They much rather dance party and bull.

Competitiveness is whats gone down. Not quality of players

[INKtastic]

During the early 2000's the Lakers had the best Center in the League, Shaq, and the best SG in the league in Kobe Bryant. The lakers went on to be the last team to 3peat as champions since Jordan & Pippen in Chicago. They were destroying championship level teams like the spurs, Kings, and Blazers

In todays NBA the Rockets have the best SG in regards to James Harden, and the Best Center with Dwight Howard. This team cannot even get out of the first round, losing embarrassingly in 6 six games after a hyped offseason.

Whats happening these days?

The difference is Shaq was the best player in the league and league MVP, and he didn't win until Phil became his coach. Howard didn't even make first team all NBA and wasn't top 10 in MVP voting.

Today the best player in the league is LeBron James, who has won 2 of the last 3 championships. Not too far off from Shaq 3peating.

The overall quality of the players hasn't gone down. It pretty much never goes down. People pretty much only ever think it does because they compare a single point in time (now) with things that happened over 5-10 years.

You looked at center, look at some of the other positions. For example, how many times have a pair of SFs combined for a season as good as LeBron and Durant last year? The closest I can think of is Dr J and Larry Bird in 80-81. People will argue this, but they really weren't at current LeBron/Durant levels that year. And their peaks didn't really overlap the way LeBron and Durant's are.

[SlowPaced]

That's just proof that SG and C are on the decline, which is true. However, PG and PF are seeing their best days in terms of depth. It's about the changes in the game. Back in the day centers were treated as scorers in the post with PFs being their "helpers". Now it's the other way around. Same goes for PG and SG, a lot of teams had a star SG combined with a role playing PG back in the day. Now it's the other way around.

[DrCoach]

*Looks for Proof*

[crazy_me_87]

That's just proof that SG and C are on the decline, which is true. However, PG and PF are seeing their best days in terms of depth. It's about the changes in the game. Back in the day centers were treated as scorers in the post with PFs being their "helpers". Now it's the other way around. Same goes for PG and SG, a lot of teams had a star SG combined with a role playing PG back in the day. Now it's the other way around.

that assessment is actually pretty on Point

only someone who is old fashioned and close minded refuses to see that a decline at 2/5 positions doesnt mean that the NBA in general is declining

PF,PG and to an extend SF(depends of as what you see Melo,Lebron and some of those SF/PF hybrid)
are stronger than ever both in peak Level and depth
(how many 20/6 PG Career average PG where there before 2010?? we have 4 now(Lillard at 19.9) and you also have Paul,Wall,Rondo,etc)
(LA,BG,Love,Bosh,Dirk,A.Davis,Pau Gasol will propably all be HoFmers)

we have 2 Positions at least 5 Hall Of Famers deep(more like 7-10)

it just has shifted not declined