Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="HtownOrange, post: 3235525, member: 622"] Just another opinion on the matter: The change is a compilation of many factors. Most have been discussed, so this is not original. Just read the bold for the short version. 1) [B]Kids do not learn fundamentals at the lower levels[/B] - Kids used to know their positions very well and would play a second or third position. Kids who were short and then growth spurts would have learned how to dribble, drive and pass and made them very good big men. This is the school's fault in the younger years. Just because a kid is big is no excuse not to teach him to dribble, pass and shoot. Fundamentals are always important. Teach fundamentals at all levels. (I guess that makes me a "fundamentalist" but so be it. I love to watch games where big guys can dribble and shoot from anywhere as much as the power inside game, elite passing and drives). 2) The idea of a [B]dominating center/power forward combo seems to be less prevalent today[/B]. Sure, you can find exceptions, but from 1980-2010 centers and power forwards were a big part of the game. This possibly duie to the three point shot coming to fruition. 3) [B]The three point shot develaued the inside game.[/B] I am old enough to have played before the three point shot was a thing in college. Because all shots from the field were worth the same, the inside game with a dominating center and power forward game was very important, not just for rebounding and clean up shots (out-backs). Ironically, the three-pointer was added to "increase" scoring, as was the shot clock. Obviously, nobody was watching the running, transition teams who were scoring similar to what the high scoring teams are scoring today. 4) [B]Officiating stinks.[/B] Sorry, but people should go back to the days when your hand had to be on the "northern hemisphere" of the ball. No placing the hand below the ball, no scooping the ball and flipping the hand over (carry) dribbling. Let's be honest, the refs are not fully to blame, the rules committees, teams, NBA, etc. all want their "stars" to not get called for their laziness so the rules are changed or not enforced. Imagine today's players under the 1980's refs - few would last long without adapting. Also, travelling was an issue, now, it's as if nobody cares. 5) [B]Player size has increased.[/B] The average height of teams has increased and that means hand size has increased. The ball size has been constant. Larger hands make it easier to wrap around the ball, see #4. The rim remains at 10 feet. The court dimensions remain the same. Make the court bigger, raise the rim and you may see more of the old style of game come back. 6) [B]The shot clock was used for force the tempo of the game.[/B] Defense has been devalued and is not as disciplined. Short teams (Princeton anyone?) had a chance to play very disciplined offense, wearing down a defense and get a good shot, even when they averaged 6"-8" less in height. To beat Princeton, a defense had to stay very disciplined, Princeton players were very well coached and disciplined, fundamentals were used to beat top teams. 7) [B]The NBA taking the gamble on high schoolers. [/B] Few high schoolers are physically ready for the NBA. Most kids are not even close for the NBA mentally. Still, the lure of the big money, especially for kids who are marginally college material (academics), is very strong. The NBA can afford to gamble because they make money hand over fist. 8) [B]The acceptance of kids who are not college material and one-and-dones.[/B] Yes, Carmello Anthony was a one-and-done, so SU is not innocent in this matter. However, kids who are not academically qualified for college should have the ability to go to the NBA directly (as should those who are academically qualified but wish to bypass college) in a minor league capacity. Those kids who want an education and qualify will be more apt to stay 3-4 years and improve their opportunity to get drafted based on their game improvement. I think that the NBA taking kids straight from HS will not hurt the NCAA game as much as many people believe. Fans of schools will still have fans of the schools. The schools will not get eth one-and-dones and will have players for four years, developing them players the same way the used to develop players. It may improve the game a little. Also, the NBA took players from HS for a while and it didn't hurt the NCAA game. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?