OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: AUGUST 2023

In every era the league has intentionally decreased the physicality of the game, to increase movement and scoring. In 1994 the hand check rule was altered. You can watch a very distinct difference from the 80's until post 1994 and then until 2004 when an even bigger difference was made when hand checking became completely illegal. That was followed by many alterations as to when a ref should call a flagrant foul. When the definition of a flagrant foul was altered actions that were once common fouls became flagrant and actions that were once considered legal contact were deemed fouls.

It's not an opinion that the game has become less physical it's a stated and executed goal set by the league itself.

 

I still think of Kermit Washington nearly killing Rudy Tomjanovich with a punch. Or Dawkins shoving Jack Ramsey, Lucas and Dawkins squaring off.

 

Banning handchecking in my view made the game less physical...Isiah Thomas and many old school guard used to step on the foot of the guy they were guarding whenever refs weren't around. Gary Payton did that alot too. The game has changed since rules have change and there are a ton less real fights. Karl Malone on Brian Grant was like watching a couple of heavy weights in a shoving match. There's just less paint play period..the era of banging in the post is now the 3pt shot. I wish they'd get rid of goal tending like in Euro league and let the bigs protect the paint. I don't think they have a 3 sec rule in Euro hoops either.

 

Hahaha

 

Yep, same here. Turns out memory is a funny thing.

 

I'd like to add that there was no such thing AS a flagrant foul until the 1990-91 season.

 

Yes, but I'm 7 years older than you.

 

Van Lier talked about the handchecking and the hard fouling going to the basket. He was a really physical defender with the handchecking. You'd get this vice grip in your ribs and redirected from your driving lane. Him. Clyde Frazier. Those guys were Gary Payton level doing that.

 

Gonna “Hand Check” this.

 

I swear I read this after posting that last post.

 

Could you imagine Maurice Lucas, Anthony Mason, Karl Malone or Charles Oakley trying to get thru a single quarter today without fouling out…..
I just googled NBA Power Forwards and these names came up …….Tobias Harris, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, John Collins, Christian Wood and Porzingus……. The game has evolved and to claim otherwise is foolish.

 

There are no "powerful" power forwards anymore. It's a shooters league now.

 

I Googled something similar last week, (top rebounders) hoping the Blazers could target one. The list was not encouraging at the 4. They are no longer close enough to the basket to rack up the numbers. You have to be quick enough to guard the 3-point line and big enough to help out underneath. Not many meet that requirement. Your center has to be a good rebounder in addition to every other position on the team. It has to be a group effort.

 

What a surprise; I had thought he'd want to go to Utah or Indiana.

 

If the Bucks try and pull a Cronin, Giannis won't resign extension. Or... Giannis will sign extension, and the Bucks try and pull a Cronin?

Milwaukee on notice!
No tanking with Antetokounmpo