2020-2021 NBA Regular Season thread

It has always been my opinion that the greats of one era would do just fine in any other era, in fact they'd still be great. Shooting at Curry's level would of course have been an enormous asset at any time in the sport's history. But his stats would've suffered a little because there was no three-point shot if he played back in Wilt's day. Likewise, I don't see many of today's big men holding Wilt down too much. His team would probably be an offensive contrarian, taking fewer threes to get the ball into the Dipper's hands. His amazing rebound totals would likely be somewhat lower because there are so many fewer shots taken today than back in the '60s. But he'd be an All-Pro.

 

Reggie Miller would be exactly what he was in his prime: An elite shooter who did exactly nothing else. He couldn't take you off the dribble. He wasn't a particularly good defender. He didn't pass. He didn't rebound.

If anything he would be less valuable now.

 

better/worse/same compared to joe harris?

 

I'm no NBA expert, but I think the shooter used to be seen as a niche specialist and now is seen as a star. Rarely was someone drafted high because he shot well from the outside. The 3 pointer changed a lot. I wonder what Dell Curry would have been in today's NBA.

 

That's tricky, because Joe Harris is in an incredibly perfect situation for a shooter. He's always going to be open in that lineup.

But I think he's a much closer comp than Klay Thompson, who is vastly better than Miller.

 

Klay Thompson is my favorite player, and I'm not even a Warriors fan. A complete player and the perfect teammate. I would also enjoy getting blazed with him.

 

Reggie was so good at getting his shot off quickly and getting fouled if there was contact. The current rules would make it very hard to defend him closely.

 

I appreciate all these comments but what's perverse is that the players are torn down and penalized for the rules that are in place at their time, they have no control over that. Its analogous to criticizing players for their performances based on the opponents, they have no control over who they play and when. I say just appreciate them for the excellence they exhibit when they can.

Yeah I'm a Warrior fan but look at Curry now, he's not the same "slight of build" shooter who had a hard time finishing around the rim and could get bumped off his path pretty easily when he started (I went to his final collegiate game, NIT game against Patty Mills at St. Mary's and his feet looked big for him). He's a 6'4" muscular guy who has amazing stamina and who plays through contact now. Put him in the 80's and 90's he probably gets the "superstar" whistle and gets more FTs.

Wilt was just unbelievable; I only saw him at the end ('72 championship) and he was still a powerful smart anchor and presence in the middle. Shaq can say he was as great but IMHO I say no way because Shaq never showed the drive to dominate like Wilt. (IMHO the greatest, most dominant player every was Kareem.)

 

The late, great Bill Halls said in Bob Lanier’s rookie season, he tried to muscle Wilt out of his post up position
Wilt calmly turned around, picked up the 6-11, 265 Lanier and set him down outside the lane before regaining his position and scoring

 

Wilt could bench press 500lbs. That's almost two Bob Lanier.

 

Really bummed for Nuggets that Murray's out with a torn ACL. They were ascending at just the right time with Gordon. That's why injuries stink. There's no guarantee they ever get this good again.