Open paint driving lanes in modern NBA vs 1980s and 90s.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

The following video gives a few examples to show how weak the modern NBA has become ever since the NBA instituted the Defensive 3 second rule in 2001, and also the problem has become even worse with the rise of the 3pt shooting PF/C's.

In today's modern NBA, the driving lanes are wide open. No bigs are allowed to camp the paint, and all you have to do is get past your man. Zone defenses changes nothing, because you can never play a true zone defense if you have the Defensive 3 second rule, as you are not allowed to have one of your zone players in the paint anyway.

Before 2001, this was not the case. Players like Jordan and everyone else, had to power through big men and clogged driving lanes. It was never as easy as just getting past your man and then you get a free layup or dunk.

Please watch the video.

Watch on YouTube

[CIN-C-STAR]

Defensive 3 seconds serves no purpose other than inflating scoring so casuals can see impressive box score numbers and highlights on Sportscenter.

[BK_2020]

Maybe pass to the open guys camping out at the 3 point line? 3 > 2, MJ. I know you are a Geography major but damn.

[Bergmaniac]

I must have imagined watching the Suns packing the paint against LeBron just two days ago then...

[danvato]

the difference I see is not that the lane is empty because of the 3 second rule. It's empty because the other 4 guys have to stick with players at the 3 point line. 80/90s highlights 8-9 players on the court are inside the 3 point line.

Also, those Lebron highlights were just plane bad defense, not fair to blame that on the rules.

[Danny1616]

At the end of the day Nash and Curry changed the game.

Playing at a higher pace, spreading the floor, shooting more 3s etc.

2001-2004 was still some of the slowest pace basketball in NBA history. In the 1980s teams averaged about 110ppg. In 2001-2004 teams averaged about 95-96ppg (the lowest since the 1950s).

Nash started it and Curry accelerated it on steroids.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

the difference I see is not that the lane is empty because of the 3 second rule. It's empty because the other 4 guys have to stick with players at the 3 point line. 80/90s highlights 8-9 players on the court are inside the 3 point line.

Also, those Lebron highlights were just plane bad defense, not fair to blame that on the rules.

The entire point is about their positioning. Bigs will always be late to help, because modern defenses have to stand on the outside edges of the paint.

As you can clearly see in the videos. It leaves the lane wide open to anyone who can beat their man. Easy layups and dunks.


If the bigs tried to go into the paint, they would get called for 3 second violation.

[Sedale Threatt]

All these videos do is underscore to me that I never, ever want to go back to slow-paced, grind-it-out halfcourt basketball. F'ing barf.

[G35]

Noticed that during the Nash Suns days....when you put 3pt shooting everywhere, it spreads the floor so much that it leaves the paint wide open. It is far easier to get to the basket but even with wide open lanes, players would rather shoot the 3pt shot.....

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

All these videos do is underscore to me that I never, ever want to go back to slow-paced, grind-it-out halfcourt basketball. F'ing barf.

Okay, but give credit where credit is due.

We are in a weak defensive NBA era, and modern players have inflated numbers and highlight plays. Nobody in today's era needs to be compared to players who played in a much tougher league and still succeeded.

Makes you appreciate what Michael Jordan did even more.

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

Lanes aren't open in the 90's. The toll price is too high.

The 3pt opened the lanes and the league got rid of the fouls. Now, they don't have people like Laimbeer hitting people with a "forearm cast".

[danvato]

the difference I see is not that the lane is empty because of the 3 second rule. It's empty because the other 4 guys have to stick with players at the 3 point line. 80/90s highlights 8-9 players on the court are inside the 3 point line.

Also, those Lebron highlights were just plane bad defense, not fair to blame that on the rules.

The entire point is about their positioning. Bigs will always be late to help, because modern defenses have to stand on the outside edges of the paint.

As you can clearly see in the videos. It leaves the lane wide open to anyone who can beat their man. Easy layups and dunks.


If the bigs tried to go into the paint, they would get called for 3 second violation.

Modern defenses have to stand next to their opponent so they can guard them/contest their shots. Not at some random spot in the middle of the court. If they were all hanging out in the paint like in the 90s, there would be non stop open 3s.

