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

[og15]

I've been watching since the 60's, but now that the NBA has turned into a 3 point contest, I don't bother to watch.

Wait, how old are you then?

That got you 4 and 1s.
If you are older than 30 Google won't hire you.
If you are are older than 30 you should just shut up and lurk.
The guy is probably in his 70s. Why won't he just die so that a real person in their 20s can buy his house.

I don't really get the context of some of your post here, there's some cultural phenomenon you are referencing that I'm not particularly understanding.

Lucky for me I don't need Google to hire me, so I should be okay living as an older than 30 human.

[edmunder_prc]

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.

The 03-04 Pistons are an example of what you're talking about. They eliminated the illegal defense zone rules but allowed hand checking. The games were so brutal to watch. Low scoring and very physical - not in a good way.

I always go back to the 05 Finals. The pace was glacial (80 possessions per game.) Both teams averaged in the mid 80s, with 69 total 3-pointers and 166 turnovers. The Spurs had almost as many turnovers as assists. It was watchable because it was competitive and it went 7 games. But as a display of pure basketball, it was absolutely dreadful. The NBA would have died if it had continued in that direction.

Disagree, loved every minute of 04 and 05 Finals - Pistons fan here.

When scoring is extremely hard - it means something. When scoring is easy (guys are hot and teams are shooting 50 threes a game) - its boring. I know Americans arent big into soccer, but when scoring means something, its very exciting.

I have seen NBA games in the last couple of years where no one even brings the ball inside the 3-point line, either team, for 10 possessions in a row. Bring the ball down, pass around the perimeter, shoot a 3, repeat.

[Marrrcuss]

The 03-04 Pistons are an example of what you're talking about. They eliminated the illegal defense zone rules but allowed hand checking. The games were so brutal to watch. Low scoring and very physical - not in a good way.

I always go back to the 05 Finals. The pace was glacial (80 possessions per game.) Both teams averaged in the mid 80s, with 69 total 3-pointers and 166 turnovers. The Spurs had almost as many turnovers as assists. It was watchable because it was competitive and it went 7 games. But as a display of pure basketball, it was absolutely dreadful. The NBA would have died if it had continued in that direction.

Disagree, loved every minute of 04 and 05 Finals - Pistons fan here.

When scoring is extremely hard - it means something. When scoring is easy (guys are hot and teams are shooting 50 threes a game) - its boring. I know Americans arent big into soccer, but when scoring means something, its very exciting.

I have seen NBA games in the last couple of years where no one even brings the ball inside the 3-point line, either team, for 10 possessions in a row. Bring the ball down, pass around the perimeter, shoot a 3, repeat.

All that defense and the pistons lost on a horrible defensive play by Rasheed Wallace, lol

[NyKnicks1714]

I also used to watch the NBA. I still do, but I used to too.

[Sedale Threatt]

Disagree, loved every minute of 04 and 05 Finals - Pistons fan here.

Well, of course. Your team was competing for a championship. As a neutral observer, it was like a root canal.

[HEAT33]

I think todays NBA is a bit soft and don’t like the jacking up 3’s era. Loved the taunting back in the day but I still love watching basketball. Well I can’t stand watching James Harden, he always makes me want to hulk smash the TV.
Harden definitely has free Realestate in my head for sure, but I love it when the playoffs come around and he chokes hard. Always brings a smile to my face.

Oh and did I mention I don’t like that James Harden? I hope he retires soon

Harden

[jazzfan1971]

If you are suggesting that today's game pales in comparison to the early 90s Jazz in style you just don't understand the game. Complaining about modern basketball spamming PnRs? GTFO.

Seriously, it reads as get off my lawn.

The game is far more athletic, far more open, with wayyyyy more going on that there was in that age.

