Bigger difference 69'-84' vs 99'-14' ?

[Nikola_]

In which span of years game has changed more (how it is played, not necessarily the players and athleticism) ?

[Psileas]

Playing style, probably '69-'84, due to more rule changes, the implementation of the 3 point shot (although not many payed any attention to 3's in 1984 either) and the ABA, which, due to its different approach to the game, brought pro basketball closer to what is now.
Talent level-wise, it's hard to say. 1999 star players would still be star players today, but so would 1969 stars playing in 1984. Talking about whole teams, 1984 ones would be readier to face 1969 ones than vice-versa, but so would 2014 ones compared to 1999 ones.

[SOD 21]

Athletically there's a bigger difference from 1969 to 1985.

But the way the game is actually played today is far different than it was in 1999 with the way the teams play more outside in and the virtual disappearance of post play in the league.

[KobesFinger]

69-84 introduced the 3 ball, 5 second inbound, midcourt inbounds after a TO late in a quarter

99-14 allowed zone D, restricted then disallowed hand checking, introduced defensive 3

I'm missing some. I think the 69-84 for the 3 ball, look how prevalent it is today

[fpliii]

Both are pretty big.

69-14:
-3pt line introduced (but not widely used)
-merger (high flying wings become the norm)

99-14
-international players finally properly saturated in the league
-improved spacing, 3pt shot finally widely used
-illegal defense eliminated, and 2.9 era defense mastered by Thibs (principles copied by the league)
-far more specialists today

I'd go with 99-14. Started watching in Shaq's rookie year, and the league is far different now than it was at the end of the 90s. 69-84 has some key differences, but from watching games after the fact, based purely on style/level of play, they don't seem as different.

[Dr.J4ever]

To me, there's no question, it's 99-14. 69-84 is the same game. Yes, the 3 point shot already existed in 1981 or thereabouts, but no one really used it effectively.

Watch basketball in 1999, and compare it to today. The rules they made in 2002, including no handchecking, the defensive 3 second rule, and the 5 second backing down a player in the post thing were all designed specifically to change the 90s game into the game it is today.

Many were noticing the level of physicality and lower scores and iso basketball were making the NBA less palatable during the 90s. The rules in 2002 have succeeded and created the game we have today, probably best exemplified by the SA Spurs.

[fpliii]

Regarding hand-checking...the recent change was big, but there were two earlier attempts to curtail it. Prior to 79-80 they decided to rewrite the guidelines evidently, and rigidly enforce them. Before 94-95 it was banned from the backcourt baseline to the free throw line on the other side, I believe.

[jayfan]

Why '99 - '14?

1994 was the year hand-checking was eliminated, and hence was the year the game began to change dramatically.

Using forearm in the post was outlawed in 1997.

[Psileas]

Why '99 - '14?

1994 was the year hand-checking was eliminated, and hence was the year the game began to change dramatically.

Using forearm in the post was outlawed in 1997.

It possibly has something to do with 60's bashing and the 1969 Finals thread.
I don't know, however, why these specific spans cover 15 years. '84 and '99 are one year before and after Jordan. '84 is the first Magic vs Bird battle. '99 and 2014 also happen to be the seasons the Spurs won their first and last title. Lots of scenarios here about why these specific dates, apart from 2014.

[IncarceratedBob]

Best player in 99 would dominate today, Shaq would be the clear best player.

Best player in 69 would be largely irrelevant in 84. Just look at Kareem, dominant in 69 and was Magics bitch by the 80's with pretty much the same skills.

[jlip]

Best player in 99 would dominate today, Shaq would be the clear best player.

Best player in 69 would be largely irrelevant in 84. Just look at Kareem, dominant in 69 and was Magics bitch by the 80's with pretty much the same skills.

Kareem was an all star, all NBA 2nd Team, and Finals MVP in '85 putting up 25.7ppg 9.0rpg 5.2apg. That irrelevance.

[Lebronxrings]

69-84 had more changes towards the game and rules itself and how they performed. 99- 14 is more about players changing and developing. Todays game has higher intensity and actually contains defense unlike the 90s. I'll go with 99-14; its close though.

[Psileas]

Kareem was an all star, all NBA 2nd Team, and Finals MVP in '85 putting up 25.7ppg 9.0rpg 5.2apg. That irrelevance.

Not to mention, going by his own "logic", Shaq wasn't even relevant in 2011, let alone today.

[NumberSix]

Why '99 - '14?

Probably a Jordan stan. Jordan was drafted in 84 and retired in 99. For some reason he excluded Jordan's career from the question.

[Soundwave]

69-84 by about 10 country miles.

There is no real big difference from '99 to '14 other than the game has become more tailored to wing players and the decline of the traditional post up big man.

From 69 to 84, basketball went from a fringe, bush league sport to a mainstream multi-million dollar business with a national TV deal and corporate sponsors. The game itself developed tremendously due to the influence of Wilt, Russell, Big O, West, Pistol Pete, Dr. J, etc. culminating in Magic + Bird becoming two of the most well known athletes in America.

There's also the fusion of the ABA into the NBA which IMO brought more of the athletic/dunking/"showtime" aspect into the NBA.

But 99-14? No, there isn't enough to change there, first off there are limits to the where the human body can go. After a while the human body can only be so fast, so tall, etc.

By '99 basketball was a multi-billion worldwide business, meaning coaching, scouting, video, etc. had become very complex. There's just a evening out period. It's inevitable.

Even the "Euro influx" thing really isn't correct, by 1999, Euro players like Vlade Divac, Detlef Schrempf, and Toni Kukoc had been playing in the league for years already. There was nothing eye raising about having a player or two from Europe on your roster.