I desperately want to disagree with you, as I know your basketball ideas are fundamentally unsound. Please say something silly. (Perhaps expound on the not noticeably less athletic bit.)
I've seen that game fairly recently too, and, while I totally agree with you on the Dr. J thing, I have to disagree about the fundamentals. _No one_ plays any peremiter defense in that game at all. _No one_ can consistently hit a mid-range or long-range jump shot. _No one_ understands defensive or offensive spacing. They just run up and down the court and either hit or miss driving lay-ups.
However, I must say that Magic is totally awesome in that game! People forget how athletic he was early in his career before he got too big.
Hmm. I thought the jump shooting was generally better. But that might be because people had more time to set up their shots; there seemed to be more wide open shots than one sees today.
The other things--spacing, perimeter D--seem like strategic ways the game has changed, rather than something the players lacked in 1980. But you're surely right about them: I couldn't believe how bad the spacing was for both teams.
And Magic was fantastic. I'm not a fan, but he really was very good, and one can even see how he was likable before his head got too big.
how long till those come back around? I'm talking about the satin ones, with white belts.
I maintain that there is a direct line connecting Jamaal Wilkes, Scottie Pippen, and Gilbert Arenas: it is impossible to imagine a soundtrack to any of their games that isn't a seventies funk standby.
You watch 20+ year old basketball when sick? That explains a lot.
;)
I don't think Jamaal Wilkes had Pippen's D. But man he was smooth.
They still knew how to dribble back then...
On a related matter: I'm still picking the Pistons-Pacers to go seven, and for the Pacers to ultimately pull it out. I reserve the right to claim, tomorrow, that w-lfs-n posted this under my name.
Crap. The above was w-lfs-n. Crap.
Jermaine O'Neal should be shooting them back into the game any minute now.
I feel actual shame. An Unfogged first.