As a fellow old-timer I am incredulous about how absurd it is to suggest the old times Jazz are even 1% as watchable as the current squad.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

I understand watching Malone take jumpers in the 2nd half of his career wasn't very entertaining. But, watching stockton control the game was always more entertaining than ANYTHING the team currently does. (Ingles is fun to watch)

[Mephariel]

I don't think so much that the game is boring as much as the new generation stars are. Cade? Ant-Man? Tatum? Brown? Even Luka and Giannis. Those players are all ridiculously skilled but they all tried to play the same way. Do a bit of everything. There is no style anymore in the stars. Kobe and Carmelo were the midrange dudes. Shaq pounded the ball inside. Duncan was the fitness post guy. Nash the shifty shooter/passer. When I look at Cade...he is just an all-around guy. Good for him, but that doesn't excite me. He is basically Harden/Luka light. Even Jokic is an all around guy. All the stars today just wants to do a bit of everything.

[Ritzo]

Remember when people said that the SSOL Suns were a very fun team to watch? The 2016 Warriors and 2014 Spurs teams showing great display of basketball. Now all teams played like those teams and now all of a sudden people saying it those styles are boring? If social media was around in the 90's, I would rather just look at the scores on the internet than watching stiff big men caressing each other.

[Sothron]

I have watched the NBA since 1979. I agree with OP that I miss the low post game, back door cuts, movement without the ball and limited three point shooting. I think the game is a lesser product now because every team is just out there chucking three point shots almost every possession while the announcers are saying things like "if they would attack the basket they would be rewarded". And yet few teams/players do that.

I wish they would change the 3 second rule to 5 second to encourage more post play. The game needs more balance between post play and three point shooting. The last several years have been nothing but three point shooting interrupted with occasional rim running or mid range shooting.

[SonicMcMahon]

These past two seasons, covid and injuries have really tainted the results. Hard to get excited about a game when half the players are on 10 day contracts and while the bubble was fun, it still gets a big asterisk at the end of the day.

To the OP, I think you're mistaken in general though. The game overall is pretty fun to watch, it's just different. Watching someone hit a 3 pointer is just as fun as watching someone hit a mid-range floater, and the 3 pointers have a bigger impact on the game. Ball movement on good teams is through the roof, and there are still some good post players. One of the best happens to play for Denver, so come on over to the dark side.

this is what i don't really agree with. mid range had so much more artistry, TPs floater was a totally different than Steve Nashs floater, Dirks 1 legged fader was a totally different shot than Duncan's banker. obviously Kobe and MJ had infinite post moves with counters and counter-counters. theres a little bit of that kind of thing with 3 point shots but its just not the same. watching a guy use a dynamic move he's practiced 20,000 times to get space over a variety kinds of defenders is way more fascinating to me than some dude pulling up from the logo which was cool for a little while but just loses its appeal when youve seen it a million times and everyone doing it looks the exact same doing it

^Yeah this is exactly it. Well said.

[DoItALL9]

It's too radical but...

THE GAME NEEDS TO BE PLAYED BY 4's & 5's

Sent from my LM-G710 using RealGM mobile app

[SonicMcMahon]

If you are suggesting that today's game pales in comparison to the early 90s Jazz in style you just don't understand the game. Complaining about modern basketball spamming PnRs? GTFO.

Seriously, it reads as get off my lawn.

The game is far more athletic, far more open, with wayyyyy more going on that there was in that age.

As a fellow old-timer I am incredulous about how absurd it is to suggest the old times Jazz are even 1% as watchable as the current squad.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

I understand watching Malone take jumpers in the 2nd half of his career wasn't very entertaining. But, watching stockton control the game was always more entertaining than ANYTHING the team currently does. (Ingles is fun to watch)

Guessing you're not a big Jordan Clarckson fan.

[Pachinko_]

Do you remember when every team had a guy with a shooting style specifically tuned for mid range shots over big guys?
With a ridiculous high release?
Like Alex English for example

Or Vinnie Johnson

These guys would take 15-20 shots a game, and none of them would be a three LOL
Nobody shoots like that any more. Now if you're a shooter the goal is to let it fly as fast as possible before the defender even gets anywhere near you.

It was hard, you needed to be a bit of a physical freak to shoot like that. Bend around the screen, get the ball, plant hard, get up as high as possible in perfect balance, and stretch your arm almost vertical over your head to get the ball over the defender who was coming 100 miles an hour to block you.
There was a beauty to it. I don't mind basketball evolving to new things, I just think it's a shame when beautiful parts of the game disappear completely.

[SlovenianDragon]

I also used to watch the NBA. I still do, but I used to too.

