Its a disaster. I agree with what Shaq said yesterday. It feels like a synthetic rubber indoor outdoor ball. The channeling is atrocious also. Why change absolute perfection?
[quote]PGA200X wrote:
Its a disaster. I agree with what Shaq said yesterday. It feels like a synthetic rubber indoor outdoor ball. The channeling is atrocious also. Why change absolute perfection?[/quote]
Because the NBA is boring, has no major super stars anymore (remember when Byrd, Magic, Jordan, Drexler, Hawkins, Kareme…were all playing). Shaq is the lone superstar right now. There are some good players, but they aren’t even CLOSE to the popularity of the stars of the 80’s and 90’s. I expect the NBA the change things up to generate interest.
Why did they actually change it? Is this one more high-tech or was it change for change’s sake?
[quote]PGA200X wrote:
Its a disaster. I agree with what Shaq said yesterday. It feels like a synthetic rubber indoor outdoor ball. The channeling is atrocious also. Why change absolute perfection?[/quote]
I don’t follow the NBA very closely. I never knew they were even thinking of changing the ball. I agree it looks like shit, especially the channeling. Why try to re-invent the wheel. It’s unbelievable.
[quote]RagingBull wrote:
Why did they actually change it? Is this one more high-tech or was it change for change’s sake?[/quote]
There is no break in period of the ball and its supposed to create a uniform feel and elasticity throught all the balls. Some teams add more air some add a little less. The point is the players NEVER complained and it seems they didnt have any input into this change.
Shaq said it feels like a cheap indoor/outdoor ball.
Good idea…piss off your one remaining star player.
Not that I give two shits about the NBA and not that this would make me watch it…
but they oughta’ buy the rights to the ABA ball 
Performance schmerformance, at least it looks cool.
Ball looks funky…
The reason players today aren’t as popular as the 80’s and 90’s, is because the game is more of a team sport, and not just 1 player per team hogging the ball the hole time. Teams don’t need to rely on 1 player anymore when the rest of the players on the team are star athletes also. Not just 1 person getting all the hype, the popularity is shared, so not one person is super popular.
D Wade is pretty fucking popular.
Shaq, who is a friend of mine, just likes to start shit. We’ll have to see how it works in the season.
Just to keep up with the Joneses, the NFL has decided to change their ball as well. Nerf is apparently suing for $5,000,000,000 in copyright infringements. To combat this, the NFL has stated their balls will be rocket powered and also capable of deep space travel.
[quote]BiG BeN wrote:
The reason players today aren’t as popular as the 80’s and 90’s, is because the game is more of a team sport, and not just 1 player per team hogging the ball the hole time. Teams don’t need to rely on 1 player anymore when the rest of the players on the team are star athletes also. Not just 1 person getting all the hype, the popularity is shared, so not one person is super popular.[/quote]
I disagree. I think it’s the exact opposite. I look at the NBA now and all I see are mostly shit-talking, low class thugs who are one step above street-ball. When what’s-his-name choked out his coach and got nothing as punishment, that was a huge turning point in the NBA. I think today’s players are “all about me”. Basketball has become an individual sport. Every sport has it’s crybabies and thugs, but the NBA seems to be the worst. Plus, in my opinion, it’s just a boring sport.
Look at how booring the slam-dunk contest has become. Back in the 80’s and 90’s that was prime time viewing that EVERYONE talked about. Once MJ left the league went waaaaaayyyyyy down.
I just think the league has no major superstars (except Shaq, and his days are numbered), shit we can’t even beat Asian and Eastern European teams anymore. We’ve become a 3rd world basketball nation. That’s from a lack of teamwork.
I think they need to go back to the Red, White, and Blue ball from the ABA.
I think the reason basketball is less popular today than in the past is the frequent player movement. When I was a kid teams had players that were identified with the team. Magic- Lakers, Bird- Celtics, Hakeem- Rockets, I. Thomas- Pistons, etc. etc. These type players tended to spend their entire career with one team.
Now players move from team to team almost yearly. I do think players should have the right to maximize their earnings but in someways it hurts the league.
