RealGM

Please read the 10 below, and vote for each one you think is more-or-less true about today's league. I agree with each but want to know more opinions

one trap that i think people fall into when comparing across eras and playstyles is cherry picking aspects from a small window - usually the 90s - to fit their narrative. the 90s wasn't the only other decade that basketball was played in.

three-point shooting for example, i think people often use as a stand-in to just say they don't like the nba right now as much as they did in the 90s. what did the nba look like post-mj but before the three-point revolution? because i watched both eras and i take the style of play today over the early 2000s 10/10 times. the game needed to be opened up. going back and watching guys playing on the back side just kind of float around ~18 feet to clang a bad midrange look is painful knowing how much better it is for them to just be ready to catch and shoot a corner three.

The hell is this? You work for the league office?

To hell with expansion, and to hell with politics in sports.

Nice thread... lots of good poll choices to get lots of discussion going.

I voted for 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10.

Regarding #3 - Yes, but no more than 32 teams. More than 32 and I feel the league as a product will become too watered down as a whole. I also like that 1/2 of 32 is 16, the number of the teams going into the playoffs. Then we know there are 2 venues that are primed for new teams, Las Vegas and Seattle. Move New Orleans to the Eastern Conference, where they belong geographically... and add Vegas and Seattle to the Western Conference.

Regarding #4 - I would have liked to agree with that but I think referees have become worse in some ways (i.e., more silly in their interpretation and application of rules) while they have become better in other ways (i.e., there is probably less corruption and fixing). So I cannot rightly agree with that statement. Please don't change the way you've worded it though, in case my response is coming across like you should. It'll be interesting to see how many others agree/disagree with it as is.

Ive got nothing against this kind of thread. But ya I wont lie, this feels like Im filling out a focus group form for the NBA execs haha. Just feels clinical for some reason haha.

I voted yes to

#1 - No brainer this is clearly the most talent the leagues ever had
#3 - Get to 32 clubs and be done with it. Its the perfect number for playoffs and scheduling etc.
#7 - This never bothers me and I hate the shut up and dribble mentality, people should be able to use their voice for good

Duke4life831 wrote:Ive got nothing against this kind of thread. But ya I wont lie, this feels like Im filling out a focus group form for the NBA execs haha. Just feels clinical for some reason haha.

I see what you mean, but no worries-I'm just bored and wondering what other educated fans think about the League today

Roger Murdock wrote:#7 - This never bothers me and I hate the shut up and dribble mentality, people should be able to use their voice for good

My push back against this is the old saying, "your freedom ends where my nose/ears begin". People can use their voices as much as they want to, but others should not be forced to listen to them especially if they feel the voices are not being used to do actual good.

Secondly, who decides what is "good" and where does it stop? Case in point, I have nothing against what Lebron posts on his Twitter because I do not read it. His tweet saying "#You'reNext" targeting an innocent police office could have been considered a criminal act (if anyone had acted against that officer after reading his tweet)... and I hope Lebron feels suitably ashamed of himself for posting something so wrong (I don't think he does)... but he has a right to post whatever he wants on his personal platform, and society (or the law) should deal with his tweets as they see fit. If Lebron had said what he said on a league-owned platform though (for example: in a stadium prior to a game), forced me to listen to it, (and worse) if I had to agree with him in the moment due to fear or public pressure, that would be shameful and similar to living in days of fascism/nazism.

pipfan wrote:

Duke4life831 wrote:Ive got nothing against this kind of thread. But ya I wont lie, this feels like Im filling out a focus group form for the NBA execs haha. Just feels clinical for some reason haha.

I see what you mean, but no worries-I'm just bored and wondering what other educated fans think about the League today

Haha and ya to be clear this isn't me bashing the thread. All legit questions. Mainly just me being a dick haha

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10.

I only agree with 1,2, & 7.

Gorilla Monsoon wrote:The hell is this? You work for the league office?

To hell with expansion, and to hell with politics in sports.

It's a good poll. But I agree, the idea of an expansion is sheer stupidity.

7- I would be all for anything about justice and equality. What is head-scratching to me, something I'd call black racism is so OK in US society. Can you imagine someone saying "we need more white coaches," "we need more white teachers and cops," "I like to support white kids and give them good start to life" or "I support all the white bussinesses" and being aplauded for it?

Before you get mad at me. First of all, my english is bad, not using it too often, so I hope what I wrote is similar to what I meant. Second, I live in country that never had slaves, never had any colonies, never killed former inhabitants (ok, our ancient ancestors probably DID, but so long ago there aren't any written evidence), so in my country we don't have that feel of guilt to minorities.

My message is that we all need GOOD teachers, GOOD cops, GOOD supervisors, politicians... regardless of their colour.

Players today are more skilled but that only makes them better basketball players if the rules reward their skills (which it does in today's game). The emphasis on 3 point shooting makes today's game less fun to watch. Dribbling rules are also too relaxed. The game is too easy on today's players.

So... the NBA should change its rules to allow more physicality and to de-emphasize 3 point shooting and ball handling. Essentially go back to how it used to be with lower scores, more missed shots, but more post ups and more battling underneath the rim.

Would today's players appear to be so skilled if 3 point shooting and ball handling are eschewed in favour of more physicality and plays closer to the rim?

1-Players today are overall better and more skilled than ever

No

2-Players today are softer and weaker minded than ever

Yes

3-The league has enough talent to justify expanding to add 2 more clubs

Yes

4-The refs are bad, have always been bad and will always be bad-it's not better or worse now

Yes

5-The emphasis on 3 point shooting has made the league less enjoyable to watch

Yes

6-More top stars now are unlikable than in the past, for many reasons

No

7-I'm fine with the NBA making social justice statements-and it's good for their business

Yes

8-Players get injured more now than ever before

No

9-The league should reduce the schedule-taking away some games will help the overall product

No

10-The league should tighten how the travelling, carrying and moving screen rules are enforced

No

Maf wrote:7- I would be all for anything about justice and equality. What is head-scratching to me, something I'd call black racism is so OK in US society. Can you imagine someone saying "we need more white coaches," "we need more white teachers and cops," "I like to support white kids and give them good start to life" or "I support all the white bussinesses" and being aplauded for it?

Before you get mad at me. First of all, my english is bad, not using it too often, so I hope what I wrote is similar to what I meant. Second, I live in country that never had slaves, never had any colonies, never killed former inhabitants (ok, our ancient ancestors probably DID, but so long ago there aren't any written evidence), so in my country we don't have that feel of guilt to minorities.

My message is that we all need GOOD teachers, GOOD cops, GOOD supervisors, politicians... regardless of their colour.

You just said it yourself. You lived in a country that never had slaves. You don't understand minorities or have any context.

And your last statement...nobody disagrees with that.

Double post.

I agree with 1, 5, 7 and 10.

5, 7, 8, 10

1,2,4,6.

I have a question for those that didn't vote for 1. Do you actually believe that a serious game between All star 2022 players and All star 1985-1990 players would not result in complete annihilation of the latter? I watched the other day I think 1987 AS game and it was too funny. Players from this era would be crushing them for 50 points.