Can we stop pretending like old school NBA playoff games are more physical than they are now?

[TheGOATRises007]

NBA fans - more than any sport fans are obsessing with putting down certain eras. Almost makes me think some of you aren't even basketball fans.

Just enjoy the game. The games today are great. They were great back then too.

[JM00n69]

If prime Lebron feared Kawhi Leonard, imagine how he would fare facing 3 Kawhi’s in Jordan, Pippen and Rodman. He would probably not even show up to the game and fake a groin injury or something.

OMG here we go. Let's not pretend that MJ was not guarded by Craig Ehlo, John Starks and Jeff Hornacek.

Sydney Montrief, Michael Cooper, DJ, the entire bad boy pistons (including Rodman and dumars), entire cavs bigs that you're conveniently forgetting, all of the GOAT level defensive centers in the later including Hakeem, Robinson, mourning, Ewing, Mutumbo, Payton, and so on

and acting like Starks wasn't a great defender is proof that you didn't watch those games.
Starks was a very good defender.

No one today can wait for perimeter players in the lane like the guys I mentioned.

And that's why you never see boxing out, poster dunks, much contact whatsoever and so on.

Watch on YouTube

Gasol, Ihaka and Rudy don't win a single DPOY in the 90s and you know it... let alone repeat

It's a bunch of literal children commenting here. Why the need to say '90 was less physical than today? Don't feed the trolls we all know it was.

ALSO, MJ would've been ejected today for that stare he gave to Ewing

[tamaraw08]

OMG here we go. Let's not pretend that MJ was not guarded by Craig Ehlo, John Starks and Jeff Hornacek.

Sydney Montrief, Michael Cooper, DJ, the entire bad boy pistons (including Rodman and dumars), entire cavs bigs that you're conveniently forgetting, all of the GOAT level defensive centers in the later including Hakeem, Robinson, mourning, Ewing, Mutumbo, Payton, and so on

and acting like Starks wasn't a great defender is proof that you didn't watch those games.
Starks was a very good defender.

No one today can wait for perimeter players in the lane like the guys I mentioned.

And that's why you never see boxing out, poster dunks, much contact whatsoever and so on.

Watch on YouTube

Gasol, Ihaka and Rudy don't win a single DPOY in the 90s and you know it... let alone repeat

It's a bunch of literal children commenting here. Why the need to say '90 was less physical than today? Don't feed the trolls we all know it was.

ALSO, MJ would've been ejected today for that stare he gave to Ewing

MJ is 6-6 198 lbs, has great elevation shooting over shorter defenders for like 65% of the time, you make it sound like he drove and penetrated everytime. .
both Dumars and DJ were 6-4, Moncrief is even shorter at 6-3, Starks 6-5, 180 lbs.

[JM00n69]

Sydney Montrief, Michael Cooper, DJ, the entire bad boy pistons (including Rodman and dumars), entire cavs bigs that you're conveniently forgetting, all of the GOAT level defensive centers in the later including Hakeem, Robinson, mourning, Ewing, Mutumbo, Payton, and so on

and acting like Starks wasn't a great defender is proof that you didn't watch those games.
Starks was a very good defender.

No one today can wait for perimeter players in the lane like the guys I mentioned.

And that's why you never see boxing out, poster dunks, much contact whatsoever and so on.

Watch on YouTube

Gasol, Ihaka and Rudy don't win a single DPOY in the 90s and you know it... let alone repeat

It's a bunch of literal children commenting here. Why the need to say '90 was less physical than today? Don't feed the trolls we all know it was.

ALSO, MJ would've been ejected today for that stare he gave to Ewing

MJ is 6-6 198 lbs, has great elevation shooting over shorter defenders for like 65% of the time, you make it sound like he drove and penetrated everytime. .
both Dumars and DJ were 6-4, Moncrief is even shorter at 6-3, Starks 6-5, 180 lbs.

And Patrick Ewing who he dunked on was 7ft you numpty

[Ainosterhaspie]

Here are the Luka highlights from yesterday. How do they compare to earlier MJ video?

Watch on YouTube

Play 1: Defender picks him up at half court, starts hand checking. Luka uses screen to get free for three point shot.

Play 2: Luka getting handcheck before court. Makes pass hitting LeBron under basket for assist.

Play 3: Luka getting hugged at three point line, has to wrestle free to catch incoming pass. Defender handchecking his hip lightly as he drives then hip checks him as he goes for shot. No foul called.

Play 4: Luka being tightly defended before crossing half court. Uses screen to get past defender. Second defender tries to put hands on him, but Luka crosses and gets ahead. Defender follows him closely as Luka gets lightly contested layup.

