Curry has dominated this era, but would get crushed in the 90's

[Sedale Threatt]

Why are NBA fans like this?

It's honestly bizarre.

Granted, I follow the NBA closer than any other sport by a huge margin. But I definitely watch a ton of NFL and European football, and participate in those communities via reddit and other means. And while I can't say it doesn't happen at all, I don't see anywhere close to the type of generational minimization that happens with the NBA. I understand the reasons behind it, but I don't understand the instincts at all.

Like I've been watching the NBA since the late 80s -- almost 40 years now -- and I have never, ever felt the need to denigrate one group of players to prop others up. It honestly pisses me off. Probably the only era of basketball I would significantly criticise was the late 90s/early 00s because the pace had slowed to an absolute crawl, which absolutely sucked. And I do understand that we're always going to have individual favorites and preferences. But even then there are always going to be great players and a handful of good teams worth watching.

Trying to make a concerted effort to downplay the skill and accomplishments of a historically great player like Steph Curry, who is easily one of the 5 or 10 most entertaining players I've ever been able to see with my own eyes ... like I said, I don't understand it at all.

[Sedale Threatt]

The hot takes people had in the 90's would absolutely destroy the ones on RealGM now.

Fans are always wrong. In the Eighties, I "lost" argument after argument with fans who told me that Mike would never be as good as Bird or Magic, because they were champions and he was just a guy who scored points but didn't make his teams better. Was that sillier than saying that Curry wouldn't be a superstar in the Nineties? Nah ... it's a draw.

Terrible takes are unkillable. They always exist.

I still remember the metric tons of ink spilled on Jordan ... "can a scoring champion/guard really lead an NBA team to the championship?" was absolutely a thing. Until it wasn't.

[TheGeneral99]

37 years old and averaging 24.4ppg, 4.3rpg and 6.1apg on 45%fg, 40%3fg and 93%ft, leading his team to nearly 50 wins...yeah he's a pretty damn good player.

[ScrantonBulls]

Was old man Steph really whining about the physicality of 2020s NBA basketball?

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It's pretty comical seeing a mod blatantly trolling the GB with regularity.

[Jamaaliver]

It's pretty comical seeing a mod blatantly trolling the GB with regularity.

I'm just a regular member of the population here.

I get to be as obnoxious as everyone else on the GB.

[Jamaaliver]

The hot takes people had in the 90's would absolutely destroy the ones on RealGM now.

Fans are always wrong. In the Eighties, I "lost" argument after argument with fans who told me that Mike would never be as good as Bird or Magic, because they were champions and he was just a guy who scored points but didn't make his teams better. Was that sillier than saying that Curry wouldn't be a superstar in the Nineties? Nah ... it's a draw.

Terrible takes are unkillable. They always exist.

I still remember the metric tons of ink spilled on Jordan ... "can a scoring champion/guard really lead an NBA team to the championship?" was absolutely a thing. Until it wasn't.

Yes!!!!

This is something younger fans don't really think about/understand.

Most of the time that you're watching greatness, you don't realize just how special a player is until the back end of their career.

I mention this on the GOAT Debate Thread all the time. Fans knew pretty early that Jordan was a special player. But it wasn't until year 9 or 10 that the 'greatest player in NBA History' discussion really started (outside of Chicago).

Watching a career play out in real time is very different than just looking back knowing:

• that MJ won 6 titles
• Or that Steph won 4 titles and the first unanimous MVP Award.
• Or that Lebron could actually live up to all the hype that surrounded him at age 16

[Ice Man]

I mention this on the GOAT Debate Thread all the time. Fans knew pretty early that Jordan was a special player. But it wasn't until year 9 or 10 that the 'greatest player in NBA History' discussion really started (outside of Chicago).

Spot on. The national narrative on Jordan was he was a stat stuffer who didn't make his teams better. We in Chicago would say again and again and again, well damn. Look at who he's playing with. Give him Chief, McHale, Walton, and Dennis Johnson and let's talk. Or give him Worthy, Kareem, Michael Cooper, and AC Green.

But you now how arguments like what Bulls fan made are regarded. They're correct; nobody wins titles without tons of help (save for maybe Steph in '22, what a strange year that was). But they tend not to be believed, because as you write, people think that there is a mystical difference between losers and winners, and that guys who are losers are just plain losers ... until they win.

[tsherkin]

[They're correct; nobody wins titles without tons of help (save for maybe Steph in '22, what a strange year that was).

Best defense in the league. Still had Draymond and Klay (healthy in the playoffs, anyway). Wild year from Poole. Quality roleplayer season from Wiggins. Excellent depth. They had lots of help. It wasn't as visible in terms of raw scoring assistance, which makes it more difficult for people to appreciate. But since they were healthy in the playoffs, they crushed it. And, of course, Steph was amazing. But yeah, there was a pretty solid amount of help on that team.

[Karate Diop]

I wouldn't say Curry has dominated in this era... He's never proven to be an elite floor raiser... Was never a dude who could will a team to the playoffs on his own. Just wasn't his game, or in his wheelhouse.

[og15]

Was old man Steph really whining about the physicality of 2020s NBA basketball?

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This is great coaching, you're actually not going to really find players who love excessive physicality on offense. Many guys love to dish it as offensive players, but not take it.

Anyways, if it's getting a team frustrated, don't let up, you want to throw guys off their games. While something can technically be a foul, it's only a foul in that specific game and moment if it is called.

Sometimes I wonder if basketball would be better or worse with more 60's / 70's style officiating of contact on offense and defense.

Watch on YouTube

To many of us, these are very weak fouls, but hey, it is what it is.

[LakerLegend]

Was old man Steph really whining about the physicality of 2020s NBA basketball?

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It's pretty comical seeing a mod blatantly trolling the GB with regularity.

It's not trolling just because you disagree with it.

[michaelm]

Was old man Steph really whining about the physicality of 2020s NBA basketball?

Read on Twitter

This is great coaching, you're actually not going to really find players who love excessive physicality on offense. Many guys love to dish it as offensive players, but not take it.

Anyways, if it's getting a team frustrated, don't let up, you want to throw guys off their games. While something can technically be a foul, it's only a foul in that specific game and moment if it is called.

Sometimes I wonder if basketball would be better or worse with more 60's / 70's style officiating of contact on offense and defense.

Watch on YouTube

To many of us, these are very weak fouls, but hey, it is what it is.

How would the 90s guys have coped with David West, holder of a martial arts black belt, and Zaza if unchecked mayhem was allowed ?.

[SpreeS]

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