<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>What type of basketball do you prefer. Personally, I prefer the old school type of play. Were theer were no outside shots, and were there wasnt as many flashy moves. I like a tough physical game, instead of the s*it we have today were evrything is a foul. Also the words team and defense actually mean something to old skool players.</div>First off, before answering the question, "which is better - old school or new school basketball" - you have to define both eras. I am not saying that you're wrong in believing basketball was better in the old days, but I really think that you made some generalizations about this generation. Here's my perception of just what old school basketball is, and just what it is today.Over the years, the athleticism has tremendously increased. All of the exciting, high-flying drunks, and blinding speed define the new era in basketball. However, this dramatic jolt in athleticism has come at the expense of fundamentals. Players have lost sight of perfecting the hook shot and the mid-range jumper. That's not to say that there weren't any spectacular athletes in the old days. That would be ludicrous, considering superstars like Julius Erving and Connie Hawkins. That's ALSO not to say there aren't any fundamentally sound players in today's game. The reigning two-time MVP, Steve Nash, or three-time NBA World Champion Tim Duncan both lay that theory to waste.I disagree with a lot of the things you said about both schools, old and new. There were no outside shots in the old days? The 3 point shot wasn't introduced until shortly after the ABA merged with the NBA, however, even then, plenty of players had range. Oscar Robertson and Jerry West would often take jumpers 30 feet away from the basket. The long range shot has ALWAYS been a factor in the game of basketball.Furthermore, I think it's unfair to say that the players of the new era don't understand the concept of defense. Scores do tend to be more inflated than they did back in the day, but that doesn't necessarily it's completely the fault of the players. The rules have changed. Hard-nosed defense is still played, there's no doubt about that. Guys like Ben Wallace, Ron Artest and Bruce Bowen are making their mark as some of the greatest defenders in history. The difference is that much more physical play was ALLOWED back in the old days. Referees are much quicker to blow the whistle and call a foul then they were back in the days of the Detroit Bad Boys.All of that being said, I don't prefer a specific style of basketball. I think the key is finding a combination of both. The NBA emerged into it's golden age in the 1980's behind superstars like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Magic had the fundamentals down to a tee, had tremendous court vision and always hit the open man. He did play the role of a spectacular old school point guard. On the other hand, he was also extremely flashy, and ran the Showtime Lakers offense in the 80's, shades of basketball today. Larry Bird had the prototypical jump shot, but also had a cocky swagger and seemingly unlimited range that is characteristic of many of today's players. Michael Jordan, with all of the intangibles of the old days, that natural leadership, also inspired a whole new era of high-flyers with his mind-boggling athleticism.When we can find a crop of players that possess both the fundamentals and athleticism suited to today's game, we will be launched into another golden age in the NBA. Personally, I believe that we're almost there. We haven't quite reached that level yet, as rivalries between young players and young teams are still budding. But with superstars like Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard at the helm of the league, and prospects like Greg Oden, Kevin Durante and OJ Mayo on the horizon, things don't look too bad for the new school of basketball.
