I used to watch the NBA. I don't anymore.

[Pharmcat]

The moving screens are so annoying and have ruined the product so much.

[Ugly0598]

It's probably more painful watching a team like the Jazz dominate year after year and yet just know they are never gonna win a ring because for some reason the playoffs is just a completely different version of the sport than what is played in the regular season from a physicality standpoint, and the only guys that are allowed to fully play their games are the type that aren't going to Utah to play.

Probably easier to just root for a crappy franchise like me or bandwagon superstars

No need to generalize the Utah fanbase like that.

[garrick]

Having watched basketball in the 90's you can't say that aside from the MJ led bulls and a few other teams that basketball was better back then.

Players are so much more skilled today and with the influx of overseas talent the league is a lot better for the most part than in prior decades.

[payton2kemp]

Back in the days of Stockton and Malone I used to live and breath Jazz games. I'd watch every second. IF I couldn't watch I'd listen. I loved the game back then.

Then they moved on. But, I still loved watching AK and a bunch of scrubs try to win games. It was a little frustrating watching them execute the offense to get good looks but just not have enough talent to make open shots. But the energy and effort they put into the game was infectious.

I still enjoyed the Boozer and Deron days. It was a lesser product than Stockton and Malone, but it was still rewarding to watch. They still ran plays. They tried pretty hard.

Then Sloan retired.

I haven't enjoyed basketball since. The game used to be beautiful. Not just the Jazz. But, the Kings under Adleman. The Spurs under Pop. Yes, even the Bulls were a joy to watch.

But, today the game stinks. I have a perfectly good team to watch. And I don't. I check box scores. I follow the offseason. But, to sit down and watch a game?? Nah. It's just ugly basketball IMHO. You don't see the teamwork anymore. You don't see the physicality. You don't see a team imposing their will. It's more like a glorified game of pop-a-shot. And the Jazz are freaking good at pop-a-shot. But, I still don't want to watch that.

I want to watch post play. I want to see backdoor cuts. Throw me a UCLA cut now and then. Something. But, it's either iso or PNR every trip down the floor for every team. It's boring. Even winning is boring. ****, even the playoff are boring. Can you believe that? I don't even watch my team in the playoffs anymore.

I guess the rest of the world is perfectly happy with this product, but I'm old enough to remember something better. And I'm sad. I believe the fact that 3>2 has destroyed the product. It took a while, but it finally did.

I think they need to move the 3pt line back. Way back. The 3pt shot should be a high risk, high reward desperation shot. Not the bread and butter of an offense. You should be looking to make a 3 in specific dire circumstances, not simply every time you can get one. So, push it back about 3ft, let the Currys and Dame's of the league still have value. But, no more corner 3s. Also, if you are fouled on a 3pt shot, you get 2 free throws, not 3. So, less flopping for free throws on the 3pt line. If you are going to shoot there you need to be actually trying to score of the math isn't in your favor.

I wonder if I'm the only old timer that has simply stopped watching games now. Or if we all have decided box scores and offseason moves are the only thing left of interest?

Watching full games can be a drag sometimes. There were 3 awesome endings today, I watched all three endings. Best way to watch a game is to see what the close games are in the 4th quarter, usually its entertaining.

[breezypeezy]

Wow so much disrespect in these comments, personal insults just make the rest of your post unreadable.
And I only read the first 2 pages.

OT, I like the old ball, I like the new ball, but I do think some adjustments to make the 3pt. play much more rare would be superior to where we are currently.
The 3pt shot closer to maybe 15% of shots, instead of edging towards 50% of shots as we seem to be now.
Definitely gonna need to move that line, I'm convinced it'll happen eventually in some form, probably back and corner 3 eliminated as well.

The refs letting up on calling some of reaches and incidental contact fouls are also an improvement imo.

[MarcusBrody]

I want to watch post play. I want to see backdoor cuts.

