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

[og15]

today's era sucks compared to the 90's for sure. bunch of soft, overrated players compared to the past.

so those people that were adults in the 90's...they created and raised these players today. just saying.

In the end everyone will do what they need to do to win and coach how they need to coach to win.

[Richard Miller]

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.

Time to start watching Jokic-ball

[wojoaderge]

I'm not a big fan of today's game to put it mildly, but the mid-to-late 90s was even worse

[nomansland]

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.

[Optms]

Teams had identities and different playstyles back then.

This is something that is lost on today's fan. Some people on here actually believe every game was a low scoring game and that everyone played like the Spurs or Pistons, a grind fest all defense game. It could not be further from the truth.

[MikeM]

The amount of talent and dedication it takes to do what even Ja Morant can do is staggering. I'm in my mid-30s and I prefer to watch a basketball ballet dancer like Morant over a Stockton/Malone pick and roll.

I want to see what the best athletes in the world can do with a ball in their hand. Sumo wrestling under the rim is not exciting to me. I do that every Sunday with my buddies.

[xdrta+]

I'm not surprised so many commenters don't watch the games. It's much easier to criticize a sport that you don't watch. Personally, I find it odd that some people prefer watching 7 foot freaks (in that they're so rare, not crazy or anything) bully their way into a score, as opposed to skillful play, ball movement, and accurate shooting. But that's just me, to each their own.

[KembaWalker]

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

[HiRez]

With the new "let them play" rules, I'm loving this season more than any in a long time. Overall it's led to less player whining after every play as well (not none, but less). Sometimes it sucks when your guy gets clobbered and there's no foul call, but overall it's a much more enjoyable watch.

And the refs aren't in general biting on the rip-through moves. Except for Chris Paul though...smh

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/rojqf8/highlight_chris_paul_gets_a_full_court_rip/

[whatisacenter]

I’m 52, grew up in Indiana living basketball and fell for the NBA with the the 80’s Lakers and their style of play. I moved to SF in ‘87 and quickly adopted the Warriors during their RUN TMC days and suffered through the Chris Cohan era. I love watching the current Warriors offense with ball movement, passing and their teamwork on defense as much as much as I have ever loved the game.

[Hipster Doofus]

I'm with you jazzfan1971.

[Goudelock]

For everyone in this thread who has a problem with how the NBA is played nowadays versus how it was back when they started watching, I gotta wonder how much of that is nostalgia?

I'm at an age where the an era of basketball (late-00's) I grew up watching is now starting to get looked at with a sense of longing by the populace. And I'll admit I probably enjoyed watching basketball back then more than I do now. But that's because I was a child back then and I was captivated by the spectacle of a Joe Johnson iso or a Josh Smith brick from the wing or a Derek Fisher heave from 25 feet.

I've gone back and watched some of those old games, and while the style of play was certainly different from today's game, I can't say it's BETTER. What I can say is that watching the games as a younger person means everything is new and exciting, and you can get more invested in the results.

That's just my opinion though.

[Chanel Bomber]

The teams had stronger identities back then. The players were also more charismatic for the most part (with some exceptions), and carried more mystique, probably due to the absence of social media.

Pippen was a God-like figure growing up in the 90s for instance. If he played today, we'd all have learned how much of a quitter and a hater he is by now.

Teams play a smarter brand of basketball today. Players are way more skilled on average - although not necessarily smarter. I do find 90s basketball more entertaining to watch, due to the differences in playing style, and the physicality and competitiveness that were allowed. Most teams nowadays hunt the same shots because they're universally recognized as the most efficient, although some superstars still embrace the midrange game (Kawhi, KD, Middleton).

One random thing that really bothers me about today's game is the number of arenas playing music during the games. It sounds cheap, and tacky. Watch highlights of game 6 between Bucks and Suns and all you hear is thumping beats while the outcome of the Finals is being decided. It strips the game of any classic feel.

[Roddy B for 3]

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 antena weekly, and I can't watch on league pass.

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

I disagree with people saying the current game is worse, there are alot of explantions 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?

[Tony15]

Now way too many teams just run up the floor and chuck the first available three, and physical defense isn't allowed anymore. It's just gross basketball to watch imho.

[zeebneeb]

What your looking for, and missing is complexity. It can be difficult to try and put your finger on what you miss exactly, and trust me, that's it.

90% of the league plays the same, with very little variation in their offense, thus it becomes repetitive.

The game used to be very specialized as well, with certain types of players, doing certain types of things. Very streamlined game, with only specific skills sets being sought out.

[FreeThrowLine]

Death
Taxes
Draftnightsuit showing up in any thread that gives him the opportunity to bash previous eras

Despite countless times being proven he never watched the game back then, he still shows up to provide his completely inaccurate assessment of the 90's to fit his agenda. How can anyone be taken seriously on an NBA discussion forum when they write things like this?

The ‘90s were the absolute most watered down the league has ever been. Low IQ players, out-of-shape flabby beer drinkers, no strategy whatsoever, etc…. I can keep going.

[MotownMadness]

I still watch but it's not as fun as it once was

[ReKon]

The problem is that, similar to football, the guys running the show believe that casuals want to watch more offence, which is not the case.

Contrary to what people here say about pushing the line further back the solution is actually make the court smaller, similar to Euroleague. Doncic and Giannis have both said that it's more difficult to score in Europe because the court is smaller so defenders can close out on you. This would be the case in the NBA as well.

Now with that being said the main issue is that with the exception of some teams (Warriors for example who often have Curry play off the ball and run through screens) there is just not enough sophistication to how these teams take their threes. It's either iso ball to a pull up 3 or a pick and pop for a 3. Bulls have been a breath fo fresh air with DeRozan shooting all those midrangers, I like the Bucks cause Giannis is dominating the paint, the Suns have a great pick and roll setup, so there is some variety to go around.

[JDR720]

I think it boils down to a few things.

- The NBA made it more difficult to defend. This is simply to make more money, as most casuals want to watch offensive shootouts.
- Analytics. Shooting 33% on 3's is the same as shooting 50% on 2's. Why bother with a midrange game if you can chuck 3's and more efficient? Post scoring is too slow, even dominate interior players like Embiid shoot multiple 3's per game.
- Due to the above points, most teams run the same plays. And most plays are about setting up a 3.

It is boring if you're into the tactics. I'd compare it to soccer. People who dislike soccer don't understand the tactics. The methodical approach, buildup to the goal etc. People just want to see goals, they don't care about how they happen. In basketball, people don't want to see a complex play. Or a fancy midrange game. They want the schoolyard 3pt shootouts, broken ankles and dunks.

Sports cater to what the casuals want, and unfortunately most casuals couldn't name more than 10 players.