Play 5: Luka defended at three point line. Defender has hand on him. Luka hits cutter in paint. Three passes lead to defenders scrambling and Luka gets wide open three.

Play 6: Luka being handchecked at three point line. Gets around defender. Drives with defender right with him then stops and fades to get separation. Defender contests we'll but shot made.

Play 7: Luka iso on Gobert. Goes right, Gobert gets arm across body slowing drive. Luka goes left, Gobert again tries to slow/redirect with hand and arm on shoulder and hip. Luka pump fakes pass fakes and steps to get shot off.

Play 8: Luka tightly defended at three point line starts drive, defender uses hand/arm to try to hold him back, he still gets into paint where second defender blocks his angle, but he sneaks pass between defenders for a teammate dunk.

Play 9: Luka untouched at three. Makes pass. Gets it back. Drives then pulls up. Contact if any not clear from camera angle.

Play 10: Luka guarded at three point line. Defender trying to get hands on him, but direction changes make it hard. Luka starts drive and defender gets arm in to slow progress. Still gets angle and manages scoop layup around tight contest.

Play 11: Luka untouched. Double teamed. Passes for layup.

Play 12: Transition. Luka uses pass fakes to get around closing defender, drives, gets cut off passes for layup. Luka untouched.

Play 13: Luka runs toward ball receives pass with defender trailing. Defender hand checks but Luka drives with defender draped all over him and makes layup. No foul called despite defender with hand in his shoulder disrupting his ability to elevate on shot.

--

The earlier Jordan clip he was untouched 8 of 13 plays. Here Luka is untouched at most 3 of 13 plays. Luka is being handcheded on perimeter most of the time.

The only plays that look more physical in the Jordan clip involve jumping leaping in ways Luka doesn't so comparison on that specifically doesn't work with him and Luka.

Generally Luka is being played much more tightly and the defenders are much more hands on. Jordan gets several wide open looks with no effort, no moves needed to create separation, while Luka need several moves, screens or breakaways to get separation.

Jordan video we are comparing to again for reference.

Watch on YouTube

[Ainosterhaspie]

If you watch full games, the average physicality today is much higher than the 80s, 90s and 00s. If you just rely on memory and highlights, it's never been less physical than it is right now.

I trust video more than 20-40 year old memories, but maybe that's just me.

I actually watched a 90s nba playoff game on espn classic a while back and ive watched four of the current playoff games and no the current playoff games are not more physical. Ill trust what i see instead of relying on you to tell me what to think. Ive also been watching the nba since the late 80s. What about you?

Started late 80s. Isiah playing on bum ankle is my first NBA memorable moment. Was never a Detroit fan but people I watched games with most were. First teams I liked were Suns with Barkley (and I really liked Majerle bombing long distance threes) and Robinson Spurs. One friend was big Magic fan another a big Nique fan. Another friend was a Shaq fan when he was in College, then with Magic. The Nique guy loved Kidd starting in college. Didn't have any teams super close so we all tended to just pick a teams and players we liked to cheer for instead of all being fans of local team.

[MavsDirk41]

You either didn't watch the video you just posted or haven't watched the modern game or maybe both. Only way the above statement makes any sense unless you're just lying.

Nothing in that video is unusual in the modern game.

Can't box out today? What are you even talking about?

You wamt me to post some no defense clips of today nba?

Your proposal is to find a video cherry picking no defense and contrast that to a video of "they tried to kill Jordan"?

I can find videos of zero defense being played in an 80s, 90s, and 2025 nba playoff game. I can find videos of physical defense being played in an 80s, 90s, and 2025 nba playoff game. You rebuttal?? Am i lying?

Honest question, how many 80s and 90s nba games have you watched in your lifetime?

[MavsDirk41]

If you watch full games, the average physicality today is much higher than the 80s, 90s and 00s. If you just rely on memory and highlights, it's never been less physical than it is right now.

I trust video more than 20-40 year old memories, but maybe that's just me.

I actually watched a 90s nba playoff game on espn classic a while back and ive watched four of the current playoff games and no the current playoff games are not more physical. Ill trust what i see instead of relying on you to tell me what to think. Ive also been watching the nba since the late 80s. What about you?

Started late 80s. Isiah playing on bum ankle is my first NBA memorable moment. Was never a Detroit fan but people I watched games with most were. First teams I liked were Suns with Barkley (and I really liked Majerle bombing long distance threes) and Robinson Spurs. One friend was big Magic fan another a big Nique fan. Another friend was a Shaq fan when he was in College, then with Magic. The Nique guy loved kid starting in college. Didn't have any teams super close so we all tended to just pick a teams and players we liked to cheer for instead of all being fans of local team.

