Top 5 teams right now

[SuperKevin]

The NBA really should contract 10 teams out and then the remaining 20 teams will actually be strong. The talent pool is way too thin right now for 30 teams

 

[Archer]

Quarter here, quarter there.

Very hard to watch a full game these days. Shit product.

HOWEVER, I am very intrigued by the Miami team, I think this gives the league some juice that its lacked for years.

Wasn't calling you out or anything... just saw that post and remembered you telling me your dislike for the league several times over.

Anyways, back on topic.

1.LA
2.Boston
3.Orlando
4.Miami
5.Dallas

A mix of Denver, Utah, OKC, Portland and Pheonix chasing those 5 down I think

I'm still yet to be convinced that Miami has anything to slow Howard down which will open things up for all the 3pt shooters they have.

 

[FedEx227]

The talent pool is fine. It's no different than it's been the past 10-15 years.


....awaits revisionist history on how great the 90s NBA.

 

[ralaw]

I'm still yet to be convinced that Miami has anything to slow Howard down which will open things up for all the 3pt shooters they have.

The greatest/easiest way to slow Howard down is to get him in foul trouble, which is pretty easy to do. Wade and James will be attacking the hoop at will, because Orlando has no one that can stay in front of either of them. If that isn't enough lets not forget Bosh is a 20ppg scorer, so Howard is sure to get a few fouls there simply by trying to help out. Howard will also get those immature fouls he typically gets while trying to manhandle the defender.

 

[FirstTimer]

The talent pool is fine. It's no different than it's been the past 10-15 years.


....awaits revisionist history on how great the 90s NBA.

I know I would sure as hell rather watch NBA ball from 85-Lockout than from the last 10 years or so.

Better era IMO.

 

[Cody]

Lakers
Celtics
Magic
Bulls
Dallas

 

[Archer]

The greatest/easiest way to slow Howard down is to get him in foul trouble, which is pretty easy to do. Wade and James will be attacking the hoop at will, because Orlando has no one that can stay in front of either of them. If that isn't enough lets not forget Bosh is a 20ppg scorer, so Howard is sure to get a few fouls there simply by trying to help out. Howard will also get those immature fouls he typically gets while trying to manhandle the defender.

I agree with alot of what you are saying BUT

I just can't see how they can control the glass/paint [on d] v Howard with this roster. The main keys will be Nelson making good decisions and a wing player stepping up for Orlando, otherwise Howard alone will not be enough [with or without foul troubles].

 

[FirstTimer]

I agree with alot of what you are saying BUT

I just can't see how they can control the glass/paint [on d] v Howard with this roster. The main keys will be Nelson making good decisions and a wing player stepping up for Orlando, otherwise Howard alone will not be enough [with or without foul troubles].

I think they'd put Wade on Nelson a good majority of the time and that would hinder Nelson qutie a bit.

 

[FedEx227]

I know I would sure as hell rather watch NBA ball from 85-Lockout than from the last 10 years or so.

Better era IMO.

Not arguing that, but the whole "the NBA depth use to be so good" I don't think is 100% accurate.

It wasn't. LaPhonso Ellis use to be the best player on his team. There were some downright shitty NBA bench players in the 90s. There's always been crap on NBA benches.

 

[Argath]

20 years people will look back and say this is the best era of basketball with kobe/lebron/durant/wade etc etc etc all playing at the same time

 

[FedEx227]

20 years people will look back and say this is the best era of basketball with kobe/lebron/durant/wade etc etc etc all playing at the same time

I don't think people will think it's the best era because I don't think the games are as good, but I think the talent level overall in the league is the best it's ever been.

Not as many legendary stars but a VERY large chunk of really, really good young players not ever seen before.

 

[FirstTimer]

Not arguing that, but the whole "the NBA depth use to be so good" I don't think is 100% accurate.

It wasn't. LaPhonso Ellis use to be the best player on his team. There were some downright shitty NBA bench players in the 90s. There's always been crap on NBA benches.

Yeah I mean there is always some shit team withs ome borderline allstar/good player leading them. No doubt.

I guess my issue is I used to love watching the NBA. I remember being glued to the TV set for playoff games no even involving the Bulls and following the league a lot more closely. I think the last time I really made time to sit down and watch and NBA game was the Bulls-Celtics series last year just because it was so damn entertaining. I don't even think I watched a ton of the Bulls-Cavs series this past season. I'll watch the NBA if it's on and it's a game/team/player I like but it's not as much of an appointment viewing as it used to be for me.

It just feels like a lot of the soul has been sucked from the NBA a bit over the last decade to me.

 

[FedEx227]

I enjoy it as much as ever.

A lot of people aren't into it right now because I think the casual fan isn't into it either. It's not really talked about anywhere besides circles filled with big NBA fans. (Oh and the typical "omg thug league", no defense, nobody passes and various other false and terrible excuses)

The whole LeBron saga will hopefully inject some much needed casual fans into the game (it in a lot of ways already did) and get it really exciting to the masses again. That way it'll seem much bigger as well. Also, we're comparing it to a time period that featured multiple top 10-15 players of all-time including the greatest ever. It's going to be nearly impossible to ever recreate that excitement around the game.

Don't really want to get into this same argument for the 9,000th time on VSN. Especially not in this thread. If you want the argument just mention the NBA in the chatbox a few times and it'll inevitably come up.

 

[Juggernaut]

1. Lakers
2. Miami
3. Dallas
4. Boston
5. Orlando

6. Oklahoma City
7. Chicago

 

[FirstTimer]

I enjoy it as much as ever.

A lot of people aren't into it right now because I think the casual fan isn't into it either. It's not really talked about anywhere besides circles filled with big NBA fans. (Oh and the typical "omg thug league", no defense, nobody passes and various other false and terrible excuses)

The whole LeBron saga will hopefully inject some much needed casual fans into the game (it in a lot of ways already did) and get it really exciting to the masses again. That way it'll seem much bigger as well. Also, we're comparing it to a time period that featured multiple top 10-15 players of all-time including the greatest ever. It's going to be nearly impossible to ever recreate that excitement around the game.

Don't really want to get into this same argument for the 9,000th time on VSN. Especially not in this thread. If you want the argument just mention the NBA in the chatbox a few times and it'll inevitably come up.

I think though that's where the "NBA isn't nearly as deep" argument has a lot of merit though. it's not nearly as deep at the top of the league and I think most times it's brought up that's the intent behind the remark.

People aren't referring to the Craig Hodges of the world when they reference depth, they are more referring to the fact that there isn't as much top tier talent in the NBA as there was "back then". At least that's the way I would approach the discussion.

 

[stevsta]

1.lakers

no one else matters :smug:

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

20 years people will look back and say this is the best era of basketball with kobe/lebron/durant/wade etc etc etc all playing at the same time

Not a chance

20 years from now, there will be a whole new set of players who somebody will be telling you that put Kobe & LeBron to shame..


The Golden Age of the NBA was Magic, Larry, Jordan, Charles, Malone, and John Tesh's NBA on NBC theme song. That's never changing, but especially with the current dry crop of stars who noboby cares about outside hoops hardcores.

 

[Miami Flash15]

Not a chance

20 years from now, there will be a whole new set of players who somebody will be telling you that put Kobe & LeBron to shame..


The Golden Age of the NBA was Magic, Larry, Jordan, Charles, Malone, and John Tesh's NBA on NBC theme song. That's never changing, but especially with the current dry crop of stars who noboby cares about outside hoops hardcores.

Amazing:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQ3IAriL0k"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AQ3IAriL0k[/ame]