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

[Dutchball97]

I'm the opposite. Couldn't get into 00s basketball at all. The game was way too slow. Besides that the more rigid positions weren't a positive to me at all. Point guards purely existing to bring the ball up the court, centers being meatshield who only stood next to the rim and the ideal of star scorers being inefficient chuckers.

The game today is faster and the players are more skilled and more versatile. Looking at the NFL and baseball it seems Americans love slow, plodding sports but the current version of the NBA is meant for international audiences.

[WarriorGM]

Don't understand the complaint. Early 2000s basketball was horrid to watch. Clank, clank, clank. Peak basketball of that period was supposedly Shaq bulldozing to the rim. Offensive foul? Defensive foul? Ref whistles or the lack of them determining games. I'd rather see real skill as displayed by the ball going through the hoop on a play rather than a free throw called by a ref determining the outcome.

[bamheat]

I watch alot more now, for the simple fact that it's more accessible than ever. Watching from a phone/internet really helps.


Best era of NBA easily

[hauntedcomputer]

I'm an oldtimer who thinks this is the best game and players ever. The athleticism is insane, and I don't buy into the "regular season is a waste of time" narrative. Just look at yesterday's games--OTs, buzzer beaters, big comebacks. And best of all, there's parity unlike I can remember, when any team can truly beat any other on any given night. The list of true contenders seems to be 6 or 8 teams instead of one or two.

Tons of exciting rookies on the verge of either bust or stardom and sometimes you can't tell the difference. A pandemic is bringing back some "remember some guys." Some of the most brilliant tactical coaches ever.

And I'm a guy who loves the 70s, tight shorts, big fros, and gold chains. Today's just as cool and fros are sneaking back.

Inject it into my veins.

[Pachinko_]

There was A LOT of **** teams in the 90's and '00. A lot. And a lot of ISO and repeated long two bricks and faults in the rules that teams exploited like others have said. And terrible bigs who could barely move or shoot, and you had to have 4-5 of them in case you ran out after hacking people a couple dozen times. I think the game is better now. International players joined the best Americans and raised the floor a lot, and coaches are smarter and more analytical than ever.

Unfortunately somewhere along the way between resting and tanking etc, the interest in regular season and All Star games got lost somehow, which is a shame because the regular season feels pretty watered down compared to earlier decades. I'll give you that.
But the POs are still as intense and interesting as ever.

[hardenASG13]

I'm the opposite. Couldn't get into 00s basketball at all. The game was way too slow. Besides that the more rigid positions weren't a positive to me at all. Point guards purely existing to bring the ball up the court, centers being meatshield who only stood next to the rim and the ideal of star scorers being inefficient chuckers.

The game today is faster and the players are more skilled and more versatile. Looking at the NFL and baseball it seems Americans love slow, plodding sports but the current version of the NBA is meant for international audiences.

Baseball is the least popular it’s ever been, and NFL is far from a slow, plodding sport. It’s the best TV product in sports, very exciting and every game is meaningful for the most part.

The current NBA is a result of shooters improving and everyone being more skilled, especially bigs. There just aren’t several guys who have 0 offensive skill playing rotation minutes anymore, because you can’t afford to play 4 on 5 offensively. The last guy like that I can remember who got significant minutes was the absurd Andre Roberson situation in OKC. Can’t remember seeing a guy go from 30mpg in his prime to 0 based on 1 injury. Perhaps guys like that aren’t in the league for a reason.

[DarthTeufel]

It seems more people follow the league than ever, but less people are actually watching the games. Following player movement, and offcourt drama transcends the very game. The thing is the game is just downright boring than it used to be. Despite the players being better and more skilled than ever. Most of these guys just dont give a ****, no rivalries between players/teams, every team plays the same and is pretty much indestinguishable from any others other than some just having better players, over commercialization, there are too many damn games, everything is about getting in line with "woke" politics.... this is really a problem with EVERY sport from my point of view. There is just no soul anymore and the mainstream entertainment industry also suffers a similar issue. 10 years ago is when I started to have these feelings and it gets worst as time goes on. It's not just about getting old either because I still enjoy entertainment(games/anime) from Japan just as much as I ever did. Its just that everything over here sucks ass now.

[ratul]

I stopped watching, and have slowed commenting on here a lot. Sad but prob not great to spend so much time on a basketball message board. The game sucks. It has for a while.

[Laimbeer]

It's sports in general. In baseball, disadvantaged pitchers, the DH, death of the sacrifice. In football, receivers that can't be touched and QB's in a bubble. The common theme is more wide open play and scoring.

I feel a little like the OP at times, but it's mainly nostalgia. The Army/Navy game is fun once in a while, but I wouldn't want it every game.

[HEAT33]

If James Harden joined the Heat, that would be it for me

[Dutchball97]

I'm the opposite. Couldn't get into 00s basketball at all. The game was way too slow. Besides that the more rigid positions weren't a positive to me at all. Point guards purely existing to bring the ball up the court, centers being meatshield who only stood next to the rim and the ideal of star scorers being inefficient chuckers.

The game today is faster and the players are more skilled and more versatile. Looking at the NFL and baseball it seems Americans love slow, plodding sports but the current version of the NBA is meant for international audiences.

Baseball is the least popular it’s ever been, and NFL is far from a slow, plodding sport. It’s the best TV product in sports, very exciting and every game is meaningful for the most part.

The current NBA is a result of shooters improving and everyone being more skilled, especially bigs. There just aren’t several guys who have 0 offensive skill playing rotation minutes anymore, because you can’t afford to play 4 on 5 offensively. The last guy like that I can remember who got significant minutes was the absurd Andre Roberson situation in OKC. Can’t remember seeing a guy go from 30mpg in his prime to 0 based on 1 injury. Perhaps guys like that aren’t in the league for a reason.

