OT: Other Sports: Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies etc…Part VII

[expatriatedtexan]

I'm just imagining the imaginary scenario where you, the imaginary coach, tells Larry Bird to play the 2.

Jordan as your shooting guard wouldn't be a bad consolation prize.

Honestly though, I wonder how MJ would've been as a 3. We all know he could sink it from distance, but he just didn't like to, he drove to the net every chance he got. LeBron started as a PG but I think he's been a SF for most of his career.

I can't imagine a scenario where I would say anything other than, "Damn Larry...it was fun as hell watching you growing up. Thanks for the memories dude!"

Don't even think I would dare ask the guy to sign an autograph. He could be freakin' brutal with the barbs. I can still hear him trash talking players up and down the ice all game long in my mind. The dude was a relentless shit talker.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Wilt could never play with so many stars. He was the biggest stat padder in NBA history; it wasn't until he started playing with Jerry West that he'd even tolerate his teammates running a fast break. He wanted every possession to run through him so he always got the shot or the assist.

You want a team that could actually play together?
PG: Steph Curry
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Tim Duncan
C: Nikola Jokic
sixth man: Magic Johnson

There ya go. That's the best passing team you could possibly assemble.

I have absolutely no idea why...but I've never liked Steph Curry. I respect his game tremendously but for some reason, I just don't get him.
Only other player I felt this way about was Isiah Thomas. Both are truely remarkable players but for some reason, I could never get behind either.

My brother was a huge Thomas fan though, so that's probably part of that, but I have no idea why I have a dislike for Curry. It's really something I can't explain and should do my best to eliminate or just ignore all together.

 

[katfude]

I have absolutely no idea why...but I've never liked Steph Curry. I respect his game tremendously but for some reason, I just don't get him.
Only other player I felt this way about was Isiah Thomas. Both are truely remarkable players but for some reason, I could never get behind either.

My brother was a huge Thomas fan though, so that's probably part of that, but I have no idea why I have a dislike for Curry. It's really something I can't explain and should do my best to eliminate or just ignore all together.

It's because he singlehandedly turned the game into a 3-draining fest.

 

[Bonzai12]

My team -

PG: Oscar Robertson
SG: Fat Lever
SF: Sean Elliot
PF: Shawn Kemp
C: Nikola Jokic
6th: Walter Davis

Lots of just my favorite guys. I never got to watch Oscar play but Ive always been in awe of his numbers. Walter Davis and Fat Lever were probably my favorite players of all time. Loved Jerome Lane too but he busted so hard in the NBA - I thought he was going to be great.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

It's because he singlehandedly turned the game into a 3-draining fest.

Man, I loved it when the 3point rule came into play. Made the game so much more interesting. Opened the game up and allowed teams to use passing to stretch the game out and capitalize. Admitedly, I fell out of basketball in the late mid-late 80s. The game has changed so much since then.

Even though I'm casually starting to catch up to speed, but it appears there is more reliance on team play and passing... everyone being involved than what was happening when I left. Also seems like the depth of the bench is getting more important.

For those that have been fans since the 70s and 80s, what other broad changes should I be really looking into?

 

[Bonzai12]

For those that have been fans since the 70s and 80s, what other broad changes should I be really looking into?

1 - the big man is back. Implementation of the zone defense has made the center an important position again. Also the next few points have opened up the floor for bigs -

2 - you’re right that team play is more important. The 90s definitely brought in isolation-schemed offenses and now that’s pretty much gone. I don’t even think “illegal defense” is on the rulebooks anymore.

3 - the 3 pt line is the most important thing in basketball. Analytics are pretty self explanatory on this one - if you shot 50% on 100 attempts from inside the arc (2 pointers), your total would be 100 points. If you shoot 34% on 100 attempts from beyond the arc, you score 102 pts……teams also realized that a) shooting 50% from even inside the arc is tough. Most guards shoot 45-50% b) there’s a lot of dudes that can shoot 34%+ from 3 and c) if you shoot 3’s from the corners, you’re very close to the basket - in fact you’re the equivalent of being a little bit past the free throw line. So there’s now ALWAYS guys camped out there.

4) - because of #3 perimeter defenders are extremely important now. “3 and D” guys are at premiums and what everyone wants - players that can shoot 3s but can also defend well.

 

[Hasbro]

Bird was a forward... but instead of having him move out to sink the threes, I've got him posting up as a guard and firing all day long. Especially with Dr J and Dominque Wilkins playing down low with Wilt Chamberlain.

I suppose you could DQ me for putting a player out of position. In that case, I'd drop Wilkins move bird to F and you've forced me to snag Michael Jordan as my SG.

Someone that slow at guard?