[23AJ]

Originally Posted by futuristxen

Actually last month he was shooting 65 percent from the free throw line. So he could very easily have missed them as he did in other games where he was accused of not being clutch. So if you're going to bash one, then if you were fair, which I know, you're not, then you would give him credit for others.

To get a reputation of being clutch you have to play in a close competitive games. Ala the Lakers/Cavs game on National TV and hit the game winner. Thats how it works for the regular season. Now you really get the legendary status of being clutch when you take the game winning shots with 3 seconds or less ala Jordan and Reggie Miller in the playoffs and propel your team to the Championship or next round or you win the Championship on the shot. IMO Lebron has never hit the critical shot to win a big game.

[Mr. Predictable]

I thought he admitted he didn't have the versatility to be in a dunk contest? The quote was something along the lines of "I can't think of dunks and do them, I improvise when I'm on the court". He dunks too much like a big man, using power and athleticism. Doesn't have the finesse of a Josh Smith, JR Smith, young Kobe, young Tmac, etc. Guys like LeBron and Amare will give you great tomahawk dunks during games, but have no place in a dunk contest.

[23AJ]

Originally Posted by Mr. Roger's Cardigan

I thought he admitted he didn't have the versatility to be in a dunk contest? The quote was something along the lines of "I can't think of dunks and do them, I improvise when I'm on the court". He dunks too much like a big man, using power and athleticism. Doesn't have the finesse of a Josh Smith, JR Smith, young Kobe, young Tmac, etc. Guys like LeBron and Amare will give you great tomahawk dunks during games, but have no place in a dunk contest.

Don't tell Dominique Wilkins that Power Dunkers can't win.

[GTA Addict]

I know plenty of old timers and HOFer's that claimed defense in the late 90's and early 2000's weren't as good as the 80's. Wilt once said he'd average 70 ppg in the modern-day NBA because defenses were so much worse. Pippen once said KG was a stats guy who disappears down the stretch of games. Bill Walton once said Rasho was a better interior defender than Tim Duncan because Tim Duncan was on the bench at the time. Barkley once said Argentina was located north of the Indian ocean.

I don't really take most former player's opinion's seriously, because while they know a lot about how to play basketball, they really have no idea how to put their thoughts together into coherent sentences, nor do they really know how to evaluate a game as an impartial spectator.

Those are single, unrelated instances and pretty extreme cases. We're talking about what seems to be a wide consensus, and it's not just former players. It's been confirmed by coaches, written and analyzed enough in articles, and noticed and pointed out by many fans -- which IMO is enough to conclude that the rule changes have had at least some effect on how the game is being played and called.

[EHL]

Originally Posted by GTA Addict

Those are single, unrelated instances and pretty extreme cases. We're talking about what seems to be a wide consensus, and it's not just former players.

Thing is, they say it pretty consistently from what I've witnessed. Even Magic Johnson, by far the smartest player I've ever seen in 15-20 years of watching ball, has said some ridiculous crap that just makes me go "WTF?". He gets a free lifetime pass from me, because he is Magic Johnson after all. But still, I see Barkley, Walton, Pippen, say some pretty innane stuff (particularly Walton and Barkley). And it's not the stuff that Barkley and Walton say in jest, it's when they're serious and they still fail to put together statements that make any sense. They're not dumb, I just question their ability to analyze basketball from an objective viewpoint.

It's been confirmed by coaches, written and analyzed enough in articles, and noticed and pointed out by many fans -- which IMO is enough to conclude that the rule changes have had at least some effect on how the game is being played and called.

I don't disagree, you are absolutely right that the rules have had an effect on the game where it's easier to score nowadays. But I think the impact is exaggerated, because the best teams (Spurs, Heat, Pistons, Suns, etc.) have defenders that get the benefit of the doubt, meaning they don't get called like most of the rest of the league. There are still superstar calls like there have always been, and when the postseason comes around, I honestly think these rule "changes" (they're more like tweaks) won't mean a darn thing. But we'll see.

[futuristxen]

Originally Posted by 23AJ

Don't tell Dominique Wilkins that Power Dunkers can't win.

Shawn Kemp could probably have been saveed the time.

[23AJ]

Originally Posted by futuristxen

Shawn Kemp could probably have been saveed the time.

Kemp's suprman dunk was sick! He could of had a better showing. However he only participated in one contest. He should of used Payton in his contest ala Nash and Amare.

[GTA Addict]

Originally Posted by EHL

I think the impact is exaggerated, because the best teams (Spurs, Heat, Pistons, Suns, etc.) have defenders that get the benefit of the doubt, meaning they don't get called like most of the rest of the league. There are still superstar calls like there have always been, and when the postseason comes around, I honestly think these rule "changes" (they're more like tweaks) won't mean a darn thing. But we'll see.

I can agree that it's exaggerated. Also, I'm not saying it's easier to score today than 10, 20, or however many years ago. I'm saying I think the rules changes have made it easier to score since the zone was first implemented, in particular. I think eventually all of these rule changes will balance themselves out.

[futuristxen]

Originally Posted by 23AJ

Kemp's suprman dunk was sick! He could of had a better showing. However he only participated in one contest. He should of used Payton in his contest ala Nash and Amare.

He participated in more than one dunk contest. At least two. Maybe even 3. He was called the Buffalo Bills of the Dunk Contest. He kept losing out to smaller guys. And he was probably the best big man dunker the contest has had.

To say nothing of Amare's failure in the last contest. It's really hard for big man power dunkers to win.

I guarantee if Nate Robinson cashes in on his dunks, Josh Smith stands no chance.

[23AJ]

Originally Posted by GTA Addict

I can agree that it's exaggerated. Also, I'm not saying it's easier to score today than 10, 20, or however many years ago. I'm saying I think the rules changes have made it easier to score since the zone was first implemented, in particular. I think eventually all of these rule changes will balance themselves out.

Good defense is good defense I don't care what you call it. I believe the zone is overrated in regards to being a tougher defense to crack. We see top college level players constantly break down zones. Why should NBA players have issues with it ? If college players don't ?