1-12 from the arc.. Lazy defense being out hustled, and LaBron constantly is crying nothing changes with that guy.. He isn’t the GOAT.
Anyone watching the USA and LaCry James!
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Thor played high school some where in Omaha and he’s been tearing it up, big shot over LaCry taking the lead with :20..
Born in Omaha but I think he moved away at a young age.
I’ll happily admit I was rooting for the South Sudanese to pull the upset. James flexing at them reminded me of when Wisconsin’s Tyler Wahl flexed at the Colgate pep band.
Didn't and won't watch a second, but Lebron scored a late layup to seal the win.
Not a problem even though the USA was about a 43-46 point FAVORITE.
Superstars without respect for opponents. Playing disrespectfully and this is the result. Should have been a loss. Tell me how soft the league has become without calling it soft, this game will be the new standard of examples.
That said, fricking 1,000% respect for the men playing their asses off for their nation today. South Sudan team, you men have earned respect for your nation and yourselves, at least from me.
That said, fricking 1,000% respect for the men playing their asses off for their nation today. South Sudan team, you men have earned respect for your nation and yourselves, at least from me.
He scored the winning point, but he is well past being a good defender. South Sudan's guard who played at Radford and Virginia and had a great game scored a one-on-one lay-up on LeBron. A LAY-UP! Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are going to have to save his butt on D.
How in the hell is he able to hold the Lakers hostage? Drafting Bronny is the least of their worries. How he handcuffs the team by controlling everything that takes place on the team is a much bigger factor. Why would anyone pay a 40-year-old 97 million over the next two years? It also has that has the protentional to increase to 115 million. It tells me Jeanie Buss is ok with just making a lot of money and really doesn't care if her Lakers are a title contender or not.
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I heard that just having LeBron on the team makes the Lakers a ton of money. Can't remember why. Probably merchandise sales and their local tv contract.
Obviously, LeBron was a monster in his prime. In today's NBA, he is still difficult to stop. Even though he's lost a step, he can still bull his way in for a layup. And if anyone touches him, it's a foul.
I watched the 4th quarter. Heard an announcer say that this might be Team USA's most talented roster and almost turned the channel.
I think a lot of money could be made betting against this "talented" USA group (can't call them a team, can we?) I bet they haven't covered a game yet and I doubt they will unless the books are forced to make some serious point spread adjustments.
That’s really laughable.. In today’s society we get told things that are facts but all their doing in my opinion is telling you the sky is GREEN when it’s actually always been BLUE..
Bird, Jordan and Magic would spank this week minded team..
There's certainly an age bias going with with regard to how the NBA is viewed. The "NBA media" is bloggers, Youtubers, young reporters working on the cheap, and some older guys who don't want to seem out of touch. Today's players are more talented they say. Today's style of play is more entertaining they say. It's incorrect, but take that opinion onto an NBA Reddit and you'll be buried in criticism and ridicule.
1992 Larry Bird might have some real problems scoring on this team. His back was really bad by the time the Olympics rolled around.
Because he's the biggest draw in basketball and fans come to see him STILL. Drafting Bronny is nothing in the big picture of things. I guarantee you the biggest Lakers fan couldn't name their last 5 second round picks. Its only a problem now because it's Bronny and LeBron.
97 million over 2 years is a discount compared to what he is worth to a team in terms or revenue. Name alone makes him worthy of money. Him simply still being must see baskeball is the bottom line. Do I expect them to win a title with him again? No I don't but the Bronny pick will have nothing to do with that either way.
Holla
I think the players are much more SKILLED than the Bird, Magic, and Jordan era was. I don't think they are mentally as tough and probably are physically as tough either. That said to ignore their skill level would be an error. These guys today can do things that was extremely rare if not impossible 35 years ago. It's just the truth.
Holla
I would agree that there is a lot more better outside shooters than during that era.. Skill set maybe quicker, but Pete Maravich in his prime still a better ball handler and passer as good as anyone playing today..
Do yourself a favor and turn on a game from like 1995 and watch how unskilled some of these guys where. Especially the big guys. Centers were generally guys who camped out in the lane and couldn't dribble or shoot beyond 10-15 feet. The PF....even worse. Guys like Davis' and Indiana and Oakley for Bulls and Knicks couldn't even play in today's game. Point guards were more playmaker smaller and couldn't shoot near as good as they can today. Very rare that guys could get their own shots.
Yes rules have changed but if you can't see the difference in these bigger ,taller, better shooting guys able to take their man off the dribble and create their own shots vs what the guys in that era could do I'm not sure what to tell you.
Holla
My point is you mentioned Pete Maravich...while I agree he's one person. The difference today is that there is a multitude of guys with those skill sets. Pistol Pete was a unicorn back in that time.
It's like saying Jordan could play in today's game. Of course he could. Offensively he would be just as good and probably better if he could shoot it a little better. But defensively? He would struggle mightily like most guys do. It's alot easier to guard a guy who doesn't have much in his "bag". If I can dribble by you, shoot over you, post you up, shoot the 3 or mid range game how do you stop that?
