[Purple Haize]

Ahhh the whole "NBA is horrible now" conversation. It was only a matter of time.

I don't think it is all horrible. Did I like the product and thus consume it more in the 80's and 90's ? Sure. There are a few teams I enjoy watching, just not as many as there used to be.

[thepostman]

Since I was elementary aged in the late 80's/early 90's I only have ESPN classic to depend on and they normally play the best of the best. It was a different game back then then it is today. Its tough to compare the two. There are strengths to the NBA game then that are weaknesses now and weaknesses then that are strengths now and they kind of go hand in hand.

I just don't understand that whole attitude that the nba is a horrible product but i haven't been shy about that on this board. So there is no need to keep rehashing my opinions

[Purple Haize]

Since I was elementary aged in the late 80's/early 90's I only have ESPN classic to depend on and they normally play the best of the best. It was a different game back then then it is today. Its tough to compare the two. There are strengths to the NBA game then that are weaknesses now and weaknesses then that are strengths now and they kind of go hand in hand.

I just don't understand that whole attitude that the nba is a horrible product but i haven't been shy about that on this board. So there is no need to keep rehashing my opinions

IMO, its not a great product. But I don't think Pepsi is either. I can understand why people like it. It's just not for me!

[lynchburgwildcats]

Ahhh the whole "NBA is horrible now" conversation. It was only a matter of time.

I don't think it is all horrible. Did I like the product and thus consume it more in the 80's and 90's ? Sure. There are a few teams I enjoy watching, just not as many as there used to be.

Yep, because we all know those epic 90s Heat vs Knicks games where it took a miracle sent down from the heavens for either team to break 80 points was such great basketball. Or the days of the early 80s when they played even less defense than is played now, a league which many claim plays no defense.

[RubberMallet]

The NBA product quality has dropped so much in the past decade it is hard to compare a player like Mebron to legends of the past. It will be interesting to see what the league product looks like in around five years or so now that Stern will be gone.

this is always comical to me. we always remember the past as greater than it really was. whether its nba classic game on espn classic or old school he man cartoons on hub, you are always left saying, "really? i've always thought this would be a lot more amazing than this."

I disagree 100%. I'm one of those who actually ENJOYS watching those games from the 80's - early 90's. I find myself saying 'Now THIS is basketball'

no way. its not nearly as good as people make it out to be there were still as many dog teams and as many superstars.

[RubberMallet]

Since I was elementary aged in the late 80's/early 90's I only have ESPN classic to depend on and they normally play the best of the best. It was a different game back then then it is today. Its tough to compare the two. There are strengths to the NBA game then that are weaknesses now and weaknesses then that are strengths now and they kind of go hand in hand.

I just don't understand that whole attitude that the nba is a horrible product but i haven't been shy about that on this board. So there is no need to keep rehashing my opinions

i grew up watching that era and still do. there was a point post jordan where the nba was bad. but the last 6-7 years have been great. there are some amazing players and coaches right now.

[Purple Haize]

no way. its not nearly as good as people make it out to be there were still as many dog teams and as many superstars.

Of course there were dog teams. There are dog teams now - I'm looking at you Charlotte - so what's the point? I loved watching Western Conference teams like the Jazz Sonics Blazers and Warriors to go along with the Pistons Bucks Sixers and Pacers ( Lakers Celtics were a given and I never did like the Buuls! I just liked those teams and coaches better.

[JK37]

The NBA realized awhile ago that fans want offense. Thy govern their sport with a business mindset, setting rules in such a way that tilt the game toward what fans want to see. I don't have a huge problem with that. It's a product, and they're letting the market dictate changes to the product as the market desires. More offense, less physicality, better game flow, etc., etc.

My only personal gripe is the games are too long. For an 82-game season, do we need 48-minute games. I con only watch first halves in the late playoff rounds. Otherwise, I watch fourth quarters, if I watch anything at all. I'm usually kinda busy that time of year.

