NBA : The Old School Era Versus The Modern Era
If you are a basketball fan, it is very likely that you have been a part of a discussion involving the nostalgic old-school NBA vs the new basketball era. Who doesn't like and appreciate the physicality of the games in the 80s and 90s, with players like Magic Johnson and Penny Hardaway at the point guard positions, things were nasty on the hardwood back in the day.
This decade of NBA has really hit hard on the infamous rivalries between the teams, thanks to players changing teams to win the championships instead of leading their forte to the gold. Gone are the days when matchups like the Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers bought the viewers to the edge of their seats.
The veteran NBA players on numerous occasions claimed that the present day NBA is "Soft". It has been a topic of debate whether the NBA is as entertaining as it used to be. Back in the day, Reggie Miller after hitting the game winning 3-pointer against the New York Knicks, followed it by the infamous "Taunt" to Spike Lee sitting on the sidelines, did not get him a Technical Foul.
But in the NBA today, fans may see their team player be ejected out of the game for a little trash talk.
The NBA is so SOFT!! Carmelo got thrown out for that?? Mind you call on floor was a foul on Nurkic!! What a joke, seriously, A JOKE. -Reggie Miller
This contrast in the style of game between the two eras can be traced back to the NBA introducing the "No hand check" rule in the mid-2000's. This rule has not only altered the playstyle by reducing the contact in the game but has also made the game faster and skill-oriented. This rule, however, if introduced in Jordan's era, we would have been looking at more than 30 PPG as his career stat.
The new age NBA has also witnessed the skyrocketing number of threes launched, owing to the likes of Steph Curry's and the Golden State Warriors. The players camp up at the three-point line or make screening efforts to free their shooter to hit the 3 shot. As spectacular as the splashes are, it has further reduced the number of plays actually seeing some rim action. The game today, demands even the power and small forwards with some skill at the 3 point line. We see big men line LeBron James and Kevin Durant making the game-winning 3s.
The league then introduced the "No forearm check" rule which reduced the already depleted contact between the opposing players. The defenders then had to rely on their feet to defend the oncoming offense. This had a huge impact on the mid-range game, where Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley dominated. Also, now with "flopping" being as nasty as it is in football, NBA is seeing very little defense and a failed crossover brings the audience to its feet.
Talking about the badass 90s in the league, who does not miss the centers like Dikembe Mutombo and David Robinson? Their dominating guard in the paint was like a cannon defending a fort. The Seven ft. human barriers would serve as a challenge to all the offense. Patrick Ewing's post moves with Shaq's domination would show how much physical that era was.
Today, Joakim Noah and Dwight Howard do not show that level of dominance and pivotal role in the game as it was earlier. This can be dated back to the days when the "Offensive 3-second rule" was announced. This rule, over the years, impacted the position of the center and evolved them to the power forward side.
It is no surprise that the NBA now is more play and calculated strategy oriented game. Kyrie Irving and Russel Westbrook have shown how point guards are beyond just passing and making assists. It will be exciting to see how the NBA from here on evolves and amazes it viewers which it has been doing since years.