Maybe it's been mentioned after the first few pages, but have you tried watching the Nuggets? I'm not sure there's ever been a player who has combined post play and backdoor passing as well as him.

[Chuck Everett]

I am of the opinion that the play-in hurts the product. Every time I see the playoff picture, I'm like, this is ridiculous. No wonder we haven't seen any trades yet or separation. Silver is good on social issues, poor on basketball ones. But I am probably out of touch as well.

[DoctorX]

I am of the opinion that the play-in hurts the product. Every time I see the playoff picture, I'm like, this is ridiculous. No wonder we haven't seen any trades yet or separation. Silver is good on social issues, poor on basketball ones. But I am probably out of touch as well.

Good on social issues but bad at actually doing your job. Sounds like a politician.

[DoctorX]

My least favorite era of the NBA has been from '15-'20. This current era has potential to be exciting, but the next few years will determine it. I do miss the defensive intensity of '95-'05 which I call the defensive era due to the rules allowing teams to play great defense.

[giordunk]

I think its less the game changing and the person (you) changing. People change. Interests change. Eventually things get old. But perhaps if your team made the jump from good team to great team you'd be interested again.

It's more this than anything. I'm almost 30 so I'm not as old as a lot of the oldheads here but the same type of excitement and fascination I had for the game as a teenager is gone. A lot of the friends I grew up around who were all major basketball fans also kind of stopped watching as we got older and we enjoy different things. I'll still always love and appreciate the game for what it is, but I think there's a good chance that my interest will really drop off after guys like LeBron and Steph retire because those guys are the last generation of players I looked up to.

[dan-man]

Back in the days of Stockton and Malone I used to live and breath Jazz games. I'd watch every second. IF I couldn't watch I'd listen. I loved the game back then.

Then they moved on. But, I still loved watching AK and a bunch of scrubs try to win games. It was a little frustrating watching them execute the offense to get good looks but just not have enough talent to make open shots. But the energy and effort they put into the game was infectious.

I still enjoyed the Boozer and Deron days. It was a lesser product than Stockton and Malone, but it was still rewarding to watch. They still ran plays. They tried pretty hard.

Then Sloan retired.

I haven't enjoyed basketball since. The game used to be beautiful. Not just the Jazz. But, the Kings under Adleman. The Spurs under Pop. Yes, even the Bulls were a joy to watch.

But, today the game stinks. I have a perfectly good team to watch. And I don't. I check box scores. I follow the offseason. But, to sit down and watch a game?? Nah. It's just ugly basketball IMHO. You don't see the teamwork anymore. You don't see the physicality. You don't see a team imposing their will. It's more like a glorified game of pop-a-shot. And the Jazz are freaking good at pop-a-shot. But, I still don't want to watch that.

I want to watch post play. I want to see backdoor cuts. Throw me a UCLA cut now and then. Something. But, it's either iso or PNR every trip down the floor for every team. It's boring. Even winning is boring. ****, even the playoff are boring. Can you believe that? I don't even watch my team in the playoffs anymore.

I guess the rest of the world is perfectly happy with this product, but I'm old enough to remember something better. And I'm sad. I believe the fact that 3>2 has destroyed the product. It took a while, but it finally did.

I think they need to move the 3pt line back. Way back. The 3pt shot should be a high risk, high reward desperation shot. Not the bread and butter of an offense. You should be looking to make a 3 in specific dire circumstances, not simply every time you can get one. So, push it back about 3ft, let the Currys and Dame's of the league still have value. But, no more corner 3s. Also, if you are fouled on a 3pt shot, you get 2 free throws, not 3. So, less flopping for free throws on the 3pt line. If you are going to shoot there you need to be actually trying to score of the math isn't in your favor.

I wonder if I'm the only old timer that has simply stopped watching games now. Or if we all have decided box scores and offseason moves are the only thing left of interest?

Did you write this just after telling your neighbors kid to get off your lawn?

[eminence]

Hopefully OP caught the Jazz v Warriors tonight. Assists on 39/46 shots for the Warriors. Some of the best ball movement ever.