[RubberMallet]

no way. its not nearly as good as people make it out to be there were still as many dog teams and as many superstars.

Of course there were dog teams. There are dog teams now - I'm looking at you Charlotte - so what's the point? I loved watching Western Conference teams like the Jazz Sonics Blazers and Warriors to go along with the Pistons Bucks Sixers and Pacers ( Lakers Celtics were a given and I never did like the Buuls! I just liked those teams and coaches better.

the thing that i find people talk about is that there were more big men. but really everyone in the nba right now is a big man. small forwards are huge. barkley was one of the bigger guys int he nba back then. 6'6" 250.

the thing that i like about 80's/early 90's nba is they let them play more. not so many touch fouls. it allowed games to get more physical but games got out of hand alot more too. today they allow much more leeway in the way of steps and enforce defensive 3 seconds more. anthony mason could just sit there and clobber people back in the day.

[Cider Jim]

He was listed at 6'6", Barkley admitted after he retired that he really was only 6'4".

[Purple Haize]

He was listed at 6'6", Barkley admitted after he retired that he really was only 6'4".

Having met him and looking him in the eye I knew he was about 6'4 for most of his career. It was pretty much the worst kept secret out there. The inflating of heights has always been rampant. Heck in one program I was listed as 6'6"! Now the measure people's heights by having them lie flat on their back to get a more accurate judgement.

[lynchburgwildcats]

He was listed at 6'6", Barkley admitted after he retired that he really was only 6'4".

Having met him and looking him in the eye I knew he was about 6'4 for most of his career. It was pretty much the worst kept secret out there. The inflating of heights has always been rampant. Heck in one program I was listed as 6'6"! Now the measure people's heights by having them lie flat on their back to get a more accurate judgement.

I just always go by what they are measured at the NBA Combine these days. Sure some grow even after getting in the league, but at that point most are pretty much done growing vertically

[BJWilliams]

If I played basketball theyd probably have me around 6-3

[NotAJerry]

Mebron's performance was a good one, but isn't the goat in the finals, that still belongs to Willis Reed.

The NBA product quality has dropped so much in the past decade it is hard to compare a player like Mebron to legends of the past. It will be interesting to see what the league product looks like in around five years or so now that Stern will be gone.

The NBA product quality has skyrocketed in the last 5+ years compared to the horrid play of the late 90s and much of the 00s.

[thepostman]

some people simply can not get past the late 90's/early 2000's.

[Purple Haize]

some people simply can not get past the late 90's/early 2000's.

It WAS that bad. Especially compared to how great the product was before that.

[thepostman]

I can't argue that, but it shows how ignorant people are when they talk about the NBA of today when it is clear they haven't watched since the late 90's on a regular basis. Why comment on something you don't watch?? That would be like me commenting on soccer or the NHL. I watch from time to time, but not enough to make an honest opinion of the product that is out there. It makes no sense to me.

[Sly Fox]

Was that directed at me again? For the record, I was still covering the NBA on a daily basis until 2009. Granted that was with an awful T-Mac & walking wounded Yao squad.

[thepostman]

Actually it wasn't. There are plenty of people that feel the same exact way and it wasn't being exclusive to people on this board.

But thanks for letting us all know that you covered the NBA in Houston. It added a ton to this conversation.

[NotAJerry]

Pistons sign Josh Smith, 4yrs/56 million. Has anyone's reputation as a personnel evaluator dropped as quickly and as far as Joe Dumars? He's Larry Brown and fleecing Michael Jordan away from having no positives on his post playing resume.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Pistons sign Josh Smith, 4yrs/56 million. Has anyone's reputation as a personnel evaluator dropped as quickly and as far as Joe Dumars? He's Larry Brown and fleecing Michael Jordan away from having no positives on his post playing resume.

Based on what other teams have given other players this free agency period, he's worth it. Which is to say players are still getting overpaid. Which is to say that the owners wasted their time locking out the players the other year ago.