I used to watch the NBA. I don't anymore.

[DaPessimist]

Shooting continues to improve, while every other basketball skill regresses. There's only so much time to practice in a day, so if players are spending most of their time working on 3pnt shooting, the rest of their skills will diminish.

[wco81]

Shooting continues to improve, while every other basketball skill regresses. There's only so much time to practice in a day, so if players are spending most of their time working on 3pnt shooting, the rest of their skills will diminish.

They need more skills.

The low-post guy with hooks and turnarounds could all rely on muscle memory for a limited space.

The players working on pull-up jumpers from 30 feet can't as easily rely on muscle memory because they could be facing smaller defenders, bigger defenders and there are more areas of the court where they will launch.

They work on all kinds of step backs, crossovers, the double step backs (step back to gather, another step back before launching).

BTW, the double step backs would never fly on the playground but since Harden started getting away with it, now you see it in more players.

Look at how Bron evolved his game. Around 2015, people were saying he had too many miles on his legs and could no longer shoot efficiently outside the paint. But then he worked at it and now he's a credible 3-point shooter off the dribble. That is why he's still putting up MVP numbers at age 37 because he's not bulling his way downhill all the time like he used to. People love the phrase "impose his will" but is that really skill? No it's strength and the officiating allowing certain strong players to get away with pushing off more but it's not skill.

[chi4lyfe]

I love watching basketball, but as we get older, general we get busier.

I also don't live with other NBA fans anymore, to watch and talk hoops with.

I also don't want to pay for cable. My local team used to be on antenna weekly, and I can't watch on league pass.

Sometimes peoples interests change. Video games are objectiveley better now, but I don't play them.

I disagree with people saying the current game is worse, there are alot of explanations as to why people don't watch NBA as much, but why take shots.

If prime Solan/Stockton/Malone were on the current Jazz instead of Gobert/Mitchell/Snyder would OP be watching NBA as much he used to, or would any of the above reasons still prevent him from watching as much ball as he used to?

I gotta believe that the NBA has some of the smartest, most capable marketers in business, but it is hard to believe that blacking out locals' home teams on NBA League Pass is a winning, long term strategy.

Especially when they have zero say on local stations and distributors cutting out markets because of fees disagreements. People aren't going to reconnect the cable cord for sports--they'll opt out or go the Jolly Roger route.

[mixerball]

the most shocking thing about this thread would be if the first reply wouldnt be "old man yelling at clouds" generic post

i guess for me, i just dont know... is it the game or that i got older or both? but i dont watch games anymore also. boxscores/highlights are enough.

[Childs]

I've been watching since the 60's, but now that the NBA has turned into a 3 point contest, I don't bother to watch.

Wait, how old are you then?

[raylewis]

each nba team used to have 1 three point shooter
guards were 6 feet tall
centers were 7 feet and just blocked and rebounded
now guards are 6feet8 and centers shoot threes and its called SMALL BALL
there used to be good white american players
coaches are a joke
NBA is waaaay too greedy and use billions on laughable stuff
why is there no european teams??

[Marrrcuss]

each nba team used to have 1 three point shooter
guards were 6 feet tall
centers were 7 feet and just blocked and rebounded
now guards are 6feet8 and centers shoot threes and its called SMALL BALL
there used to be good white american players
coaches are a joke
NBA is waaaay too greedy and use billions on laughable stuff
why is there no european teams??

Main reason for the drop in popularity, next to guys being strangers. We used to see them and associate them with our favorite colleges.

[wco81]

each nba team used to have 1 three point shooter
guards were 6 feet tall
centers were 7 feet and just blocked and rebounded
now guards are 6feet8 and centers shoot threes and its called SMALL BALL
there used to be good white american players
coaches are a joke
NBA is waaaay too greedy and use billions on laughable stuff
why is there no european teams??

There are good white players now.

But there is definitely more of a requirement for athleticism.

Look at a player like Herro who's worked on shooting off the dribble as opposed to older catch and shoot specialists like Korber...