I started watching the nba in 87/88 and i will argue you for eternity that todays nba is no more physical than todays nba. That is straight up Richard Pryor comedy.

[MavsDirk41]

Sydney Montrief, Michael Cooper, DJ, the entire bad boy pistons (including Rodman and dumars), entire cavs bigs that you're conveniently forgetting, all of the GOAT level defensive centers in the later including Hakeem, Robinson, mourning, Ewing, Mutumbo, Payton, and so on

and acting like Starks wasn't a great defender is proof that you didn't watch those games.
Starks was a very good defender.

No one today can wait for perimeter players in the lane like the guys I mentioned.

And that's why you never see boxing out, poster dunks, much contact whatsoever and so on.

Watch on YouTube

Gasol, Ihaka and Rudy don't win a single DPOY in the 90s and you know it... let alone repeat

It's a bunch of literal children commenting here. Why the need to say '90 was less physical than today? Don't feed the trolls we all know it was.

ALSO, MJ would've been ejected today for that stare he gave to Ewing

MJ is 6-6 198 lbs, has great elevation shooting over shorter defenders for like 65% of the time, you make it sound like he drove and penetrated everytime. .
both Dumars and DJ were 6-4, Moncrief is even shorter at 6-3, Starks 6-5, 180 lbs.

Ive seen guys like 6’4” Tim Hardaway and 6’6” 200 pound Derick Jones be assigned to guard James.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Its the same handful of people on here who spend their time bashing anything 80s/90s nbs to try to prop up their favorite player, and we all know who that is.

You know what's really fckn weak, is OP making this thread and needing to take a **** on a whole decade of great bball that paved the way for the game we have today. A decade he didn't even watch. All because someone, today or yesterday hurt his feelings. Now that's the softest **** I've ever seen.

NBA fans - more than any sport fans are obsessing with putting down certain eras. Almost makes me think some of you aren't even basketball fans.

Just enjoy the game. The games today are great. They were great back then too.

These responses are unnecessarily defensive. OP did not attack a decade or multiple decades. He is attacking a narrative, not an era.

[Jta444]

If prime Lebron feared Kawhi Leonard, imagine how he would fare facing 3 Kawhi’s in Jordan, Pippen and Rodman. He would probably not even show up to the game and fake a groin injury or something.

OMG here we go. Let's not pretend that MJ was not guarded by Craig Ehlo, John Starks and Jeff Hornacek.

JJ Barea

[Iwasawitness]

Its the same handful of people on here who spend their time bashing anything 80s/90s nbs to try to prop up their favorite player, and we all know who that is.

You know what's really fckn weak, is OP making this thread and needing to take a **** on a whole decade of great bball that paved the way for the game we have today. A decade he didn't even watch. All because someone, today or yesterday hurt his feelings. Now that's the softest **** I've ever seen.

NBA fans - more than any sport fans are obsessing with putting down certain eras. Almost makes me think some of you aren't even basketball fans.

Just enjoy the game. The games today are great. They were great back then too.

These responses are unnecessarily defensive. OP did not attack a decade or multiple decades. He is attacking a narrative, not an era.

PuT sOmE rEsPeCk On My ErA!

[Ainosterhaspie]

And that's why you never see boxing out, poster dunks, much contact whatsoever and so on.

This was yesterday.

Watch on YouTube

[MavsDirk41]

Its the same handful of people on here who spend their time bashing anything 80s/90s nbs to try to prop up their favorite player, and we all know who that is.

You know what's really fckn weak, is OP making this thread and needing to take a **** on a whole decade of great bball that paved the way for the game we have today. A decade he didn't even watch. All because someone, today or yesterday hurt his feelings. Now that's the softest **** I've ever seen.

NBA fans - more than any sport fans are obsessing with putting down certain eras. Almost makes me think some of you aren't even basketball fans.

Just enjoy the game. The games today are great. They were great back then too.

These responses are unnecessarily defensive. OP did not attack a decade or multiple decades. He is attacking a narrative, not an era.

Well i personally said todays nba is not more physical than 80s/90s nba like you actually said. Im waiting for you to prove me wrong. Im watching Boston and Orlando waiting to see this physicality that didnt exist in the 80s and 90s.

[ScrantonBulls]

Its the same handful of people on here who spend their time bashing anything 80s/90s nbs to try to prop up their favorite player, and we all know who that is.

You know what's really fckn weak, is OP making this thread and needing to take a **** on a whole decade of great bball that paved the way for the game we have today. A decade he didn't even watch. All because someone, today or yesterday hurt his feelings. Now that's the softest **** I've ever seen.

NBA fans - more than any sport fans are obsessing with putting down certain eras. Almost makes me think some of you aren't even basketball fans.