[Got Nuffin]

My least favorite era of the NBA has been from '15-'20. This current era has potential to be exciting, but the next few years will determine it. I do miss the defensive intensity of '95-'05 which I call the defensive era due to the rules allowing teams to play great defense.

I agree with you. I'm a basketball fanatic who goes out and plays 2-3 times a week and loves studying the tactics and plays of the game. I've been addicted since I was a kid.

And yet I struggle to sit through an entire NBA game (that Scottie Barnes isn't playing in) because it's mostly just so repetitive. Spamming 3 and pick'n'rolls. I know there are teams that run other types of plays but mostly that's what it is today.

The players today are far more skilled from a younger age than previous decades and this class of rookies are fire, and this alleviates it somewhat, but IMO for a basketball purist the rules really do need to change somewhat (allow more on defence, make it more difficult for teams to spam 3s which will open up other types of offence) for it to be a super entertaining league game to game again other than just for the highlight reels.

[darbstar]

I started following the NBA since the days when Shaq was rookie. Zo and Larry Johnson were my favourite

I still love the game but miss the characters/ the rivalries and the toughness - especially the tough big men.

I still enjoy the nba today but it has turned too much into a 3 point contest. Even the big men have to be be able to shoot 3s

I miss the battles of the big men down low and the tough hard nosed power forwards.

I think the game has gone too far one way to too far the other.

The game has def improved a bit the season by stopping the flopping etc I think it needs to go just a little bit further to allow a happy middle ground. I like to see a bit more toughness on defence allowed

[darbstar]

I started following the NBA since the days when Shaq was rookie. Zo and Larry Johnson were my favourite

I still love the game but miss the characters/ the rivalries and the toughness - especially the tough big men.

I still enjoy the nba today but it has turned too much into a 3 point contest. Even the big men have to be be able to shoot 3s

I miss the battles of the big men down low and the tough hard nosed power forwards.

I think the game has gone too far one way to too far the other.

The game has def improved a bit the season by stopping the flopping etc I think it needs to go just a little bit further to allow a happy middle ground. I like to see a bit more toughness on defence allowed

[dhsilv2]

Spoiler:

Back in the days of Stockton and Malone I used to live and breath Jazz games. I'd watch every second. IF I couldn't watch I'd listen. I loved the game back then.

Then they moved on. But, I still loved watching AK and a bunch of scrubs try to win games. It was a little frustrating watching them execute the offense to get good looks but just not have enough talent to make open shots. But the energy and effort they put into the game was infectious.

I still enjoyed the Boozer and Deron days. It was a lesser product than Stockton and Malone, but it was still rewarding to watch. They still ran plays. They tried pretty hard.

Then Sloan retired.

I haven't enjoyed basketball since. The game used to be beautiful. Not just the Jazz. But, the Kings under Adleman. The Spurs under Pop. Yes, even the Bulls were a joy to watch.

But, today the game stinks. I have a perfectly good team to watch. And I don't. I check box scores. I follow the offseason. But, to sit down and watch a game?? Nah. It's just ugly basketball IMHO. You don't see the teamwork anymore. You don't see the physicality. You don't see a team imposing their will. It's more like a glorified game of pop-a-shot. And the Jazz are freaking good at pop-a-shot. But, I still don't want to watch that.

I want to watch post play. I want to see backdoor cuts. Throw me a UCLA cut now and then. Something. But, it's either iso or PNR every trip down the floor for every team. It's boring. Even winning is boring. ****, even the playoff are boring. Can you believe that? I don't even watch my team in the playoffs anymore.

I guess the rest of the world is perfectly happy with this product, but I'm old enough to remember something better. And I'm sad. I believe the fact that 3>2 has destroyed the product. It took a while, but it finally did.