Bigs are not always late to help, when they are late its bad defense like in all of those highlights.

[BK_2020]

George Mikan averaged 30 ppg in an era when the average team scored like 50 ppg. Back then you couldn't even dribble the ball and they played with actual peach baskets so every made basket would require someone to bring a ladder out to fish the ball out. Also all 8 NBA teams played with the same ball and had to take turns.
Really makes you appreciate what George Mikan did and understand that he's the GOATest GOAT.

[Bergmaniac]

BTW, why do people always bring up 1980s in these threads? The 80s defenses were terrible for the most part. What made the Bad Boy Pistons so notable was that they were very much the exception to the rule.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Bigs are not always late to help, when they are late its bad defense like in all of those highlights.

It is the case in about 90% of Lebron's drives to the rim, in half-court offense. Wide open paint, only has to get past his man, bigs standing on other side of paint and will never get back in time.

I can only imagine Jordan feasting for 50-60 points a game in today's league.

[Showtime 80]

At the end of the day Nash and Curry changed the game.

Playing at a higher pace, spreading the floor, shooting more 3s etc.

2001-2004 was still some of the slowest pace basketball in NBA history. In the 1980s teams averaged about 110ppg. In 2001-2004 teams averaged about 95-96ppg (the lowest since the 1950s).

Nash started it and Curry accelerated it on steroids.

You mean incessant rule changes to enhance offenses helped Nash and Curry usher in this nauseating era of 3-point exhibition basketball.

Here's a clip of Steve Nash, the same guy you mentioned who played from 1997 to 2014 and won two MVP's in 2006 and 07 thanks to the rule changes the NBA put in, breaking it down to a basic level and confirming how people like David Stern, Rob Thorn and Jerry Colangelo to name a few altered all the defensive rules from the late 90's to the mid 2000's to prop up the mid 90's and onward crop of flawed fundamentals, IQ deficient and AAU poisoned perimeter players who couldn't shoot above 45% FG if their life depended on it thanks to playing basketball concentrating on their athleticism above everything else. Fast forward to minute 14:38:

Watch on YouTube

;t=915s

Here's the excerpt:

Steve Nash says about Grant Hill and the old school game "It was a different game then. They could put two hands on you, they could forearm you, they could knock you down, it was SUPER PHYSICAL and for him to be able to do it in an era where there were less possessions and it was LIKE WRESTLING out there!!!

Bill Simmons: "And then David Stern CHANGED THE RULES so you could succeed, you were the IMPETUS!!!"

Steve Nash: "Laughs! Changed my career. It think David Stern saw me and said this poor kid, if they can put their hands on him HE'S COOKED!!!"

Even little Steve Nash accepts the reality of what occurred why can't modern NBA fans?

[boomershadow]

In the 90s, there were was usually a big in the paint because that's where the person they were guarding was. Zone defense was even more discouraged by the rules then than now.

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

In the 90s, there were was usually a big in the paint because that's where the person they were guarding was. Zone defense was even more discouraged by the rules then than now.

Several clips in the video, of which are only from a handful of games, show that many times, bigs were not guarding anyone and just camping the paint to prevent drives.

[dhsilv2]

the difference I see is not that the lane is empty because of the 3 second rule. It's empty because the other 4 guys have to stick with players at the 3 point line. 80/90s highlights 8-9 players on the court are inside the 3 point line.

Also, those Lebron highlights were just plane bad defense, not fair to blame that on the rules.

The entire point is about their positioning. Bigs will always be late to help, because modern defenses have to stand on the outside edges of the paint.

As you can clearly see in the videos. It leaves the lane wide open to anyone who can beat their man. Easy layups and dunks.


If the bigs tried to go into the paint, they would get called for 3 second violation.

If you're on the edges of the paint you're likely giving up open 3's. That's the point. Defenders on most teams couldn't/wouldn't camp the paint with any rule set. You can't leave shooters open.

[dhsilv2]

Noticed that during the Nash Suns days....when you put 3pt shooting everywhere, it spreads the floor so much that it leaves the paint wide open. It is far easier to get to the basket but even with wide open lanes, players would rather shoot the 3pt shot.....

Yep!

Same reason spread offenses opened up the middle in football.