First, the ball: It looks stupid, but thankfully, it doesnt’ affect anything since fans cannot see the ball that closely. There will be some talk about it, but it will not change anything.
Now about 80’s/90’s stars vs. todays stars. Talent level is higher than ever. I think the rules are what is wrong with the NBA gameplay. The league has been molded into a bunch of teams with a star on each team. Each star will be protected, and not touched at all or else it is a foul. Travelling is allowed if you are a star, and calls will go your way when debatable.
Now, Lebron is pretty damn popular, as is d.wade, and KOBE is the best and most talented player in the league today, hands down! The problem with the league is the rules.
Now the dunk contest. Todays dunk contests can and should be better than any 80’s dunk contest. Why aren’t they? people punk out. T-mac, steve franchise, lebron, kobe, vince carter, desmond mason, josh smith,and many more should all be in it. If that were the case, the dunk contest would be crazy again.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Just to keep up with the Joneses, the NFL has decided to change their ball as well. Nerf is apparently suing for $5,000,000,000 in copyright infringements. To combat this, the NFL has stated their balls will be rocket powered and also capable of deep space travel.[/quote]
Brilliant! But, maybe it can also have guided aim so the QB can just stand in the middle of the field all day.
NBA Basketball is no longer a team sport and it is no longer a skill game.
The nba is allowing H/S players to play. These guys have no concept of team. The nba is allowing the skill to be taken out of the game. The traveling rule is lost, the rule against palming the ball, dribbling above the waist. All gone in favor of “athleticisim”. The nba has forgotten what the real star is. The GAME.
No matter how big Jordan, or magic, or bird were they all respected and loved the game.
Today, the players could care less about the game. They are to buzy braiding their hair or buying more ice or pimpin out the ride.
The knicks are a microcosm of whats wrong w/ the nba. A group of high paid selfish losers, more concerned w/ their own playing time, and stats than w/ the team winning or losing.
Nate Robinson complaining that Larry brown tried to “change his game” Who the F**k is Nate Robinson!!! Larry Brown is a legend. But he resented LB??? Larry changed his game???
I loved the nba, but i watched less last year than i ever did. And i have no plans to go back.
Its a shame
[quote]Drew0786 wrote:
I think they need to go back to the Red, White, and Blue ball from the ABA.
I think the reason basketball is less popular today than in the past is the frequent player movement. When I was a kid teams had players that were identified with the team. Magic- Lakers, Bird- Celtics, Hakeem- Rockets, I. Thomas- Pistons, etc. etc. These type players tended to spend their entire career with one team.
Now players move from team to team almost yearly. I do think players should have the right to maximize their earnings but in someways it hurts the league.[/quote]
Salary caps for rookies. THat would save teams lots of money wasted on expensive top picks. This should apply for all pro sports. Make the top salary for ANY rookie like $1 million. Heisman, All-American, whatever…no rookie will make over $1 million. Then he can renegotiate after that first season based on how he did. Pay for performance. What a concept.
[quote]kheaslim wrote:
First, the ball: It looks stupid, but thankfully, it doesnt’ affect anything since fans cannot see the ball that closely. There will be some talk about it, but it will not change anything.
Now about 80’s/90’s stars vs. todays stars. Talent level is higher than ever. I think the rules are what is wrong with the NBA gameplay. The league has been molded into a bunch of teams with a star on each team. Each star will be protected, and not touched at all or else it is a foul. Travelling is allowed if you are a star, and calls will go your way when debatable.
Now, Lebron is pretty damn popular, as is d.wade, and KOBE is the best and most talented player in the league today, hands down! The problem with the league is the rules.
Now the dunk contest. Todays dunk contests can and should be better than any 80’s dunk contest. Why aren’t they? people punk out. T-mac, steve franchise, lebron, kobe, vince carter, desmond mason, josh smith,and many more should all be in it. If that were the case, the dunk contest would be crazy again.[/quote]
You make some good points, but it’s just a boring sport to watch. Does anyone play defense anymore? The dunk contest is booring because there are only so many ways to dunk a ball. It’s like watching a wide receiver catch TD passes before a game without a defense. Yawn.
