2-pointers are more CONTESTED, so players were better in eras that shot more 2's

[3ball]

.
[COLOR="DarkRed"]For example, the 10th highest vote-getter for MVP this year was Kyle Lowry, compared to Shaq in 1996 - that's incredibly watered down, and this type of mismatch is standard when looking at prior eras.[/COLOR]

Today's watered down players and league shouldn't be a surprise: scorers are ranked as "good" because they can make contested shots, not open shots.. And 2-pointers are simply FAR more contested - certainly, most 2-pointers aren't taken with 4+ feet of room like the vast majority of today's 3-pointers.

Ultimately, the tighter contest on 2-pointers requires refined touch from midrange, and the lack of spacing created by 2-point shooting required thread-needle passing, quicker instincts and decision-making, and also more sophisticated moves besides ball-domination (such as post, triple-threat).

Otoh, today's players master a much narrower skillset that requires less sophistication - specifically, they master the skills needed to execute screen-roll/drive-and-kick, since that's the preferred method of generating mass volume of 3-point shooting.

[NBAGOAT]

Pippen was 5th in MVP voting that year. I'm guessing you're finally admitting Pippen is a top 5 player in the league and better than Malone and Shaq

[knicksman]

In the end, contested 3s are harder than contested 2s. Creating off the dribble>>post ups. And curry is shooting contested 3s off the dribble so that makes his game the most difficult to emulate. Theres no way hes winning 73 with that athleticism if he isnt better than jordan. So just let it go 3ball and just enjoy greatness

[3ball]

Pippen was 5th in MVP voting that year. I'm guessing you're finally admitting Pippen is a top 5 player in the league and better than Malone and Shaq

There isn't a single player, coach or pundit that would tell you Pippen = Malone or Shaq.

[COLOR="Navy"]MVP voting isn't a ranking of the players.. It's a function of how much help a player has - the Bulls talent after MJ and Pippen was weak compared to other teams, so Pippen's value was higher on the Bulls than various superior players, whose teams were more stacked.[/COLOR]

The fact remains - if Shaq and Lowry both rank #10, then one era is super watered-down compared to the other

[NBAGOAT]

There isn't a single player, coach or pundit that would tell you Pippen is as good as Malone or Shaq.

[COLOR="Navy"]MVP voting isn't a ranking of the players - it's a function of how much help a player has.. The Bulls had very little help after MJ and Pippen, so Pippen's value was higher on the Bulls than several superior players, whose teams were more stacked.[/COLOR]

MVP voting isn't a ranking of the players, but if Shaq and Lowry both rank #10, then one era is super watered-down compared to the other

yes the greatest rebounder of all time and a 6th man who arguably had comparable impact to someone like Ginobli is very little help. Also thanks for refuting your own point; if mvp voting isn't a ranking of players stop treating shaq like he was only the 10th best player in the league which he was better than(more like fringe top 5).

[3ball]

.
Each stat is linked to NBA.COM:

Over 80% of today's 3-point attempts are "open" (4-6 feet from closest defender) or "very open" (6+ feet) - [COLOR="Navy"]as described by NBA.com[/COLOR]:



[COLOR="White"]........................................[/COLOR]0-2 ft (very tight)[COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR] 2-4 ft (tight)[COLOR="White"].....[/COLOR] 4-6 ft (open)[COLOR="White"].... [/COLOR]6+ ft (very open)

[COLOR="DarkRed"]LEAGUE-AVERAGE
3-PT ATTEMPTS PER GAME[/COLOR] [COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR][COLOR="White"]........[/COLOR]0.4[COLOR="White"]....................[/COLOR] 4.1[COLOR="White"]..................[/COLOR]9.9[COLOR="White"]..................[/COLOR]9.4 [COLOR="DarkGreen"]<-- nba.com[/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkRed"]PERCENTAGE OF
TOTAL 3-PT ATTEMPTS[/COLOR] [COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR][COLOR="White"].............[/COLOR]1.7%[COLOR="White"]................[/COLOR]17.2%[COLOR="White"].............[/COLOR]41.6%[COLOR="White"].............[/COLOR]39.5%




Over [COLOR="blue"]70%[/COLOR] of Curry's 3-point attempts are either "open" (4-6 ft) or "very open" (6+ ft).. However, the league average is [COLOR="red"]80%[/COLOR], as shown above.



