Past Era Basketball Players in This Era: How Would They Fare?

February 21, 2011 @ 08:42 PM

WojieWorldPeace

Post: 2508

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: Buffalo, NY

My buddy during the All-Star game was trying to say that stars in the 60s - 80s wouldn't even be in the league if they played today. His first example was Jerry West trying to guard Derrick Rose, and how that just wouldn't work. That's a feasible example, I mean the modern man has become certainly more physical over the last 20-30 years inside the game of basketball, but I still think PGs could still play point the same way.

Then he tried to say that Larry Bird of all people would be a scrub in today's NBA...and I got legit pissed off about it...Bird could hit any jumper on the court...could bank a 20 footer whenever he wanted to just because he could. The dude was 6'9 220...and despite me making the comparison to Durant as far as not being strong and still being able to dominate, he was steadfast in his garbage opinion on the matter.

So what do you guys think...do you think the stars of the 70s and 80s in the NBA could play in the NBA today?

Buffalo Bills till I die.

February 21, 2011 @ 08:52 PM

lihp

Post: 1001

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: 2 up 2 down

i've had this discussion plenty of times with my friends. i think they'd fare well. kevin mchale during the rookie challenge said that his generation was more skilled but that this generation could out lift previous ones. i think this is true because guys are bigger and faster than previous generations but i think that skill matters more than physical prowess. now if you compare the really early years i don't think they'd fare as well.

February 21, 2011 @ 11:32 PM

Canvas08

Post: 2269

Join Date: Oct 2006

Location: Dirty Souf

larry bird would still rape.

February 22, 2011 @ 12:20 PM

Monkeykong

Post: 15

Join Date: Sep 2010

jordan would still own everyone

February 22, 2011 @ 12:24 PM

Stilo

Post: 513

Join Date: Nov 2010

jordan would still own everyone

Jordan would still rape, but then again he played as recently as 2003. But Jordan played in a time when they didn't call fouls for the smallest shit, hip and hand checking still happened, you had to be a real player to play in the early 90's. But to answer the original question I think only a few players from past eras could come up today and still own like the Dr. J's and the Larry Bird's but on the whole I think today's players are far more athletic then they were in past decades.

March 1, 2011 @ 02:20 PM

megalison

Post: 113

Join Date: Jul 2010

How many players TODAY would fare well back in then? A lot of guys rely on the whistle nowadays but back then they would get maybe 25-50% of those calls. Also pretty much all the bigs that can't play D and play on the perimeter (besides Dirk) would struggle back then as much more of the game was based on inside play.

March 1, 2011 @ 02:27 PM

ahhhrt

Post: 2005

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Location: toe ron toe

Bosh would.get.des.troyed.

March 1, 2011 @ 07:42 PM

ClydeFrazier

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walt frazier would get mvp every year

Melo Gang All Day

March 19, 2011 @ 11:24 AM

RareAirNC

Post: 72

Join Date: Jan 2011

just think of the rule changes, you can't even touch anyone now. Gary Payton would eat Derrick Rose for lunch.

March 19, 2011 @ 12:30 PM

jtangtwenty3

Post: 1082

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: chicago/cincinnati

derrick rose really is not known for drawing a lot of fouls
until very recently his style of play was all about avoiding contact because he was used to playing no foul basketball
i think you might be thinking of lebron, kobe, etc.

March 23, 2011 @ 07:52 AM

News worthy

Post: 449

Join Date: Oct 2009

Larry Bird is the original Dirk so Bird could play.. You mean to tell me Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Kareem, couldn't hold it down? Friends tripping man. I don't care that people say "speed" has made the game impossible for old players. Spurs seem to fair well in the form of Tim Duncan? He plays fundamental old school ball, and is one of the best players all time. I'd love to see Bosh, or Gasol go up against Hakeem the Dream, or CP3 Vs Pistol Pete. Iguodala V Dr. J? I'm sure not every player would make it nowadays, but I'm sure most superstars could hang..

March 23, 2011 @ 07:53 AM

News worthy

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Join Date: Oct 2009

walt frazier would get mvp every year

This. And he'd do it with one eye closed

March 23, 2011 @ 08:33 AM

Young Handsome

Post: 600

Join Date: Mar 2011

Bernard King would get 50

March 27, 2011 @ 12:57 PM

RareAirNC

Post: 72

Join Date: Jan 2011

derrick rose really is not known for drawing a lot of fouls
until very recently his style of play was all about avoiding contact because he was used to playing no foul basketball
i think you might be thinking of lebron, kobe, etc.

doesn't matter if Rose is trying to avoid contact, back in the 90s the defender could hand-check an offensive player when they had the ball

March 27, 2011 @ 01:44 PM

VANCITY

Post: 1541

Join Date: Jul 2009

I've had these arguments in hockey and other sports as well.
Although the athletes have become faster stronger and bigger imo the skill has not gotten any better(dudes are more versatile though). You could argue that the league all around is worse then the golden era of the 80s-90s(dudes like barkley have said this already)

March 27, 2011 @ 07:58 PM

jtangtwenty3

Post: 1082

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: chicago/cincinnati

doesn't matter if Rose is trying to avoid contact, back in the 90s the defender could hand-check an offensive player when they had the ball

i know, not denying that things are different now than they were in the 90 s and i dont think rose would score as much if he played back then, im just saying i dont think rose is really the best example because hes not one of these players who tries to draw a foul on every shot he takes.

June 28, 2011 @ 09:09 AM

HoageFoenia