Aeternus wrote:rrravenred wrote:It's really hard to say, quite frankly, when the three-ball is barely utilised in the 80s and SSOL offences are the norm rather than the exception. I think both players are talented enough to adapt to whatever era they find themselves in.
How does this statement works? Having a weapon before its time is a disadvantage now? If anything his 3pter would be more effective, since defenders would be less used to defending it and it would create more spacing given the awkward response of the D. If you mean the coaches would not allow him to shoot, I would like to remember you that there were players like Bird who already shot the 3 at Nash's volume.
Also I don't see how having the whole league play run&gun would bother Nash. If anything it would be easier for him to find a team playing his favorite style.
Well, when a player is single-handedly shooting more three point shots than half the TEAMS in (to take a random year) 1987 you need to look seriously at how defenses would adjust to play him (especially as Nash's 3PA are only about a quarter of the team's total 3PA). We're not just talking a single game, but over the course of a season. Do they play him tight on the perimeter and try to make him drive? Do they play a "soft" zone (skirting the illegal defense rules of the time) in order to make him give it off to lesser shooters? What effect does this have on the number of threes that he takes and the rate at which he makes them?
Another thing to consider is that 3 point makes are usually made off catch-and-shoot situations, which is partially dependent on team offences focussing on getting the ball to shooters beyond the arc. How long would it take an 80s team to develop that mentality, especially if there's only one volume shooter (Nash) capable of lighting it up from beyond the arc?
ITO run-and-gun, part of what I meant was that
one of the things that Nash is great at is running the fast break, which in a lot of cases sets him apart from his peers, like Paul and Williams, who play at considerably slower paces. However, teams focused on a higher pace of game in the 80s, which reduces (on one level) the RELATIVE value of that aspect of Nash's skillset. This certainly isn't downplaying Nash's skills, nor the fact that he's also a beast in the half-court game.
The transition issues certainly affect Isiah in this comparison, too. How would he deal with legal zones, and a game where's he's expected to be a threat from beyond the arc?
It's just a different game, and you need to be careful of your expectations of the "drag-and-drop" method of putting players into another era.
good debate tho.