[COLOR="White"]........................................[/COLOR]0-2 ft (very tight)[COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR] 2-4 ft (tight)[COLOR="White"].....[/COLOR] 4-6 ft (open)[COLOR="White"].... [/COLOR]6+ ft (very open)

[COLOR="DarkRed"]STEPH CURRY'S.
3-PT ATTEMPTS PER GAME[/COLOR] [COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR][COLOR="White"]........[/COLOR]0.4[COLOR="White"]....................[/COLOR] 2.9[COLOR="White"]..................[/COLOR]5.1[COLOR="White"]..................[/COLOR]2.7 [COLOR="DarkGreen"]<-- nba.com[/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkRed"]PERCENTAGE OF
TOTAL 3-PT ATTEMPTS[/COLOR] [COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR][COLOR="White"].............[/COLOR]0.4%[COLOR="White"]................[/COLOR] 26.1%[COLOR="White"].............[/COLOR]45.9%[COLOR="White"].............[/COLOR]24.3%

[3ball]

In the end, [COLOR="Red"]contested 3s[/COLOR] are harder than contested 2s. Creating off the dribble>>post ups. And curry is shooting contested 3s off the dribble so that makes his game the most difficult to emulate.

NBA.com's stats in the previous post show that 70% of Curry's 3-pointers are "open" (4-6 feet from closest defender) or "very open" (6+ feet).

So most of Curry's shots are OPEN... Jordan's 2-pointers were FAR more contested - obviously, 2-pointers aren't taken with 4+ feet of room like most of today's 3-pointers.

[theaussieguy]

meltdown

[knicksman]

NBA.com's stats in the previous post show that 70% of Curry's 3-pointers are "open" (4-6 feet from closest defender) or "very open" (6+ feet).

So most of Curry's shots are OPEN... Jordan's 2-pointers were FAR more contested - obviously, 2-pointers aren't taken with 4+ feet of room like most of today's 3-pointers.

And he could shoot contested 3s, which jordan couldnt even make even if hes open. The game has advanced my friend.

[Klay 3D]

More like they were dumb as fck to not shoot 3s.

[sekachu]

And he could shoot contested 3s, which jordan couldnt even make even if hes open. The game has advanced my friend.

Players leaned to 3 pts in the past 10 years because as 3ball said, 3pts attempt is more easier than 2 pts. What curry did isn't something impossible for others to mimic. There will be another curry and i don't think there will be another Jordan.

[Nastradamus]

So players back then were dumb and inefficient, got it.

[AirBonner]

3 pointers are contested today
And they are being made at a high rate. Just because they packed the paint back then does not mean the defense was better. Plus op has admitted to not watching present day basketball.

[Showtime80']

The kids have definitely taken over this site! Think about this virgins,

What's easier to develop and master:

A sophisticated post game like Kareem, Olajuwon, Worthy, McHale, Ewing, Moses etc...

Or become an overrated chucker like Harden, Llillard, Westbrick and pretty much the majority of today's small guards.

The first group of players TOOK YEARS to master the games they eventually dominated the league with.

Today, Kevin Love and DeMarcus Cousins learn how to chuck 3's over a SUMMER!!!

Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan are the two most dominant centers of the past 10 years and don't have TWO POST MOVES TO SAVE THEIR LIVES!!!!

Today's league is full of dumb millennial athletes that are taking the road of LESS RESISTANCE AND WORK and the rules ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO!

Guess why teams in the 80's didn't chuck 3's?!?! BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T NEED TO!!! They scored 110ppg with post ups, mid range and fast break games, all things that are BECOMING EXTINCT in the modern pathetic NBA.

[FKAri]

The kids have definitely taken over this site! Think about this virgins,

What's easier to develop and master:

A sophisticated post game like Kareem, Olajuwon, Worthy, McHale, Ewing, Moses etc...

Or become an overrated chucker like Harden, Llillard, Westbrick and pretty much the majority of today's small guards.

The first group of players TOOK YEARS to master the games they eventually dominated the league with.

Today, Kevin Love and DeMarcus Cousins learn how to chuck 3's over a SUMMER!!!

Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan are the two most dominant centers of the past 10 years and don't have TWO POST MOVES TO SAVE THEIR LIVES!!!!

Today's league is full of dumb millennial athletes that are taking the road of LESS RESISTANCE AND WORK and the rules ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SO!

Guess why teams in the 80's didn't chuck 3's?!?! BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T NEED TO!!! They scored 110ppg with post ups, mid range and fast break games, all things that are BECOMING EXTINCT in the modern pathetic NBA.

The defenses were terrible. Players were just winging it out there. The offenses were terrible because again they were just winging it out there. Superstars dominated a league of scrubs. I'm talking about the 80's tho. The 90's saw a rapid improvement in defense. The offenses were still shit tho. "give the ball to X and get out of the way". Such sophistication. Much skill. wow!