<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Jul 16 2007, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>absolutely they are more athletic etc etc.. Skilled.. mmm not so sure about that. The league was rougher back than and you didn't see the double teams as much so wide open shots were harder to come by as defenders stayed at home more.my thoughts are that the top players of the earlier years of the league would fair just as well now as they did then because they too would benefit from the above mentioned improvments and would be top level players now too.Some numbers (like Wilt's) would be lower, but would still be top of the league numbers for today.EG. Wilt would still dominate any player 1 on 1 (Shaq included) but it would be the defensive schemes of double teams and hack-a-stilt ploys that would lower his eye-popping numbers to really really good numbers.</div>As I said, go back and look at some of the old topics to see my views on this. There are a lot more disadvantages that they would have nowadays then you may think.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 16 2007, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>As I said, go back and look at some of the old topics to see my views on this. There are a lot more disadvantages that they would have nowadays then you may think.</div>well maybe in your biased opinion, but since it's really all theory, you can't prove anything.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Jul 16 2007, 02:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>well maybe in your biased opinion, but since it's really all theory, you can't prove anything.</div>How is my opinion biased? Basketball is much more popular than it was inthe '60's and '70's, kids are playing on travelling AAU teams and going to cross country tournaments at a very young age, high schools are far more competitive, strength and conditioning is lightyears ahead of what it was back then (most players didn't even lift back in those days....now you have Earl freaking Boykins benching 315), the 3pt line has added a ton of range to player's jumpshots, a 40 inch vertical is a regularity nowadays, after decades of basketball coaching is at its most advanced with thousands of defensive schemes to help contain any kind of player, players are taller and weigh more now, ballhandling is much morte ficused on (attribute it to whatever, but when a guy like Rick Barry tells you his 12 year old kid has better handles than his HOF self ever did...that's telling you something), etc....Basically it is natural evolution of the game. It doesn't take away from players of the past.
we're talking about 2 different things here.You're saying todays players are better and have more opportunities, which I agree withI'm saying take the top players from the older generation, give them the same environment and opportunities that there is today, and they'd still be very good or great players. Basically I believe it's their character, BBIQ and determination that make them great and that transcends different era's/decades.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Jul 16 2007, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>we're talking about 2 different things here.You're saying todays players are better and have more opportunities, which I agree withI'm saying take the top players from the older generation, give them the same environment and opportunities that there is today, and they'd still be very good or great players. Basically I believe it's their character, BBIQ and determination that make them great and that transcends different era's/decades.</div>Well, they would be totally different players, and people, if they grew up in this era...so I really don't understand that point. Bottom line is players are far advanced in skill, athleticism, strength and preperation nowadays, and that is really my only point I am trying to make. If you took a player from the '60's or '70's and plopped them directly into the NBA, there are many, many disadvantages they would have. That is not to take away from those players, it is not their fault what era they played ball in, and doesn't take away from their greatness. You just have to have some perspective when looking at Wilt's stats, that's all.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Well, they would be totally different players, and people, if they grew up in this era...so I really don't understand that point. Bottom line is players are far advanced in skill, athleticism, strength and preperation nowadays, and that is really my only point I am trying to make. If you took a player from the '60's or '70's and plopped them directly into the NBA, there are many, many disadvantages they would have. That is not to take away from those players, it is not their fault what era they played ball in, and doesn't take away from their greatness. You just have to have some perspective when looking at Wilt's stats, that's all.</div>Agreed, but please apply the same principal when comparing modern players to yesteryear. They wouldn't just dominate like everybody says. There is always going to be that shady gray area in this debate.
