This is another thing that I just do not like in basketball today, all of the contact. You have to be a muscle bound thug to even have a chance in todays game. I'm not an athelete by any means but I did play a little basketbal in grade school and jr. high, and was good friends with several of our high school team members. That was back in the 60's and early 70's when basketball players were thin and lanky for the most part. I seem to remember getting called for fouls if you barely touched the guy you were gaurding.

The 80s and 90s were waayyyyy more physical than today's game.

The 80s and 90s were waayyyyy more physical than today's game.

Oh God...those series against the Pistons, the Knicks...oh no...

The 80s and 90s were waayyyyy more physical than today's game.

Well, you need to qualify that.

The early and mid-eighties...the game was not especially physical. It wasn't until the late 80's and the rise of the Pistons' "Bad Boy" teams and "The Jordan Rules" that things really started getting physical. The rest of the League saw the success the Pistons were having in defeating teams like the Celtics, Bulls and Lakers and the rush for defense was on.

 

This culminated in 04' and 05' with titles won by the Pistons and Spurs with stifling defense. Ever since then, the League started making rules adjustments in an attempt to encourage more scoring.

 

So as you said, yes, the game was far more physical in the 80's and 90's, even as recently as 5 years ago. But not until the late 80's. In the days of the Showtime LA Lakers and the excellent Celtics teams, the game was definitely played with more pace and less defense.

The 80s and 90s were waayyyyy more physical than today's game.

 

No doubt. Michael Jordan would average 50 points against these rules.

Well, you need to qualify that.

The early and mid-eighties...the game was not especially physical. It wasn't until the late 80's and the rise of the Pistons' "Bad Boy" teams and "The Jordan Rules" that things really started getting physical. The rest of the League saw the success the Pistons were having in defeating teams like the Celtics, Bulls and Lakers and the rush for defense was on.

 

This culminated in 04' and 05' with titles won by the Pistons and Spurs with stifling defense. Ever since then, the League started making rules adjustments in an attempt to encourage more scoring.

 

So as you said, yes, the game was far more physical in the 80's and 90's, even as recently as 5 years ago. But not until the late 80's. In the days of the Showtime LA Lakers and the excellent Celtics teams, the game was definitely played with more pace and less defense.

I meant from the Pistons days onward. There's some Youtube videos out there where Jordan used to just get mugged, it was part of the game back then. Nowadays the entire style of defense is just different.

No doubt. Michael Jordan would average 50 points against these rules.

Considering he averaged something like 37 points one year when they still allowed hand checking I'd say 40 ppg is within the realm of possibility.

I meant from the Pistons days onward. There's some Youtube videos out there where Jordan used to just get mugged, it was part of the game back then. Nowadays the entire style of defense is just different.

The Jordan Rules...poor Michael...

 

They've changed the rules to encourage more scoring...you try and play defense like that, and your entire team will foul out and get fined and ejected for flagrant 2's.

Considering he averaged something like 37 points one year when they still allowed hand checking I'd say 40 ppg is within the realm of possibility.

That was 87'-88' I think. Insane year he had.