The game is much more physically demanding nowdays. Players are much bigger and stronger, on average about 3 inches and 25lbs. A lot different crashing into someone 6'4 210lb than 6'7 235lb
Really? Where did you get those numbers? Is that a fact (if so, can you provide a link), or an estimate? To me, it seems like there are fewer true centers (no Shaq, no Mark Eaton, etc.) and teams play a lot more small ball these days. It even seemed like SGs were bigger back them with Clyde at 6'7" and MJ at 6'6". Hell, Magic was a 6'9" PG back then. Not disagreeing, because I don't have any numbers, but your assertions runs counter to my intuition. BNM
There have been fluctuations, but we're actually pretty similar now height-wise to where we were 30 years ago, and about 10 lbs heavier, it appears. http://seatsmart.com/blog/history-of-the-nba-player/
But what does size matter when the rules have changed so much? Contact happens much less. Leaning on a guy happens much less. The NBA used to be more like a Tai Fighting match, but is now more like boxing. I think the size of players is washed away by the lack of actual contact now compared to back then and the contact that happens now is nothing compared to back then. This should be fairly universally known. MANY players and coaches have commented on this over the last few years.
Cool, thanks. It's interesting how little the average height and weight have changed over the years. The late 80s saw a lot of players at the extremes (Manute Bol 7'7" and Gheorghe Muresan 7'7" vs. Muggsy Bogues 5'3" and Spud Webb 5'6"), but these statistical outliers don't' really impact the averages. Although there have been variations over the years, it's interesting that the average height in 1985 (78.95") and 2015 (78.93) are almost identical. Average height and weight peaked 15 years ago, and although the trend is gradual, it does seem like the game is becoming smaller and lighter as teams shift away from a traditional center and play more small ball. BNM
In response to the Karl Malone video: I can't believe what I'm reading. Malone 100% intentionally laid Thomas out. He made zero play on the ball. Of course he couldn't know his cheap shot would be that effective, but I doubt he was displeased. The fact he wasn't looking at Thomas at the moment of contact does not disprove he did it on purpose. To the contrary, that is exactly that piece of shit Malone's modus operandi. As Reep said so accurately: Malone was always a master of disguising his elbows. Every single time.
And then there was the cheap shot on Joe Kleine that required 30 stitches and plastic surgery. I can't find a video, but they were running down court side-by-side with Malone slightly ahead of Kleine when he just flat out leveled him with an elbow to the face. It was a total cheap shot. So yeah, Malone has a history of intentional elbows that led to some serious damage. BNM
Y'all keep contradicting each other by agreeing with examples of blatantly obvious Malone elbows being evidence of how he was masterful at disguising the ones that didn't appear intentional.
It was so awesome watching Rodman absolutely take Malone out of his game though. It was a thing of beauty. Outmanipulating and outbullying the bully.
It looked to me like Lillard wasn't squaring up on the long balls. He's shooting from his right hip. (I couldn't tell if he was still doing it in the second half.) His game in the paint has really developed, though. Crafty around the hoop and he even teased us with a tear drop. Leonard appeared to be pushing the shot early before settling into his quick flick routine. Hopefully, Lillard can find a similar adjustment to get back to what worked so well.
