Bob Cousy

[mattao313]

Not even sure he'd be a bench player in today's league.

That's such a stupid comment... Can people stop being so dumb when it comes to past VS present?

If he played in today's league, he would train differently. He would have strength training. He would have a shooting coach that would look at his mechanic. He would work on crossovers, something that wasn't done back then because of palming. He would dribble more with his left, because he would be allowed to put his hand on the side of the ball and go easily from his left to his right.

If you were so far ahead of the curve in the 50s and 60s, you should logically still be ahead of the curve now, even if the "curv" has changed since.

I was joking.

[Jazzlurker]

Not even sure he'd be a bench player in today's league.

That's such a stupid comment... Can people stop being so dumb when it comes to past VS present?

If he played in today's league, he would train differently. He would have strength training. He would have a shooting coach that would look at his mechanic. He would work on crossovers, something that wasn't done back then because of palming. He would dribble more with his left, because he would be allowed to put his hand on the side of the ball and go easily from his left to his right.

If you were so far ahead of the curve in the 50s and 60s, you should logically still be ahead of the curve now, even if the "curv" has changed since.

You forgot an agent, personal assistant, chef, butler, publicist, nanny, and tinder groupies.

[Long2s]

I bet most people who rag on Cousy would see Stockton and call him a scrub if they didn't know who he was.

[NormanDale]

I bet most people who rag on Cousy would see Stockton and call him a scrub if they didn't know who he was.

10 years from now, people will point to the fact that 5-9 Isaiah Thomas scored 29 ppg as proof that the league sucked in 2017 and therefore LeBron/Curry/Durant could not possibly have been good.

[Long2s]

I bet most people who rag on Cousy would see Stockton and call him a scrub if they didn't know who he was.

10 years from now, people will point to the fact that 5-9 Isaiah Thomas scored 29 ppg as proof that the league sucked in 2017 and therefore LeBron/Curry/Durant could not possibly have been good.

You bet.

Or that a 6'3'' point guard outrebounded Lebron.

[mixerball]

why do people have the need to mention someone like calderon? why are they even comparing him to todays game?
he is a legend from the old era. a pioneer. this is an incredible clip. the quality is shocking.

[alebaba]

Not even sure he'd be a bench player in today's league.

That's such a stupid comment... Can people stop being so dumb when it comes to past VS present?

If he played in today's league, he would train differently. He would have strength training. He would have a shooting coach that would look at his mechanic. He would work on crossovers, something that wasn't done back then because of palming. He would dribble more with his left, because he would be allowed to put his hand on the side of the ball and go easily from his left to his right.

If you were so far ahead of the curve in the 50s and 60s, you should logically still be ahead of the curve now, even if the "curv" has changed since.

Let's be real, its so much harder to get into the nba now than it was back then. He can train all he want, his chance of making to the nba is slim to none.

[The_Hater]

GROSS exaggeration.

Read the scouting reports on NBA players.

Many of them say things like "CAN'T go left" ... "will finish on the left side with his right" ... "will only turn over his left shoulder from left block"

It's the RARE NBA player that is that good with both hands.

Why do you sound so angry and confrontational in every post you make?

Ironic coming from a guy named "The Hater".

I'm not angry at all ... but those gross generalizations are just ridiculous. Rise above!

So you’re just going to be defensive about it and continue to attack other people’s opinions when they don’t agree with your own. It’s very annoying.

[Patsfan1081]

Great name. Horrible shooter.

Makes Lonzo Ball look like Ray Allen.

Oh the saltiness....The guy played in a area with no three point line and your critiquing him on not having a outside shot(I'm also guessing your knowledge about the guy is likely zip outside him playing for the Celtics).
Seriously though the comments on this board....Especially the ones that say past players couldn't play today's game or it's much harder to become a NBA player today have no clue what they are talking about. People are analyzing past players by today's game like somone like Cousy would be lacing up his canvas high tops and hitting the medicine ball befor practice.

[Patsfan1081]

Not even sure he'd be a bench player in today's league.

That's such a stupid comment... Can people stop being so dumb when it comes to past VS present?

If he played in today's league, he would train differently. He would have strength training. He would have a shooting coach that would look at his mechanic. He would work on crossovers, something that wasn't done back then because of palming. He would dribble more with his left, because he would be allowed to put his hand on the side of the ball and go easily from his left to his right.

If you were so far ahead of the curve in the 50s and 60s, you should logically still be ahead of the curve now, even if the "curv" has changed since.

Let's be real, its so much harder to get into the nba now than it was back then. He can train all he want, his chance of making to the nba is slim to none.

Based off of what? We're you around to watch him play?

[Wolfgang630]

Not even sure he'd be a bench player in today's league.

That's such a stupid comment... Can people stop being so dumb when it comes to past VS present?

If he played in today's league, he would train differently. He would have strength training. He would have a shooting coach that would look at his mechanic. He would work on crossovers, something that wasn't done back then because of palming. He would dribble more with his left, because he would be allowed to put his hand on the side of the ball and go easily from his left to his right.