[Bobbymcgee]

Agree Op. The game is broken. I just watch the highlights now, I can't remember the last time I watched a full game. Teams shooting 40 to 50 three pointers a game and missing two-thirds of them is not NBA level basketball for me. I also miss the battles in the low post by great NBA centers and power forwards of yesterday. Like you said, the rules need to be changed, but the NBA seems to only care about ratings and popularity, not the integrity of the game so that's not going to happen.

[og15]

I've been watching since the 60's, but now that the NBA has turned into a 3 point contest, I don't bother to watch.

Wait, how old are you then?

So he's Benjamin Button? Wild

Agree Op. The game is broken. I just watch the highlights now, I can't remember the last time I watched a full game. Teams shooting 40 to 50 three pointers a game and missing two-thirds of them is not NBA level basketball for me. I also miss the battles in the low post by great NBA centers and power forwards of yesterday. Like you said, the rules need to be changed, but the NBA seems to only care about ratings and popularity, not the integrity of the game so that's not going to happen.

13 teams currently average <35 3PA. The Suns have taken 31 three's or fewer in 21/35 games. The Bulls have done so in 24/34 games. Those are currently two top teams in each conference, so you can get both high quality teams with relatively low 3PA in either conference if you want.

Integrity of the game in style discussions is a tough one because whose definition of style integrity of the game do we use? The definition from my favorite time might be considered corupted unless I was watching at the inception, the "pure" NBA, but that wouldn't have survived if it didn't change, so maybe not that. We certainly don't want to go back to 1950's style basktball, so which one? I would veer away from the integrity of the game type nice sounding, but what does it really mean statements.

[Marrrcuss]

Agree Op. The game is broken. I just watch the highlights now, I can't remember the last time I watched a full game. Teams shooting 40 to 50 three pointers a game and missing two-thirds of them is not NBA level basketball for me. I also miss the battles in the low post by great NBA centers and power forwards of yesterday. Like you said, the rules need to be changed, but the NBA seems to only care about ratings and popularity, not the integrity of the game so that's not going to happen.

Just to give my fans what they expect: Where is the disconnect from "Steph Curry changed the game" from "I hate how its played now"? The conclusion points to "he helped make it suck".

(just to be clear, I still love the game and love the shooting, and i dont believe either statement)

[Bulls2021]

There was A LOT of **** teams in the 90's and '00. A lot. And a lot of ISO and repeated long two bricks and faults in the rules that teams exploited like others have said. And terrible bigs who could barely move or shoot, and you had to have 4-5 of them in case you ran out after hacking people a couple dozen times. I think the game is better now. International players joined the best Americans and raised the floor a lot, and coaches are smarter and more analytical than ever.

Unfortunately somewhere along the way between resting and tanking etc, the interest in regular season and All Star games got lost somehow, which is a shame because the regular season feels pretty watered down compared to earlier decades. I'll give you that.
But the POs are still as intense and interesting as ever.

The 03-04 Pistons are an example of what you're talking about. They eliminated the illegal defense zone rules but allowed hand checking. The games were so brutal to watch. Low scoring and very physical - not in a good way.

[SFour]

the start of this season was entertaining with the new anti-Harden rules...refs let the defense be more aggressive, less fouls were called...

too bad that didn't last long.

I think it's worth trying the elimination of the corner 3 and moving back the 3pt line a couple feet......it could be a breath of fresh air for the game.....and this is coming from someone who loves 3pt shooting...but I don't love it when every single scrub in the NBA can do it.

[ropjhk]

I prefer the old NBA but I still watch games today. The style of play is not as interesting as it used to be but there are still moments that excite and I still find enjoyment in the games. I think the game could use some tweaks and newer fans don't know what they are missing. I prefer an NBA with a larger diversity in play and with teams whose rosters remain consistent enough to develop their own brand of basketball.

