[thepostman]

I never said Harden wasn’t good. He just plays a terrible version of basketball.

The entire NBA plays a terrible version of basketball. ESPN has ruined the NBA. Sometimes I equate NBA to WWE. They always take several players and make them out to be bigger than their team or the sport itself. If it wasn't for the arena workers, I would not care if NBA ever played another game.

Then ignore this thread. You don't have to share your grumpy old man opinions in every thread about the NBA. We are well aware of how you feel!

When does it start?

July 31

[Purple Haize]

You guys can hate on James all you want. But the slimmed down scoring machine is going to be tough to stop.



I can't stand the Mavs but Luka is the real deal.

So when he picks up his dribble his left foot is his pivot foot. He slides back with his right foot, which is fine, picks up his pivot foot, again fine, returns his pivot foot back to the floor (traveling) shuffles both feet to make sure he is behind the line (traveling) Although to be fair I believe the NBA calls it “ends the dribble” now which can be very liberally interpreted. And why I dislike watching the NBA

[thepostman]

Thanks a lot @Sly Fox , we almost had him!

[Purple Haize]

Thanks a lot @Sly Fox , we almost had him!

You could also make the case that his right foot was his pivot foot when he takes his jab step. At which point his Smart Watch is rackin up the steps

[thepostman]

Harden travels all the time, you don't need to convince me of that. I don't like this style and the style that Houston uses but their style won't win them championships so they can keep at it I guess.

[Sly Fox]

I can fully understand why a style of play that originated in backwoods WV would not be as aesthetically pleasing as some would prefer. But I personally enjoy the more intuitive approach to basketball by exploiting the legal boundaries of the game that are difficult to follow for some folks who have predispositions to blow whistles.



See, we are back talking basketball and the games haven't even resumed yet!

[Purple Haize]

I can fully understand why a style of play that originated in backwoods WV would not be as aesthetically pleasing as some would prefer. But I personally enjoy the more intuitive approach to basketball by exploiting the legal boundaries of the game that are difficult to follow for some folks who have predispositions to blow whistles.



See, we are back talking basketball and the games haven't even resumed yet!

Considering I grew up in Basketball Holy Land I’m open to all things basketball. What we see now is the WWE-ification of the game. It’s all flash and a creative interpretation of the rules.
I have a predisposition to follow the actual rules. But if you wanna do away with dribbling, that’s your battle

[ballcoach15]

And someday, maybe the NBA will legalize playing defense.

[alabama24]

I don't understand why you can't tackle the guy with the ball.

[alabama24]

Or why you can't plow over the guy standing between you and the basket!

[lynchburgwildcats]

I totally forgot about Luka. That dude is so good.

Klay isn’t the star the others are, but he has a cult following. I’m part of that cult.

When Klay gets on a heater it’s the most entertaining thing in the league

[lynchburgwildcats]

I can fully understand why a style of play that originated in backwoods WV would not be as aesthetically pleasing as some would prefer. But I personally enjoy the more intuitive approach to basketball by exploiting the legal boundaries of the game that are difficult to follow for some folks who have predispositions to blow whistles.



See, we are back talking basketball and the games haven't even resumed yet!

Considering I grew up in Basketball Holy Land I’m open to all things basketball. What we see now is the WWE-ification of the game. It’s all flash and a creative interpretation of the rules.
I have a predisposition to follow the actual rules. But if you wanna do away with dribbling, that’s your battle

Exploiting loopholes and taking advantages of the rules is actually following the rules.

[ballcoach15]

I totally forgot about Luka. That dude is so good.

Klay isn’t the star the others are, but he has a cult following. I’m part of that cult.

When Klay gets on a heater it’s the most entertaining thing in the league

I am not familiar with Klay. Is Klay is last name, or first name. The NBA is slowly eliminating last names of players.

As for fudging the rules, I recall when Julius Erving played, I was watching a game, and Erving caught an outlet pass at mid-court, never put ball on the floor and went in and dunked. That may have been the day "traveling" became legal.

[thepostman]

Dude we get it. You don't like the NBA or anything fun. It is fine but some of us enjoy it and are excited. Itll be a fun 2.5 months of basketball

[stokesjokes]

The NBA is slowly eliminating last names of players.

I gotta admit, this one got me

[stokesjokes]

I can fully understand why a style of play that originated in backwoods WV would not be as aesthetically pleasing as some would prefer. But I personally enjoy the more intuitive approach to basketball by exploiting the legal boundaries of the game that are difficult to follow for some folks who have predispositions to blow whistles.



See, we are back talking basketball and the games haven't even resumed yet!

Considering I grew up in Basketball Holy Land I’m open to all things basketball. What we see now is the WWE-ification of the game. It’s all flash and a creative interpretation of the rules.
I have a predisposition to follow the actual rules. But if you wanna do away with dribbling, that’s your battle

Exploiting loopholes and taking advantages of the rules is actually following the rules.

I don't see Harden as not following the rules, but his ref-ball style is completely antithetical to the spirit of the game. You don't play to get fouled, you play to score. If Harden was playing in a pick-up game, he'd get booted off the court with that nonsense.

[Purple Haize]

Exactly. He’s the guy who you can’t play “Call your own” pick up games with

[thepostman]

Man between Sly's Harden love and Ballcoach's NBA hate, this thread really went off it's rails.

[Purple Haize]

Man between Sly's Harden love and Ballcoach's NBA hate, this thread really went off it's rails.

So has the NBA. Ha!

I was watching some old Bird and Olajuwon highlight clips over lunch. Man. If those guys played with today’s rules....ha

[thepostman]

Eh, it is impossible to really know other then playing NBA2k on Xbox. Which I do. Haha

Comparing era's in skill is nearly impossible. The styles are so different that it required being better in different areas of the game.

It is fun to argue with old guys. My dad hates the nba. We went to a game over Thanksgiving and he complained the whole time.

[Jonathan Carone]

Bird with today’s penchant for 3s would be nuts. Not sure how well he would’ve been able to hang with some of his injuries stealing his athleticism.

[Purple Haize]

Bird with today’s penchant for 3s would be nuts. Not sure how well he would’ve been able to hang with some of his injuries stealing his athleticism.

Ummmm. What athleticism. Ha. But if he got extra step like a Harden?!?! Wow.

[thepostman]

Harden gets away with it because of his quickness. Bird was crafty but not quick. Haha

I love watching old games of him playing because he was so creative and made up for his lack of athletic ability.

[Jonathan Carone]

Bird with today’s penchant for 3s would be nuts. Not sure how well he would’ve been able to hang with some of his injuries stealing his athleticism.

Ummmm. What athleticism. Ha. But if he got extra step like a Harden?!?! Wow.

Bird wasn’t a freak, but you don’t have the creativeness he had without some athletic ability.

[Purple Haize]

Some of these ball fakes were standard “back in the day”. And why some of his moves look odd is because he’s utilizing a pivot foot. You used to have to have one of those. No it so much any more. Amirite James Harden?