Shot-blocking 15 years ago compared to today

[Mediocrity]

Looking at the leaders per game in blocks from this season, the leader, Bogut, only averaged 2.6. If you look back 10-15 years ago, the leaders were averaging 3-4 blocks per game, and there were multiple players doing this. What has caused such disparity? Granted that in the 90's the game was slower and players weren't quite as athletic, but I don't think that can account for everything. Do you think that the NBA is just simply softer now? I can't wrap my head around how players as athletic as Ibaka or Howard can only average 2.4 blocks per game. Thoughts?

[BBallFreak]

It's a combination of two main things imo.

Their is a lack of quality centers. Back in the 90's Howard might have scratched top 10 centers in the league. Everyone was trotting out big quality centers. We all know the Big Names like Shaq, Zo, Ewing, Robinson, Hakeem, etc., etc., but then their's the middle of the pack guys too, like Seikaly, Smits, Daugherty (when he was healthy). And then there were the big thugs like Eaton and Koncak. It seemed EVERYONE had a quality (by today's standards) center.

Also, the league HAS gotten softer. The rules back then allowed players to be far more physical. Trying to block shots wasn't going to get you quick fouls...

[Vides990]

Also, the league HAS gotten softer. The rules back then allowed players to be far more physical. Trying to block shots wasn't going to get you quick fouls...

+1 This

[NickAnderson]

Like BBallFreak said if the NBA today wasn't so soft guys like Howard and Bogut could avg 4bpg but they are so afraid of getting into foul trouble they have to hold back most of the time.

[Ettorefm]

[quote="BBallFreak"]
Back in the 90's Howard might have scratched top 10 centers in the 90's
.
Easy, big fella. MIGHT? Oh, the overrated 90's...
.
The 90's were way better in center, but not as some people say. Do you seriously think Howard wouldn't be a great player in the 90's?
.
Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson and Ewing I get. But who else? Mourning would destroy howard?

[Darain]

Isn't the rule that that stops Centers from camping in the paint for blocks, lowers the block count?

[lukekarts]

This comparison is so overrated. Yeah the Center position was deeper back in the 90s but that doesn't make Dwight Howard a worse player. He's more athletic than pretty much every Center than the 90's and he's a better rebounder than Ewing & Robinson.

It doesn't explain the difference in blocking numbers but I'm assuming that comes from different play styles and and emphasis on more perimeter dominant play and outside shooting.

[BBallFreak]

The top 10 comment was an exaggeration, obviously. But you did have Shaq, Olajawon, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing all clearly better than him. He would clearly have been in the tier below with Mourning, Mutombo, Sabonis, Campbell, Divac, and Smits.

But what Howard would have done in the 90's isn't the point. The point is, their were far more quality players at that position in the 90's.

[Dr Pepper]

We got spoiled by great bigs and an era where they could play. The talent from previous eras of bigs simply destroys today's.

Nowadays there's too many finesse perimeter-shooting bigs which change the style of play from dominating in the paint to stretching the floor so smalls can dominate in the paint. This is a league where players like Big Baby Davis, DeJuan Blair, and Matt Bonner are key pieces for winning frontlines.....and they're not exactly shotblockers or athletic prodigies.

[That Nicka]

The quality of centers argument is dumb as is the league is soft argument... 3 seconds in the key on defense is a bigger reason


Mourning and Mutombo and Ben Wallace have all averaged 3+ blocks in the 2000s

[Dr Pepper]

The 90's were way better in center, but not as some people say. Do you seriously think Howard wouldn't be a great player in the 90's?

He wouldn't be as great as he is now and since he came into the league as a raw project he'd get manhandled in previous eras. Dwight also isn't a legit 7 footer and has match up problems against those taller players which were common in the 90's. Dwight gets frustrated easily, struggles with fundamental plays, has just about zero range, terrible passing/court vision, etc.

[ropjhk]

I think it's a combination of rule changes and player quality. The 90's didn't just have more top tier All Time Great quality centers, it also had more second tier all star centers and more third tier good quality centers. Today's best C would only be in the second tier in the 90's and today's second best C would only be in the third tier.

[Shot Clock]

A few reasons

More defensive bigs back then. Now bigs want to be a SF

3 second rule

And the introduction of the "restricted area" in 1997 forced bigs to get outside the circle or risk getting called for the foul. It's much less common to see guys stand and challenge a drive under the hoop and much more common to see them run out and try and draw a charge or avoid the contact all together.

[bossman]

Rule changes play the biggest part. Guys like Dwight, Bogut, and Ibaka would all average 3+ blocks in the 90's.

[Kobe8Forever]

A few reasons

More defensive bigs back then. Now bigs want to be a SF

3 second rule

And the introduction of the "restricted area" in 1997 forced bigs to get outside the circle or risk getting called for the foul. It's much less common to see guys stand and challenge a drive under the hoop and much more common to see them run out and try and draw a charge or avoid the contact all together.

Yea that is the biggest reason right here. Defensive 3 seconds means your bigs will have go be more mobile to get to the spot where they can contest a drive. The hand checking rule also has allowed perimeter players to get to the rim faster.

[MIK AGER]

There's less stat fabrication today than there was in the 90's, and defenses today are more complex.

[Winsome Gerbil]

The quality of centers argument is dumb as is the league is soft argument... 3 seconds in the key on defense is a bigger reason

I've mentioned before that this is a huge HUGE misunderstanding from what I can only assume are younger posters. The defensive 3 secodn rule has ALWAYS been there, including in the era of big shotblockers.