[Myth]

I’m nostalgic for the 90s and even 2000s too, but the increase in 3 ball has not diminished the game for me, especially watching guys like Curry who are jaw dropping amazing with basketball skills. I miss posting up bigs most of all. All this said, I still love the game enough that I routinely stay up very late to watch games (I’m a Blazers fan on the east coast after all). Though overall, in addition to nostalgic memories mostly remembering the great games and forgetting most snooze fest games as well as some valid criticisms of change I think for many, reliving the thrills can be hard. Most things are appreciated best in our formative years, because they have meaning to us for the first time and anything impressive we see is generally new. After decades of watching things change, we yearn to recreate those initial exciting memories, and we can get small doses in special moments, but it becomes rare due to a been there done that feel. Most people look more fondly of the music they listened to during their teen years. People growing up with video games will argue which Zelda games were the best and the answer is usually based on which was popular when you were 8-12 years old. People do this with movies as well. Part of this again is nostalgia, but there is also diminishing returns if you stay in love with something. The movie example definitely applies to myself as somebody who is a bit of a movie buff. The first time I (or most anybody) saw a twist ending, it blew my mind. After 100s of other twist endings, it is much harder to be impressed, even if the quality of the movie is just as good. Basketball is the same. The first time we see a game winning buzzer beater, it sticks with us. After countless buzzer beater witnessed, most are forgotten within a couple weeks unless it has history altering effects.

[wco81]

Agree Op. The game is broken. I just watch the highlights now, I can't remember the last time I watched a full game. Teams shooting 40 to 50 three pointers a game and missing two-thirds of them is not NBA level basketball for me. I also miss the battles in the low post by great NBA centers and power forwards of yesterday. Like you said, the rules need to be changed, but the NBA seems to only care about ratings and popularity, not the integrity of the game so that's not going to happen.

If the game is "broken" why even watch highlights?

How can there even be "highlights" in a "broken" game?

Battles in the low post? You mean like Shaq shoving players he had at least 50 pounds out of the way for the dunk?

[Marrrcuss]

Agree Op. The game is broken. I just watch the highlights now, I can't remember the last time I watched a full game. Teams shooting 40 to 50 three pointers a game and missing two-thirds of them is not NBA level basketball for me. I also miss the battles in the low post by great NBA centers and power forwards of yesterday. Like you said, the rules need to be changed, but the NBA seems to only care about ratings and popularity, not the integrity of the game so that's not going to happen.

If the game is "broken" why even watch highlights?

How can there even be "highlights" in a "broken" game?

Battles in the low post? You mean like Shaq shoving players he had at least 50 pounds out of the way for the dunk?

The silly shaq hate like yours is why young big men stopped posting, lol. I heard a million excuses to why he wasnt that good now all 7 footers want to be finesse.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

I've been watching since the 60's, but now that the NBA has turned into a 3 point contest, I don't bother to watch.

Wait, how old are you then?

That got you 4 and 1s.
If you are older than 30 Google won't hire you.
If you are are older than 30 you should just shut up and lurk.
The guy is probably in his 70s. Why won't he just die so that a real person in their 20s can buy his house.

[HurricaneKid]

If you are suggesting that today's game pales in comparison to the early 90s Jazz in style you just don't understand the game. Complaining about modern basketball spamming PnRs? GTFO.

Seriously, it reads as get off my lawn.

The game is far more athletic, far more open, with wayyyyy more going on that there was in that age.

As a fellow old-timer I am incredulous about how absurd it is to suggest the old times Jazz are even 1% as watchable as the current squad.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

[Sedale Threatt]

There was A LOT of **** teams in the 90's and '00. A lot. And a lot of ISO and repeated long two bricks and faults in the rules that teams exploited like others have said. And terrible bigs who could barely move or shoot, and you had to have 4-5 of them in case you ran out after hacking people a couple dozen times. I think the game is better now. International players joined the best Americans and raised the floor a lot, and coaches are smarter and more analytical than ever.

Unfortunately somewhere along the way between resting and tanking etc, the interest in regular season and All Star games got lost somehow, which is a shame because the regular season feels pretty watered down compared to earlier decades. I'll give you that.
But the POs are still as intense and interesting as ever.

The 03-04 Pistons are an example of what you're talking about. They eliminated the illegal defense zone rules but allowed hand checking. The games were so brutal to watch. Low scoring and very physical - not in a good way.

I always go back to the 05 Finals. The pace was glacial (80 possessions per game.) Both teams averaged in the mid 80s, with 69 total 3-pointers and 166 turnovers. The Spurs had almost as many turnovers as assists. It was watchable because it was competitive and it went 7 games. But as a display of pure basketball, it was absolutely dreadful. The NBA would have died if it had continued in that direction.