Can we stop pretending like old school NBA playoff games are more physical than they are now?

[tsherkin]

Been watching since the 70's. The myth of physicality from the 80's and 90's is hilarious, game is way more advanced now.

Lol.
Many here have been watching for over 30 years and can describe the literal differences in physicality.

The rule changes itself should explain how the game today is less physical.

Players today are no doubt better conditioned and a lot are excellent athletes compared to back then purely because back then talent and IQ was prioritised over athleticism. Today athletic freaks who can learn to shoot 3s from spotting up or finish lobs are drafted over a slow high IQ talented player.

Today we see defenders move at insane speeds but they aren't allowed to bump or use hand checks. Back then, defenders would be allowed to grind players and literally guide them to where the defenders want them to go.

We are ALSO seeing that some older-style players are still functional. Someone like Zubac, for example. Or even Jokic, in a way, though obviously he's a skill outlier. Or Kawhi, were he ever healthy, has an older style game, kind of like a Paul Pierce who comes through better in the playoffs, you know?

We're seeing a lot of the "this is shiny and newer and we like it," but there's a lot of good signs that some older stuff works as well. Durant doing his thing in the middle spaces is another good example, because while he's tall, he's old and slowing down (particularly post surgery) and still MURDERING it.

Stretching the floor has opened the middle, and post play from good post players who can pass (and understand the value of off-ball action) is still quite viable.

[MavsDirk41]

Probably not but i know they didnt stop the game every 5 minutes to review a foul call to see if it warrants a flagrant. Lol that’s embarrassing.

This has less to do with gameplay and more to do with logistics of the game.

Is the game more advanced? The international talent has evolved the game so we have more talent coming in but there are too many 3s being taken and less post play or mid range game. Not sure how its more advanced.

The sets they run involve more players at once, are more complex and often require a greater degree of shooting proficiency. Post play is alive and while if you look for players who deserve the shots. The mid-range game is still there, you see less 20-footers when a 3 is a stepback away. You see lead scorers using the elbow, the nail and the baseline still plenty in a lot of cases.

To the first point, regardless its annoying, it slows the game down, typically the initial call is correct and it’s ridiculous to stop the game to review “was there an overt act of a hand to the face” - call what you see and lets move on. Reviewing all of these foul calls is getting out of hand.

I dont see alot of complex offenses lol its drive and kick, or a man using a screen to get a more favorable defensive matchup. I dont want to see 70 3’s and i dont want to see step back 3’s. Sorry man disagree

[CS707]

We can certainly stop pretending about it.

[tsherkin]

To the first point, regardless its annoying, it slows the game down, typically the initial call is correct and it’s ridiculous to stop the game to review “was there an overt act of a hand to the face” - call what you see and lets move on. Reviewing all of these foul calls is getting out of hand.

It's something to consider, but it has little enough to do with the live-ball action of the game, was my point.

I dont see alot of complex offenses lol its drive and kick, or a man using a screen to get a more favorable defensive matchup. I dont want to see 70 3’s and i dont want to see step back 3’s. Sorry man disagree

I mean, it very much depends on what team you're watching, of course. If you watch Boston, it's one thing. If you watch the Hornets, another, you know? That way in any era, no doubt.

[ropjhk]

Physical in what sense? Older NBA had more hard fouls on drives to the basket. They were more tolerated back in the day. When people talk about physicality I think they normally talk about the rough play and how that's officiated. What used to be just a hard foul in the past is a flagrant foul in today's game.

You also don't often see players having physical pushing matches in the post anymore either.

In other facets the physicality of the past might be overstated and physicality of today may be understated, but let's stop pretending like today's game is just as physical as it was in the past in every way.

[og15]

Been watching since the 70's. The myth of physicality from the 80's and 90's is hilarious, game is way more advanced now.

Lol.
Many here have been watching for over 30 years and can describe the literal differences in physicality.

The rule changes itself should explain how the game today is less physical.

Players today are no doubt better conditioned and a lot are excellent athletes compared to back then purely because back then talent and IQ was prioritised over athleticism. Today athletic freaks who can learn to shoot 3s from spotting up or finish lobs are drafted over a slow high IQ talented player.

Today we see defenders move at insane speeds but they aren't allowed to bump or use hand checks. Back then, defenders would be allowed to grind players and literally guide them to where the defenders want them to go.

Back when? I'm not sure looking at the tops of the modern and past drafts agrees with this conclusion.

In 2010, Evan Turner went 2nd not due to athleticism, and Greg Monroe was 7th

2011, Kanter went 3rd and Jimmer was 10th

2014, Stauskas didn't go 8th because of his athletic ability, neither McDermott at 11th

2015 top 5, I did say size, so I hadn't mentioned guys who got in on size, but KAT is athletic, but that's not the primary thing he's know for, then DLo, Okafor, at 2nd and 3rd, poor athletes by NBA standards. Kaminsky at 9th

You can keep going. Sometimes guys are drafted based on athleticism, though usually they have to show some skill, or if they have size, then size trumps a lot, and other times guys skill level is high and it overcomes athletic limitations, but doesn't mean they pan out that well either.

[CS707]

These playoffs have been decidedly more physical than the regular season so I’m not sure it’s the best sample for making general then vs. now comparisons. That said, the difference is less about the point of contact defense and more just the general level of contact allowed historically vs. today. It’s the primary reason foul hunting has become so prevalent. It’s also just the optics of the behavior of today’s players that lends to the impression that it’s a softer era. Hunting fouls, rolling around on the ground like you’ve been shot, the whining and complaining, etc.

[MavsDirk41]

To the first point, regardless its annoying, it slows the game down, typically the initial call is correct and it’s ridiculous to stop the game to review “was there an overt act of a hand to the face” - call what you see and lets move on. Reviewing all of these foul calls is getting out of hand.

It's something to consider, but it has little enough to do with the live-ball action of the game, was my point.

I dont see alot of complex offenses lol its drive and kick, or a man using a screen to get a more favorable defensive matchup. I dont want to see 70 3’s and i dont want to see step back 3’s. Sorry man disagree

I mean, it very much depends on what team you're watching, of course. If you watch Boston, it's one thing. If you watch the Hornets, another, you know? That way in any era, no doubt.

I will say, and im not sure of your opinion on it, im really tired of seeing every player motion with their finger in the air to the bench to get the HC to review a play. Sometimes yes its warranted. Chet didnt touch that loose ball last night, they reversed the call after review, and everything was corrected but it seems like its just common now for the players to automatically jump up and motion to the bench while twirling their finger in the air. I enjoy watching the nba still but the review of possible flagrant foul calls, the flopping, and the amount of 3s taken (by most teams but not all) are my most unenjoyable facets of the modern nba.

[tsherkin]

I will say, and im not sure of your opinion on it, im really tired of seeing every player motion with their finger in the air to the bench to get the HC to review a play.

I don't even notice it, to be honest. It's no different than them yapping at their refs, like they've done for decades, so I just tune it out.

I can appreciate that you don't like it, of course, it's a subjective element to the game. I just don't care, because players forever have been trying to gain advantage any way they can. They are even taught to do it. *shrug*