There are guys in the league who could play in any era. But there is also a group who wouldn't touch the floor in today's game. I mean legit NBA guys from that time too.
Holla
I will not argue that there's a greater number of highly skilled players. BUT the supposed better skills that they show are greatly enhanced when you don't have to worry about establishing a pivot foot. It's much easier when you can take a "Euro step" (formerly called traveling) and reposition your feet just right (shuffle your feet) before shooting a jump shot. And there are a lot of skills that kids are not able to do-- like drop step to either shoulder with their back to the basket, footwork off the ball/using screens, and so on. The NBA media doesn't mention this because few of those guys ever played and coached the game. All they do is look at shooting data and compare the two eras.
The players of the 80's grew up in an era that did not emphasize shooting threes. There was physical resistance when trying to drive to the basket. If a help defender comes in, a foul was not called when they touched you. It's tougher to shoot from the outside when your pivot foot and dominant foot are switched from the way you like it. The players of yesterday couldn't just take an extra hop or two to get their feet just the way they liked it before they launch another boring three point attempt.
A lot of truth in that but also some things that I'll speak on that I don't agree with.
I think it's a given that guys now shoot the ball much better. From all areas of the court so I want even address that even though shooting MAY be the number one skill in the game during any era. That alone makes a huge case for today's players.
Much of the physical resistance when trying to drive the basket came because a lot of times the guys doing the driving could only go one way (strong hand side) or didn't have the skills (that word again) to cross a guy over or just plain maneuver around. I always laughed at people claiming how much more defense was played back then. To which I responded. Just because you foul someone hard when you cant keep them in front of you doesn't mean you are playing better defense. Remember the Jordan rules ? All that was was them fouling the shit out of a guy they couldn't stay in front of (Jordans bag was pretty complete for that time) and not letting him dunk the ball.
Now as far as what they allow guys to get away with in today's game I can't argue with you. It's bad. The walking and multiple pivot changes etc. I get it and I won't even try and dispute it. I just watched a whole lotta ball then and now and I recognize the difference.
Could you imagine trying to guard KD in the 90's? Seriously what do you do? I guess in a nutshell I'm saying with this era of position less ball you see guys 6'7-611 who can put it on the floor, create their own shit, distribute, AND shoot the 3. Imagine guys during that era at THAT SIZE doing it? It was extremely rare.
Everyone back then (for the most part) had a particular skill. The difference today is that all these guys are capable of having all these skills regardless of size. I'm not sure why people refuse to acknowledge it.
I have this argument with friends all the time and we talk about all sports and how football players today are bigger, stronger and faster than 30-40 years ago. Baseball players are bigger ,faster and stronger. Pitch faster, hit farther and are in better shape. All of this regardless of how the game has changed. Yet somehow guys who were around in the late 80's and 90's of basketball will have you believe evolution touched everything but NBA basketball and the guys back then are somehow better. Bigger stronger and faster and more developed. It's comical to me. It hit everything BUT basketball.
Finally LeBron is a polarizing guy and most either love or hate him. But as an example a guy like him is a unicorn even today. But in THAT era? Just imagine a guy bigger, stronger, faster than Karl Malone with Magics skill set, but the ability to jump like a Jordan or Dominique Wilkins. It was like he was made in a lab. I know he's an outlier but there are plenty other examples that show the difference. I just don't understand how people can deny it. Like I said simply put if you haven't done it recently go to YouTube and pull a game from 92-95 and watch it. You would laugh at the level of basketball that's being payed compared to what is being played today. I know because I've done several times recently and I'm over 50 years old so I remember those times vividly.
Sorry for the long post brother.
Holla
I. played Division 1 basketball in the 90s and pro over seas for a year.
I did the moves you see now and they were called violations.
No offense homey but you dont know what you are talking about.
You don't understand basketbal if you think those guys in the past can't do what they do now.
Shaq was the one that stated bull dozing players with out calling offensive foul because no one wanted to pay for a official calling charging calls more time than not..
That changed now so LaCry attacking the basket expects a foul call every damn time.. Yes the game has changed in the last 30 years to favor shooters instead of bull dozing Shaq type players..
That changed now so LaCry attacking the basket expects a foul call every damn time.. Yes the game has changed in the last 30 years to favor shooters instead of bull dozing Shaq type players..
Fair enough we can agree to disagree. If they could do what these guys did now they would've did it THEN. We don't have to speculate at all. It's at a touch of the finger.
Like I said I won't argue with you about your travels and walks and how the rules have somehow changed to allow things that were never allowed then. I'd be foolish to do that it's obvious. But in my opinion one would be just as foolish to argue that the skill level from players 35 years ago is on par with those of today.
Holla
The world is better at basketball now. Arguably, the 3 best players in the NBA are Giannis, Jokic and Doncic….all international. Expecting the US to roll over teams by 40 now is pretty silly….Sudan excluded of course. That was a pretty lazy performance. But Bron and co did get it done when it mattered. This US squad is aged and will have other challenges along the way.
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