If you were so far ahead of the curve in the 50s and 60s, you should logically still be ahead of the curve now, even if the "curv" has changed since.

Let's be real, its so much harder to get into the nba now than it was back then. He can train all he want, his chance of making to the nba is slim to none.

Lol stop man.

[Patsfan1081]

Cousy would be lucky to log minutes in the CBA today. Shot 33% from the floor and was considered a legend... god damn.

You seriously need to educate yourself on the sport back then befor making comments like these. First your referencing thesis worst season, when he came back after ten years away from the sport at 41 and hardly played much. His % was better befor he retired. Second the spacing was totally different back then without a three point line, even good centers would shoot around 40-42% from the floor. Cousy's efficience wasn't bad for his era, instead of just looking at his stats look at some of the other good players of his era.

[blazeyo]

Cousy would be lucky to log minutes in the CBA today. Shot 33% from the floor and was considered a legend... god damn.

You seriously need to educate yourself on the sport back then befor making comments like these. First your referencing thesis worst season, when he came back after ten years away from the sport at 41 and hardly played much. His % was better befor he retired. Second the spacing was totally different back then without a three point line, even good centers would shoot around 40-42% from the floor. Cousy's efficience wasn't bad for his era, instead of just looking at his stats look at some of the other good players of his era.

I'm sorry that I have thrown 33% off the top of my head after browsing his FG% few days ago. .375 is just as bad.

The spacing was bad because no one could shoot, not because there was no 3pt line. A 3pt line wouldn't increase his percentages, quite the opposite. FG% had increased over the years way before the implementation of the 3pt line in 79... spacing has improved because players were able to create better off the dribble, shoot better from all over the court and were legit threats from the post that often required double team and in turn created a good shooting opportunity.

FG% was at it's peak few years after the implementation of the 3pt line, but then regressed year by year.

I have no data regarding the pace before the shot clock era, but after the implementation in 1954-55 the pace was much much higher(around 125+-) and so it made his shooting percentage look much better than they would look today because of the the increased fast break opportunities and the fact that was by far worse in half court settings and against set defense.

Bottom line is that players coudn't shoot back then, there were no legit star players that created enough gravity for the role players to excel to feed of off and the team ORTG suffered as a result. It was much more a result of poor talent than it was because of the rules and the 3pt line.

Don't know what the league average percentage was back then, but probably around 36%? but it just shows you how bad the league was back then if you compare it to the year before 1979 where they shot around 48% on average.

I don't think i'm uneducated, but I'm guilty in thinking that the product was garbage back then.

[Kabookalu]

As an enthusiast of the past, Cousy is the one player I think gets propped up too much. I really don't think he'd do that well in today's league. We even had a poster here who has actually seen Cousy play in real life compare him to Pablo Prigioni.

[Blackfyre]

1. The game was much more primitive. Obviously.
2. Cousy was an awful shooter like many players playing during that era.
3. Very flashy player and an exceptional passer.
4. His play making and passing abilities were elite even by today's standards.

[Johnlac1]

Cousy had a nice touch, he just took too many bad shots. In today's NBA he wouldn't be allowed to take the wild flings he (and many other players) took in those days.
He did have a jump shot by the end of his career as can be seen in clips from the Lakers-Celtics '63 finals game on the internet . The next question: would he be able to get his shot off? Cousy was quicker than he was fast. He probably would not be taking many otd jump shots. But as an open shooter, even from three ball distance, he'd be at least adequate.

Pretty much all the guys were taking too many bad shots in that era which was compounded by the fact there weren't that many great shooters so it was just a more free wheeling sort of league. It was comparable to the 50's nfl in terms of most everything when compared to today so I don't know why people even try to use the 'if so and so were playing today' arguments with certain players because its just silly. Obviously a guy like Wilt would be able to get by his with size/skills in any era and a guy like Cousy would have to be a better shooter today but maybe he would have become one. Its like comparing Jesse Owens running in shoes from the 30's on cinder tracks to today's track runners.

That's the big problem overlooked by many modern fans. Nobody really knows how old time stars would adjust to new conditions.
Modern fans have to realize that players thrust into more competitive situations are able to adapt and improve. Obviously, a number of old time stars wouldn't have the size or athleticism to adjust and play in modern times.
But there are a number of players in the league now with less than stellar athleticism who get appreciable playing time. Pachulia and Delevadova for instance would still be mediocre players fifty years ago. Players today aren't that much more bigger and athletic than players from fifty years ago. But there are more super athletes today.
But athleticism can only get you so far. Skills, desire, and bb IQ still count for a lot.

[CowboyBebop]

I’ll say this, two things surprised me:

1. Although it’s clear he’d get smoked in today’s game, he was clearly very talented. Much better dribbling, vision, and speed than I thought I’d see in that clip.

2. Why was he unable to properly pronounce the word “peripheral”??