I completely agree with the lack of rules enforcement. That’s why we can’t beat anyone on the outside. Our guys aren’t used to playing buy the official rules.
I disagree with the star player thing. Of course every team has it’s best player, but beside Shaq and maybe Kobe, I doub’t most people could name many other players. Most seem to be infamous, not famous. It’s immage is a league of selfish criminals who speak like pimps and dress the same. It’s all about the Benjamin’s, baby.
I can’t even watch it anymore. The league tried to enforce a dress code, but the pimps pitched a fit. Straight-up ghetto now.
[quote]emdawgz1 wrote:
NBA Basketball is no longer a team sport and it is no longer a skill game.
The nba is allowing H/S players to play. These guys have no concept of team. The nba is allowing the skill to be taken out of the game. The traveling rule is lost, the rule against palming the ball, dribbling above the waist. All gone in favor of “athleticisim”. The nba has forgotten what the real star is. The GAME.
No matter how big Jordan, or magic, or bird were they all respected and loved the game.
Today, the players could care less about the game. They are to buzy braiding their hair or buying more ice or pimpin out the ride.
The knicks are a microcosm of whats wrong w/ the nba. A group of high paid selfish losers, more concerned w/ their own playing time, and stats than w/ the team winning or losing.
Nate Robinson complaining that Larry brown tried to “change his game” Who the F**k is Nate Robinson!!! Larry Brown is a legend. But he resented LB??? Larry changed his game???
I loved the nba, but i watched less last year than i ever did. And i have no plans to go back.
Its a shame[/quote]
High School players can no longer play in the NBA.
In response to other posters, in what universe is Shaq the NBA’s only superstar? I’m pretty sure LeBron has better endorsement deals at this point.
And yeah, the new ball looks like ass.
[quote]TJN713 wrote:
emdawgz1 wrote:
NBA Basketball is no longer a team sport and it is no longer a skill game.
The nba is allowing H/S players to play. These guys have no concept of team. The nba is allowing the skill to be taken out of the game. The traveling rule is lost, the rule against palming the ball, dribbling above the waist. All gone in favor of “athleticisim”. The nba has forgotten what the real star is. The GAME.
No matter how big Jordan, or magic, or bird were they all respected and loved the game.
Today, the players could care less about the game. They are to buzy braiding their hair or buying more ice or pimpin out the ride.
The knicks are a microcosm of whats wrong w/ the nba. A group of high paid selfish losers, more concerned w/ their own playing time, and stats than w/ the team winning or losing.
Nate Robinson complaining that Larry brown tried to “change his game” Who the F**k is Nate Robinson!!! Larry Brown is a legend. But he resented LB??? Larry changed his game???
I loved the nba, but i watched less last year than i ever did. And i have no plans to go back.
Its a shame
High School players can no longer play in the NBA.
In response to other posters, in what universe is Shaq the NBA’s only superstar? I’m pretty sure LeBron has better endorsement deals at this point.
And yeah, the new ball looks like ass.[/quote]
Lebron James isn’t even in the same solar system of stardom as Shaq (or Jordan, or Majic or Byrd…). See, you are equating “endorsement deals” with success. That’s the problem. Show me the money. I bet 50% of the country has never heard of the guy or know which team he plays for. Everyone knows Shaq and what team he plays for. I bet most people could tell you where he played college ball. The stars of the 80’s and 90’s had personality, style, could speak without using the F-word, and didn’t go around beating the shit out of each other durring games.
And when an 18 or 19 year old can step on to the court and be among the best, that’s an indicator that the skill level of the players is getting worse. Then our “best players” get destroyed by Slovackian or South American no-names…what can you say?
Lebron James is another example of what im talking about.
I tried to watch a game last season, Cle vs Chi.
It was like watching a pickup game @ the local rec center. No defense, passing, set offence. It was horrible.
Is lebron a phenomenal athlete? Yes. Is he a great player? no. He doesnt understand the team concept. Until the western conf playoffs i hadnt seen a decent game all season. San Antonio vs dallas was great. the phoenix series was great.
Det vs mia, was great. Otherwise the league is a watered down failure.