I think they need to move the 3pt line back. Way back. The 3pt shot should be a high risk, high reward desperation shot. Not the bread and butter of an offense. You should be looking to make a 3 in specific dire circumstances, not simply every time you can get one. So, push it back about 3ft, let the Currys and Dame's of the league still have value. But, no more corner 3s. Also, if you are fouled on a 3pt shot, you get 2 free throws, not 3. So, less flopping for free throws on the 3pt line. If you are going to shoot there you need to be actually trying to score of the math isn't in your favor.

I wonder if I'm the only old timer that has simply stopped watching games now. Or if we all have decided box scores and offseason moves are the only thing left of interest?

I'm only in my 30s but I agree can't get into the game like I used to. Used to be 3s were exciting and now their boring. Also I've always enjoyed more defensive oriented teams and the game hates them now lol.

Other than maybe lebron's cavs that won, has their been a non top 10 defense to win a title recently? Raptors were one of the best defenses we've seen a few years back. Lakers were a great defense in 2020. Bucks were a great defensive team, a bit underwhelming in the regular season, but they were number 1 the year before and they showed those chops in the playoffs. We all know the warriors were great defensively.

[dhsilv2]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Yeah also saw outlet passes leading to layups at a horrifying rate.

[wco81]

Post-dominated play was boring. You had guards parked outside the arc and never move. Used to see the Jazz run the same baseline screen so Malone could come to the strong side block and Stockton would lob him the ball. Malone got that 12-15 foot jumper down when defenders gave him room.

They were exciting in transition though, just couldn’t run enough to beat the Bulls.

I appreciated Duncan’s skills, again his post play set up looks for others, with Parker and Ginobli able to penetrate at times. Pop didn’t like it when 3 pointers became prominent after the Warriors’ success. Though he had some great 3-point shooters who helped him win rings, though set up by Duncan.

Lakers Showtime offense was similar to the Jazz. Kareem’s sky hook was great well into his late 30s. Magic lobbed him those entry passes, not exactly flashy passing. That is until they got out in transition. He got players like Worthy so many easy baskets on the break.


Every team may try to play pace and space but only like a half dozen teams do it well, because of talent.

As for people preferring the old NBA, a lot of it may be more nostalgia than the relative merits of the NBA game now and the NBA game decades ago.

I like some of the old players and strategies, but I don’t want to watch old clips of them either. Especially if the choice is to watch games now vs. reminiscing about a past which is probably not as rosy as we make it out to be.

[dhsilv2]

Post-dominated play was boring. You had guards parked outside the arc and never move. Used to see the Jazz run the same baseline screen so Malone could come to the strong side block and Stockton would lob him the ball. Malone got that 12-15 foot jumper down when defenders gave him room.

They were exciting in transition though, just couldn’t run enough to beat the Bulls.

I appreciated Duncan’s skills, again his post play set up looks for others, with Parker and Ginobli able to penetrate at times. Pop didn’t like it when 3 pointers became prominent after the Warriors’ success. Though he had some great 3-point shooters who helped him win rings, though set up by Duncan.

Lakers Showtime offense was similar to the Jazz. Kareem’s sky hook was great well into his late 30s. Magic lobbed him those entry passes, not exactly flashy passing. That is until they got out in transition. He got players like Worthy so many easy baskets on the break.


Every team may try to play pace and space but only like a half dozen teams do it well, because of talent.

As for people preferring the old NBA, a lot of it may be more nostalgia than the relative merits of the NBA game now and the NBA game decades ago.

I like some of the old players and strategies, but I don’t want to watch old clips of them either. Especially if the choice is to watch games now vs. reminiscing about a past which is probably not as rosy as we make it out to be.

I've gone back and broken down some EARLY MJ games. OMG....it was UGLY! Defenders really didn't start to pickup guys until you were inside the arch, unless maybe they were targeting a ball handler. MJ didn't have any of those crazy post moves we knew him for in the mid 90's. He was still great in the post but it wasn't the same. And the ball movement just sucked.

[Ritzo]

Okay, you're not a loss. The sport has been more popular than ever.