Just enjoy the game. The games today are great. They were great back then too.

These responses are unnecessarily defensive. OP did not attack a decade or multiple decades. He is attacking a narrative, not an era.

It's really weird how tribal people get about their favorite era of NBA. You provided some concrete evidence. You watched clips from a modern game and an old game. You didn't look for some YouTube clips of Bill Laimbeers dirtiest plays and act like it encompassed an entire era. You actually did the analysis required to compare personality in both eras.

Meanwhile, the people crying about how much tougher the 80s-90s were REFUSE to actually watch games to compare the eras. They just get defensive and swear they vividly remember what happened 30-40 years ago it's really a bit sad. They so desperately want to be right about their era being tougher that they refuse to watch anything that may prove their point wrong. They'd rather be delusional about it.

[ScrantonBulls]

The playoff games every year are so physical. I actually don't like the "let them play" mindset because I think the game should be called consistently during the season and postseason.

There's simply more physicality now a days. You see guys getting hip checked and bodies up 5 feet outside the 3 point line. Back in the day defenders would say off players if they were even close to the 3 point line. There's just more handchecking and contact in the playoffs now a days.

I'm sure I'll get some "hurr durr Bad Boys Pistons, therefore all games back in the day were MMA matches" from some dudes that were 5 years old when the Bad Boy Pistons played. That's one team over a span of 2 years. And they were known for hard fouls. It still wasn't as consistently physical as it is now. We also saw a leg lock on Luka and a karate chop to LeBron's face get no called and then a common foul, respectively.

Bottom line, playoff games are as physical as ever. I think it's too physical, which makes it so drastically different than the regular season. Call the games consistently.

Watch and educate yourself before you post such nonsense.

I have. The posters here with credibility have done the same and posted examples concurring with my assessment. Sorry reality makes you upset.

[ScrantonBulls]

And that's why you never see boxing out, poster dunks, much contact whatsoever and so on.

This was yesterday.

Watch on YouTube

That poster's MO is being wrong about literally everything. That's what he is known for. He's just being consistent.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Its the same handful of people on here who spend their time bashing anything 80s/90s nbs to try to prop up their favorite player, and we all know who that is.

You know what's really fckn weak, is OP making this thread and needing to take a **** on a whole decade of great bball that paved the way for the game we have today. A decade he didn't even watch. All because someone, today or yesterday hurt his feelings. Now that's the softest **** I've ever seen.

NBA fans - more than any sport fans are obsessing with putting down certain eras. Almost makes me think some of you aren't even basketball fans.

Just enjoy the game. The games today are great. They were great back then too.

These responses are unnecessarily defensive. OP did not attack a decade or multiple decades. He is attacking a narrative, not an era.

Well i personally said todays nba is not more physical than 80s/90s nba like you actually said. Im waiting for you to prove me wrong. Im watching Boston and Orlando waiting to see this physicality that didnt exist in the 80s and 90s.

Care to quote the post you are arguing with instead of the one you quoted, which does not make the claim you are respondong to?

[ScrantonBulls]

I actually watched a 90s nba playoff game on espn classic a while back and ive watched four of the current playoff games and no the current playoff games are not more physical. Ill trust what i see instead of relying on you to tell me what to think. Ive also been watching the nba since the late 80s. What about you?

Started late 80s. Isiah playing on bum ankle is my first NBA memorable moment. Was never a Detroit fan but people I watched games with most were. First teams I liked were Suns with Barkley (and I really liked Majerle bombing long distance threes) and Robinson Spurs. One friend was big Magic fan another a big Nique fan. Another friend was a Shaq fan when he was in College, then with Magic. The Nique guy loved kid starting in college. Didn't have any teams super close so we all tended to just pick a teams and players we liked to cheer for instead of all being fans of local team.

I started watching the nba in 87/88 and i will argue you for eternity that todays nba is no more physical than todays nba. That is straight up Richard Pryor comedy.

How old were you in 87/88? Didn't you say you were like 45? So that means you were around 7-8 by that time? Surely your memory and nostalgia as an 8 year old wouldn't deceive you

[MavsDirk41]

These responses are unnecessarily defensive. OP did not attack a decade or multiple decades. He is attacking a narrative, not an era.

Well i personally said todays nba is not more physical than 80s/90s nba like you actually said. Im waiting for you to prove me wrong. Im watching Boston and Orlando waiting to see this physicality that didnt exist in the 80s and 90s.

Care to quote the post you are arguing with instead of the one you quoted, which does not make the claim you are respondong to?

Buddy you said todays nba is more physical. I said its not. Im not saying any era is more physical, just that todays is not more physical. I think everyone would love your proof that todays nba is more physical.