This was like a mitch hedberg joke lol

[Sedale Threatt]

I don't think so much that the game is boring as much as the new generation stars are. Cade? Ant-Man? Tatum? Brown? Even Luka and Giannis. Those players are all ridiculously skilled but they all tried to play the same way. Do a bit of everything. There is no style anymore in the stars. Kobe and Carmelo were the midrange dudes. Shaq pounded the ball inside. Duncan was the fitness post guy. Nash the shifty shooter/passer. When I look at Cade...he is just an all-around guy. Good for him, but that doesn't excite me. He is basically Harden/Luka light. Even Jokic is an all around guy. All the stars today just wants to do a bit of everything.

I honestly don’t understand what it is some of you guys are watching. Not only are Giannis, Luka and Jokic insanely entertaining, they would be insanely entertaining in any era. And they don’t play even remotely alike.

[nomansland]

I don't think so much that the game is boring as much as the new generation stars are. Cade? Ant-Man? Tatum? Brown? Even Luka and Giannis. Those players are all ridiculously skilled but they all tried to play the same way. Do a bit of everything. There is no style anymore in the stars. Kobe and Carmelo were the midrange dudes. Shaq pounded the ball inside. Duncan was the fitness post guy. Nash the shifty shooter/passer. When I look at Cade...he is just an all-around guy. Good for him, but that doesn't excite me. He is basically Harden/Luka light. Even Jokic is an all around guy. All the stars today just wants to do a bit of everything.

I don't see anything wrong with players being well-rounded.

Players who *aren't* well-rounded get flack for it. Just ask anyone who criticizes Jokic's defense.

[Zvaart]

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?

TL;DR : i still do and i don't care if you don't

i understand the hate towards teams chucking threes, i kind of do too, but there is so much more in the game today beside that.

i am old enough and i watched prime MJ, but there was then and in-between things that i did't like. i still watched it though and found ways to enjoy it, as i do now.

[GWVan]

I'm not even sure the reasons but I haven't watched a full game in a while.

It's not like I'm busy, it just doesn't seem to interest me any more and it has been a gradual decline that hit the the wall last year. I don't even watch highlight videos of my own team most of the time any more and would be hard pressed to put together a top ten list of teams.

I will say that I left baseball many years ago because of the big market domination, Not sure how football lost me but it's been a decade. Basketball surprises me however. I played, I coached, I knew every player on every roster. There were years in the 80s and 90s where I easily watched 100+ full games. I went to the sports page of the paper first every day. Then everything was online and I was on multiple forums every morning. I'm a reader, not a big poster, but I've been on realgm for 20 years.

I saw in the news that JB had 50 last night and thought I'd see what the basketball world thought. Have no idea what place my team is in and this is the first time in a long time I logged into realgm. Still haven't even watched the highlights and the last game I watched was pre-covid.

Not a time thing, I'm 61 with a load of time on my hands. Don't think it's a product thing, all of the era's have always appealed to me and I like the evolution of the game. I think some of it is the politicization. Basketball was a release for me and it became too much about causes and movements. Everything is a cause now, even my favorite tv franchises feel the need to make political statements with their shows instead of entertaining me. Maybe it would be ok if I felt as passionate about the causes being pushed on me, but I don't.

So I don't know for sure why but it's just not for me any more. And it's kind of depressing as I know that my father and his father were fans up to the end. I apparently was bored and left after the 3rd quarter.

[JustOneFix]

I pity the kids of today and this generation who have to look in a dictionary to see what a word diversity means. Just 10 or 20 years ago each team had it's own style. There were teams who oriented their game around a big, they would pound you inside, there were run and gun teams, there were suffocating defensive team (ala Billups Pistons team), there were 1-2 punch inside out teams (like Kobe and Shaq or Mcgrady and Yao), there were super structured disciplined team like the Spurs, there were young and there were veteran teams, teams that play team ball and teams that centered their entire team around one guy (AI Sixers for example). And the clash of these various styles and philosophies was extremely entertaining.

Now, all 30 teams plays absolutely the same. The league is completely faceless. That's the main reason why i lost the interest and the passion for the league, after being a hard core fanatic for over 30 years.