NBA might be less 'physical', but its certainly more physical

[wakencdukest]

VS





VS

Damn, Karl Malone had a tiny head.

[inclinerator]

i swear i saw this same thread a year or so ago

[BoutPractice]

Those photos remind me that Thurmond might be the most intimidating looking player ever.

[kNIOKAS]

NBA is less physical now because it is skill what sets best players apart from the rest. There's barely anybody who bullies his way to points.

Blame the rules.

[smoovegittar]

It's all about speed these days. That and a sweet jumpshot. I prefer the old days... less highlight reels, and more dominating in the paint.

[oarabbus]

VS





VS

Anthony Davis (will be) >>> Malone though

[CavaliersFTW]

Bigger. Stronger. Faster

Yeah, OP definitely showing signs of delusion

Modern centers like Anderson Varejao are "bigger stronger faster" than early 90's centers and have mastered the game better... righhhhhht

[CavaliersFTW]

I have said it before, but how many 7-3+ players have ever led the NBA in rebounding? ZERO. And yet a 6-5 Barkley did it once, a 6-7 Wallace did it twice, and a 6-8 Rodman accomplished it seven times.

And Rodman and Wallace were dominating players like Shaq, Robinson, and Ewing. Hell, an old Barkley was killing Hakeem when they were teammates.

And how come James White, Gerald Green, and Ryan Hollins haven't come close to being great players. Hell, in three years of college ball, Hollins averaged 6 ppg and 4 rpg for cryingoutloud.

And how come the 7-4 340 lb Priest Lauderdale couldn't make an NBA roster?

Rodman was about 6-6 without shoes, I say this because you refered to Barkley and Wallace by their without shoes heights, Rodman was shorter than Wallace, but taller than Barkley

[CavaliersFTW]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?

/thread

[La Frescobaldi]

No, OP.

[ProfessorMurder]

All star SFs:



Bigger. Stronger. Faster.

[HylianNightmare]

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 1993-94

1. David Robinson
2. Shaquille O'Neal
3. Hakeem Olajuwon
4. Dominique Wilkins
5. Karl Malone

Top 5 Scoring Leaders 2013-14

1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Lebron James
4. Kevin Love
5. James Harden

Which group would you say overall is bigger, stronger, faster, etc?

Who would win in a weight lifting competition?

[LAZERUSS]

Those photos remind me that Thurmond might be the most intimidating looking player ever.

And yet Chamberlain used to throw him around like a rag doll. As physically as imposing as Thurmond was, NO ONE at the time claimed he was even remotely as strong, nor as athletic, as Wilt. Even Nate, himself, was in awe of Chamberlain.

[theaussieguy]

maybe i should of used an earlier time frame, early nineties is a bit too close, but i find it funny people are posting pics of clearly roided up anomalies (for the time) as proof

Go watch a youtube video or two and the difference is night and day, dat denial

[CavaliersFTW]

maybe i should of used an earlier time frame, early nineties is a bit too close, but i find it funny people are posting pics of clearly roided up anomalies (for the time) as proof

Go watch a youtube video or two and the difference is night and day, dat denial

A Thurmond or Lanier like center in the 60's and 70's was the norm there buddy... without a 3 point shot that was the absolute golden age of the center, and every team was desperate to put a highly skilled bruising big man in the middle to protect the basket, grab rebounds, score high percentage points, and enforce physical punishment when needed. The 90's produced great centers as well and was the 2nd golden age of centers, but even then the league had 'relatively' less of them than the 60's and 70's, as many teams didn't have any.

But no matter how you look at it, TODAY is much less physical, there are rules that deliberately were put in place to make it such. That's why idiots on here bitch about Roy Hibberts verticality defense, or Dwight Howard's goal tending, or Andrew Bynum's body block like they just committed murder. That shit was NORMAL at one point in time and fans wouldn't bat an eyelash at any of that crap. Younger fans today never experienced defense like that, and they act like perimeter players are entitled to not be breathed on when driving the lane because... well... that's what the NBA wants now a days. Uninhibited drives. I'm glad at least some big men get away with playing defense, particularly in the playoffs, like Hibbert. Honestly, I wish the NBA had more of that but it just isn't the product they want to sell anymore so rules and calls often go the other way (to the little guys driving, not the big guys enforcing).