Efficiency of today's perimeter players versus 80's/90's players

[andgar923]

FG% only soared after the merge between ABA and NBA in '76-'77 season.

Something happened around there.

I think the ABA had the 3pt shot.

Also, played a looser fast and gun game.

[ShawkFactory]

In the 80's and 90's, teams shot a MUCH higher proportion of two-pointers, so it's not a surprise that players from that era were much better them.

In 1985, 96.5% of all shot attempts were 2-pointers, compared to only 73% today - naturally, players from 1985 were a lot better at those shots than today's players.

Otoh, in today's era, it's all about 3-pointers.. So today's players are better at that.

If you look at all those names you listed Roundball, the previous era players have a blend of skill that leans towards power over finesse, whereas for today's players it's the other way around.. This is a direct result of the much higher proportion of 3-pointers taken in today's game and resulting spacing - finesse over power is required to take the most advantage of the spacing, while power over finesse is required to overcome the lack of spacing.

Yet you don't think Lebron would dominate?

[andgar923]

Yet you don't think Lebron would dominate?

Bron isn't a low post power player tho.

He's mostly a finesse player in the post.

He also wouldn't be able to barrel his way into the lane from the perimeter like he does today (when he actually applies his size). Bron would be even more of a jump shooter in the 80s and 90s than he is today.

[ShawkFactory]

Bron isn't a low post power player tho.

He's mostly a finesse player in the post.

He also wouldn't be able to barrel his way into the lane from the perimeter like he does today (when he actually applies his size). Bron would be even more of a jump shooter in the 80s and 90s than he is today.

What if he grew up in the era with less spacing? He has the body to dominate with power, and the talent to develop the skillset necessary to dominate given the nature of the game.

[Im Still Ballin]

Bron isn't a low post power player tho.

He's mostly a finesse player in the post.

He also wouldn't be able to barrel his way into the lane from the perimeter like he does today (when he actually applies his size). Bron would be even more of a jump shooter in the 80s and 90s than he is today.

There's so many things wrong with this.

[andgar923]

What if he grew up in the era with less spacing? He has the body to dominate with power, and the talent to develop the skillset necessary to dominate given the nature of the game.

Lot's of 'what if's' tho.

But we do know one thing for sure, he doesn't have the mentality to be a tough player. He'd get knocked around in the 80s and 90s, we've seen him shy away from today's softer players, that we can't change.

[andgar923]

There's so many things wrong with this.

You either:

A. Have never seen Bron play
B. Don't understand the game and the differences of what I stated.
C. Can't read

[ShawkFactory]

Lot's of 'what if's' tho.

But we do know one thing for sure, he doesn't have the mentality to be a tough player. He'd get knocked around in the 80s and 90s, we've seen him shy away from today's softer players, that we can't change.

This is why these current vs 80s comparisons are incredibly stupid. You can't just transport Lebron from this day and age, where the game is different and social media reigns, and expect him to be exactly the same if he went to high school in the late 70s. It doesn't work like that and speculation in either direction is pointless.

[Rose'sACL]

Lot's of 'what if's' tho.

But we do know one thing for sure, he doesn't have the mentality to be a tough player. He'd get knocked around in the 80s and 90s, we've seen him shy away from today's softer players, that we can't change.

how do you know that?
don't tell me that flopping makes people seem weak. CP3 would a top 3 pg in any era and he is competitive as fck.
if lebron gets knocked around in the 80s and 90s then he will dish back some physical punishment of his own given his size. all the wing players in 80s and 90s would cry about how dirty lebron is if their big men tried to knock him around.

lebron isn't as small as jordan. he would use his elbow so much in the 80s and 90s that there would be constant bitching about it by the other team. i am just talking about offense here. he would be a terror on defense too.

it is pretty funny that people say that players from past eras would learn to shoot 3s if they played in current era but today's players would play the exact way according to you fools if they played in pervious eras.

lebron's size for a sf will allow him to play him at a top 2-3 player in the league in any era no matter how physcial it was. if he played the bad boys, he would make sure that they got a lot more bruised than him by the end of the series. He would bitch about the bad boys just like jordan used to and later on about the knicks may be like phil used to do for jordan.

[andgar923]

This is why these current vs 80s comparisons are incredibly stupid. You can't just transport Lebron from this day and age, where the game is different and social media reigns, and expect him to be exactly the same if he went to high school in the late 70s. It doesn't work like that and speculation in either direction is pointless.

i actually agree to an extent.

[andgar923]

how do you know that?
don't tell me that flopping makes people seem weak. CP3 would a top 3 pg in any era and he is competitive as fck.
if lebron gets knocked around in the 80s and 90s then he will dish back some physical punishment of his own given his size. all the wing players in 80s and 90s would cry about how dirty lebron is if their big men tried to knock him around.

lebron isn't as small as jordan. he would use his elbow so much in the 80s and 90s that there would be constant bitching about it by the other team. i am just talking about offense here. he would be a terror on defense too.

it is pretty funny that people say that players from past eras would learn to shoot 3s if they played in current era but today's players would play the exact way according to you fools if they played in pervious eras.

lebron's size for a sf will allow him to play him at a top 2-3 player in the league in any era no matter how physcial it was. if he played the bad boys, he would make sure that they got a lot more bruised than him by the end of the series. He would bitch about the bad boys just like jordan used to and later on about the knicks may be like phil used to do for jordan.

Because he does all of that now

[Rose'sACL]

Because he does all of that now

does what? tell me what he does that you posted it as a fact that lebron would struggle in 80s and 90s.

[ShawkFactory]

i actually agree to an extent.

I just think it's apparent that Lebron's gifts as an basketball player and athlete in general would translate to any era, regardless of the mentality or how the game is played.

[andgar923]

does what? tell me what he does that you posted it as a fact that lebron would struggle in 80s and 90s.

Dish back the punishment like you alluded too.

He doesn't do that now in a softer era, you expect him to do it in a tougher one?

[plowking]

So Jordan would average 40ppg in today's era?

Alex English, Dantley and Kiki Vandeweghe were all averaging 30ppg back in Jordan's era. I guess based on the soft rules they would be dominating today and be among the best players.

Kiki put up 30ppg on 56% shooting back in the day! Imagine him playing in today's weak ass era. 40ppg on 60% shooting sound about right? Probably the best player in the league right?
How about English? 30/5/4 in Jordan's era. What is that today? 38/7/6?
Dantley, another player that would be the best in the league had he played today. 30/5/4 in Jordan's era while shooting 56%!


Incredible how none of these players were celebrated like the Lebron's, Durant's, Wade's and Kobe's of today.

Jordan's era was just packed full of talent. They literally had 3 guys way better than Bron, and they just didn't realize it.

If we take Bron's best season of 27/8/7 on 57% in today's soft era, that is only like 23/5/4 in the tough era of Dantley, Jordan, English and Kiki. Why is Lebron so celebrated and marveled over? How come far better players like Dantley and Kiki weren't celebrated like Bron?