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[QUOTE="jncuse, post: 4992112, member: 1969"]
On the discussion if the NBA has bad defence (from a few prior pages) based on offensive efficiency.

A few main points:
1) Is basketball better now than the past?  That is in the eye of the beholder -- basketball has certainly changed its aesthetics the last 10 years as there is much more skill in certain areas.  I think I liked basketball more when there was less 3's and it was less spread out,,, but at the same time we are reaching an equilibrium point where highly skilled players can really show off their game inside the line because defences can only do so much.   Think guys like SGA, Luka - they can get good shots at will with their skill set and a spread floor.
 
2) No the defense is absolutely not worse today.

Playing defence is  much harder in 2024 as compared to 1984, 1994, 2004, 2014. or even 2014.
a) The floor is so spread out now, that there are bigs that can get plenty of rebounds and block shots, that are unplayable for defensive reasons.   Mismatches are much easier to hunt in a spread out floor.
b) Transition defence is so much harder than in the past.    Watch a game from 20 years ago, fast break defence was largely about hustle back to the basket -- now watch what defenders need to do in transition... they have to cover corners and the 3 point line.   It's so much harder.

The game is also tougher on your body now than in the 80's - at least in terms of longer term injuries.     Yes in the 80's you were much more prone to get low impact injuries --  bruises, some sore ribs, a chipped tooth, a cut lip.

But now since so much defence is play in high speed screening actions at the top of the key, high speed collisions happen more and more.  And those are much tougher on the body, than a chop to your side or to your lips.
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