Pre-2002? Whenever the zone was allowed, and the three second rule instituted, centers STILL could not lurk in the lane 3 seconds. That was the illegal defense rule. You had to be always guarding your own man, staying withing reasonable reach of him, or it was illegal. Big centers couldn't just lurk around in the paint unless their man was standing there too. Which is pretty much the same as today. You can be in there 3 seconds today too just as long as your man is there. Basically the three second rule isn't anything new at all. All it is is the last bit of the illegal defesne rules still remaining.

Here is the current 3 second rule:
is assessed when a member of the defending team spends more than three seconds in the free throw lane (also known as the 16-foot lane, or colloquially as "in the paint") while not actively guarding an opponent.

Here is the former illegal defense rule (notice all the rules regarding 2.9 seconds):
(2) Guidelines for Defensive Coverage


a. Weakside defenders may be in a defensive position within the
"outside lane" with no time limit, and within the "Inside lane" for 2.9
seconds. The defensive player must re-establish a position with both
feet out of the "Insidelane" to be considered as having legally cleared
the restricted area.


b. When a defensive player is guarding an offensive player who
is adjacent (posted-up) to the 3-second lane, the defensive player may
be within the "inside lane" area with no time limitations.
An offensive player shall be ruled as "postedup" when he is within 3'
of the free throw lane line. A hash mark on the baseline denotes the 3'
area.


c. An offensive player without the ball may not be double-teamed
from the weakside. Only the player with the ball may be double-teamed
by a weakside defensive player.
Weakside and strongside restrictions shall extend from the baseline to
the midcourt line.


d. When an offensive player, with or without the ball, takes a
position above the foul line, the defensive player may be no farther
(toward the baseline) than the "middle defensive area." Defensive
player(s) may enter and re-enter the "lower defensive area" as many
times as desired, so long as he does not exceed 2.9 seconds.


e. When a weakside offensive player is above the free throw line
extended, his defensive man may be no lower than the "middle defensive
area" extended for more than 2.9 seconds.
When a weakside offensive player is below the free throw line extended,
his defensive man must vacate the "inside lane" unless his man is
positioned adjacent (posted up) to the threesecond lane extended.
When a weakside offensive player is above the tip of the circle, his
defensive man must be no lower than the "upper defensive area" for more
than 2.9 seconds. When a strongside offensive player is above the tip
of the circle extended, his defensive man may be no lower than the
free-throw line extended (upper defensive area) for more than 2.9
seconds.
When a strongside offensive player is above the free throw line
extended "upper defensive area, his defensive man may be no lower than
the "middle defensive area" for more than 2.9 seconds.
When an offensive player on the strongside is below the free throw line
extended "middle defensive area," his defender must take a position
below the free throw line extended immediately or double-team the ball
as soon as the ball crosses midcourt. There is no 2.9 time limit.
If the offensive player relocates to a position above the free throw
line extended, his defender may take a similar position no farther than
one defensive area away within 2.9 seconds.
In all of the situations above, a defensive player may always
aggressively double-team the ball regardless of his previous position
on the floor.


f. When an offensive player takes a position above the tip of
the circle, with or without the ball, the defensive player may be no
farther (toward the baseline) from him than the "upper defensive area."


g. A defensive player must follow his weakside offensive man,
switch to another man at an area of intersection, or double-team the
ball. There is no 2.9-second time limit on this play. A defensive
player must execute one of these three options or he is guilty of an
illegal defense immediately.


h. A defensive player must follow his strongside offensive man,
switch to another man at an area of intersection, or double-team the
ball. There is a 2.9-second time limit on this play which commences
when the defensive player reaches the weakside and "opens up."


i. A double team is when two or more defenders
aggressively pursue a player with the ball to a position close enough for a held ball to occur.
Failure to comply with paragraphs (a) through (i) above will result in an Illegal Defense violation.

[Stern]

You can add that there are more centers/pf that shoot the 3's(ie Okur) and are pulling the defensive center out of the paint.

[Shot Clock]

The quality of centers argument is dumb as is the league is soft argument... 3 seconds in the key on defense is a bigger reason

I've mentioned before that this is a huge HUGE misunderstanding from what I can only assume are younger posters. The defensive 3 secodn rule has ALWAYS been there, including in the era of big shotblockers.

Pre-2002? Whenever the zone was allowed, and the three second rule instituted, centers STILL could not lurk in the lane 3 seconds. That was the illegal defense rule. You had to be always guarding your own man, staying withing reasonable reach of him, or it was illegal. Big centers couldn't just lurk around in the paint unless their man was standing there too. Which is pretty much the same as today. You can be in there 3 seconds today too just as long as your man is there. Basically the three second rule isn't anything new at all. All it is is the last bit of the illegal defesne rules still remaining.

Basically you don't understand the illegal D rules which is odd since you posted them. It wasn't the same rule at all.

Today's rule is easy. 3 seconds when not actively guarding a man and that's it.

Old rule was as long as your man didn't pull himself above the FT line and was withing 3 feet of the key you could do what you want. Camp out all day. You didn't have to be withing 3 feet or arms width or whatever other stuff people like to dream up, it was broken into areas. You had to be within one area. Or 2 for 2.9 seconds. Your assignment could be close to the top corner and you could camp under the hoop as long as he didn't go above the FT line or 3 feet away.

Teams started to pull defenders away by pulling their offensive players above the top of the key and providing isolation for the player with the ball.

[reapaman]

Easy, the game is more spread out on offense than in the 90's so its harder for guys to get blocks. Lot easier to block a shot inside the paint than on the three point line.

The defensive 3 second rule also is a big factor. The guy that tried to explained illegal defense clearly didn't understand the rule. If you wanna see it look at college. Thabeet in college = beast at blocking, Thabeet in the NBA = couldnt block a shot to save his life.