No League for Old Men

[Tom]

Your career declines when you lose the ability to make up for the shortcomings of your age. I don't jump as hight, but I added my left hand. Now I jump less High and I can't get my shot off. Great players mask decline with hard work and the ability to actually play the game. The Celtics held on way to long in the 80's and they are doing it again. The Heat won't do the same...the egos of todays era won't allow it.

So yes it is a young man's game.

[E.H. Munro]

Originally Posted by edabomb

Let's look at the dominant players on the last few champions - the guys that the teams were built around and most went on to win Finals MVP:

2011 - Nowitzki 32
2010 - Kobe 30
2009 - Kobe 31
2008 - KG 32 Pierce 30
2007 - Tim Duncan 31
2006 - D-Wade 24 Shaq 34

The fact you have to go back to 2006 to see a Championship team being based around the performance of a player under 30 shows that age isn't diminishing players in the post season. Until that changes I don't see much of an argument for players careers/primes shortening.

Forget this part, I want to know where the absurd idea that Ye Olde Tyme Basquetteballe Players all played until ripe old ages came from? Dave Cowens was done at 30. Tiny Archibald broke for good at around 30 or 31 (I mean, he hung around for a few more years because he was a wizard with the basketball, but he was strictly a roleplayer, a criminally underrated player). Isiah pretty much the same. For every Kareem or Robert Parish I can give you two Larry Birds that were, more or less, finished as dominant players by the time they were 30-32.

Basketball was always a young man's game. If anything players last longer now do to better surgical techniques, nutrition/training, etc.. Players peaks last much longer now than they did when I was growing up. I mean Bryant is 15 years into his career and Oscar Robertson's career didn't last that long.

[Ron]

Kobe is not finished, Adam, and as a moderator you should know better than to attempt to bait others.

Give it a rest.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Adam

LeBron is old.

I stopped reading this ridiculous post after the first three words.

Get real.

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Ron

Kobe is not finished, Adam, and as a moderator you should know better than to attempt to bait others.

Give it a rest.

I don't think hes baiting by saying that. Hes just actually ignorant enough to think that.

[Hyperion]

It's baiting if you say anything other that kobe is top 5 in the league and top 10 all time and is a warrior who won't stop despite all of his crippling injuries.

Edit: just kidding ron, please don't ban me.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Hyperion

It's baiting if you say anything other that kobe is top 5 in the league and top 10 all time and is a warrior who won't stop despite all of his crippling injuries.

That's a mischaracterization of what I wrote.

If you read my very short post, you will notice I made no comment about "top 5" or "top 10" or any of that, that is up for debate. I personally think he is past his prime.

But to say one is "finished" clearly (1) shows a bias, and (2) didn't watch last night's game.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Hyperion

Edit: just kidding ron, please don't ban me.

Another mischaracterization.

I have had people call me "moron" and "idiot" and you don't see them banned now, do you?

[Hyperion]

Back to the thread, different players have a different age peak. Bigger players peak at 30-33 generally. Guards peak at 27-32 and then fall off sharply.

[Luke]

Anyone who thinks Kobe is done should watch last night's game, specifically the third quarter.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by VanillaPrice

Anyone who thinks Kobe is done should watch last night's game, specifically the third quarter.

I think Adam missed it, he had to get to bed early.

[Jamel Irief]

Originally Posted by R-Star

I don't think hes baiting by saying that. Hes just actually ignorant enough to think that.

I don't think he actually believes that, he just wants to believe it. According to Adam Kobe's done, Pau is finished and Bynum isn't as good as deandre Jordan. So therefore the lakers will be lucky to win 35 games.

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by Jamel Irief

I don't think he actually believes that, he just wants to believe it. According to Adam Kobe's done, Pau is finished and Bynum isn't as good as deandre Jordan. So therefore the lakers will be lucky to win 35 games.

Well I guess if the Heat win every championship from now until Lebron and Wade decide they're bored with dominating the league and retire, I guess we'll know Adam was right all along.

Kobe is old. But Lebron transcends age.......


This has been an entertaining thread.

[Tom]

Tyler Hansbrough is old

[R-Star]

You shut your face.

Tyler Hansbrough is timeless. Like a classic movie.

Tyler Hansbrough is Star Wars.