The constant stoppages does make the NFL a pretty slow sport by design. The commercial breaks especially makes watching live a pretty tough sit even though I do like the sport. American tv in general is just wild with the commercials for a European person. Maybe it isn't as bad if you grew up with it but I can't stand being interrupted every 5 or so minutes only for "definitely not actors" to try and sell me viagra and pick up trucks again. A condensed NFL without the overly long breaks and constant commercials would definitely be elite though.

[Crunch 99]

I love watching basketball, but as we get older, general we get busier.

I also don't live with other NBA fans anymore, to watch and talk hoops with.

I also don't want to pay for cable. My local team used to be on antenna weekly, and I can't watch on league pass.

Sometimes peoples interests change. Video games are objectiveley better now, but I don't play them.

I disagree with people saying the current game is worse, there are alot of explanations as to why people don't watch NBA as much, but why take shots.

If prime Solan/Stockton/Malone were on the current Jazz instead of Gobert/Mitchell/Snyder would OP be watching NBA as much he used to, or would any of the above reasons still prevent him from watching as much ball as he used to?

I gotta believe that the NBA has some of the smartest, most capable marketers in business, but it is hard to believe that blacking out locals' home teams on NBA League Pass is a winning, long term strategy.

[Sakkreth]

I like Euroleague better overall. I still watch NBA too ofc, Bulls are really exciting to watch this year. NBA did make a good move with the foul baiting change though.

[Loneshot]

I'm the opposite. Couldn't get into 00s basketball at all. The game was way too slow. Besides that the more rigid positions weren't a positive to me at all. Point guards purely existing to bring the ball up the court, centers being meatshield who only stood next to the rim and the ideal of star scorers being inefficient chuckers.

The game today is faster and the players are more skilled and more versatile. Looking at the NFL and baseball it seems Americans love slow, plodding sports but the current version of the NBA is meant for international audiences.

This is where I am at in my perspective of basketball. Even in the late 90s and 2000s, I only liked watching players and teams that play similar to what the game is now; bigs who can stretch the floor, fast guards who can pass and shoot well, and allowing versatile players to stand out. Boris Diaw would get Jokic love today, but during his time he was underrated and underutilized considering his skill set.

Also I really hated the sentiment that one player needed to alpha the whole team for it to be a success. I prefer more teams having multiple capable leaders or players that can "takeover." I like the more stars or top players team up compared to the past. So many great primes have been wasted or stopped short because a single player was expected to carry the whole franchise.

[ItsDanger]

I watch more NCAA ball now, there is more variety in styles and less selfish stat hunting.

[jg77]

I feel the same way about college basketball. I used to watch college just as much as the NBA...now I don't even tune in to March Madness.

[dautjazz]

I felt this way the last few seasons, but they cleaned up the foul situation a lot, and the game has a much better flow. I have seen far fewer games this year, but it's because of travel and my social life.

[Madhouse]

I can't share this opinion at all.

I like it a lot better now.

[hardenASG13]

I'm the opposite. Couldn't get into 00s basketball at all. The game was way too slow. Besides that the more rigid positions weren't a positive to me at all. Point guards purely existing to bring the ball up the court, centers being meatshield who only stood next to the rim and the ideal of star scorers being inefficient chuckers.

The game today is faster and the players are more skilled and more versatile. Looking at the NFL and baseball it seems Americans love slow, plodding sports but the current version of the NBA is meant for international audiences.

Baseball is the least popular it’s ever been, and NFL is far from a slow, plodding sport. It’s the best TV product in sports, very exciting and every game is meaningful for the most part.

The current NBA is a result of shooters improving and everyone being more skilled, especially bigs. There just aren’t several guys who have 0 offensive skill playing rotation minutes anymore, because you can’t afford to play 4 on 5 offensively. The last guy like that I can remember who got significant minutes was the absurd Andre Roberson situation in OKC. Can’t remember seeing a guy go from 30mpg in his prime to 0 based on 1 injury. Perhaps guys like that aren’t in the league for a reason.

The constant stoppages does make the NFL a pretty slow sport by design. The commercial breaks especially makes watching live a pretty tough sit even though I do like the sport. American tv in general is just wild with the commercials for a European person. Maybe it isn't as bad if you grew up with it but I can't stand being interrupted every 5 or so minutes only for "definitely not actors" to try and sell me viagra and pick up trucks again. A condensed NFL without the overly long breaks and constant commercials would definitely be elite though.

Yeah i usually watch nfl redzone, 0 commercials and follows all the games.

[Sedale Threatt]

I'm the opposite. Couldn't get into 00s basketball at all. The game was way too slow. Besides that the more rigid positions weren't a positive to me at all. Point guards purely existing to bring the ball up the court, centers being meatshield who only stood next to the rim and the ideal of star scorers being inefficient chuckers.

The game today is faster and the players are more skilled and more versatile. Looking at the NFL and baseball it seems Americans love slow, plodding sports but the current version of the NBA is meant for international audiences.

Ha, meatshields ... that's a perfect way to put it. Somebody cited Greg Ostertag a few pages back: He could basically be the avatar for the typical NBA big man through most of its history: Big, bumbling dudes who were in the NBA strictly because they were huge and could tie their shoes without falling over. Taking up space and defending other meatshields. Players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Tim Duncan and Kevin McHale were artists and beautiful to watch. There will always be a place for them. But they were also extreme outliers. I challenge anybody to go back and actually look through rosters in the late 90s / early 00s and look at the state of the NBA big man. A great crop of stars but for the most part, a bunch of useless goons. Anything that cleared players like that out in favor of those who can actually dribble and shoot and hoop was a good thing.