Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

NBA Hall of Fame player Bob Pettit was as tough as they come. Not only could he score but he demanded respect in the lane and a blast from his cast could make you a believer - (The Sporting News Archives - photo)

NBA Hall of Fame player Bob Cousy was doing behind the back passes IN THE NBA before many of the GRANDFATHERS of some of today's players WERE BORN! - (Sport Magazine Archives - photo)

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain exemplified how to play the game without Showtime hot-dogging. The two battled for over a decade during the 60's. Since that time no NBA center could compare to their brute talent - (Library of Congress photo) NR's All-time NBA's GREATEST TEAM

SPORTS NOTES - NBA'S SISSY BALL ERA IS BORING

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

You can say what you want about the style of game that's played in the NBA today but the question is have you ever seen the game played seriously. Today's NBA players talk too much about going out there and having fun. Back in the day having too much fun and not being serious about playing the game could win you a place on the bench and a good chewing out from the coach. Today's game is too much about entertainment and NOT ABOUT playing the game of basketball as it was created - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS TEAM

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GAME OF BASKETBALL?

Well now that the NBA has shown us the best it has to offer in their so called All Star Game after viewing it leaves a bad taste in our mouths. WHY? Well first of all stretch your brain on these trivia questions.

SAY WHAT? NBA TRIVIA QUESTIONS

For sure the best pick in the 2009 NBA Draft was Stephen Curry at # 7

Q 1. Who was the overall first choice by what team?

Q 2. Who are the players in the 1st round that remain in the league and are major contributors to their teams?

MORE SISSY BALL

The five basic journalism rules apply here asking the who, what, where, when and why. Why has the league abused the game of basketball and currently apply the new edition of a fashion show, freak show, hair style show and circus show. Apparently the focus is on entertainment and those responsible never played the game on a serious level and their age factor has a lot to do with it.

Excuse me but I have had the privilege of seeing the game grow and watch players that today's fans aren't familiar with which leads to what fans expect from what was a serious game. What has happened is currently in a regular game the All Star Game's 3 point and dunking contests have become embedded in a regular game. Now many of those that cover the game in the electronic media do more cheering that reporting, again age is a factor here.

When I saw a promo of the league showing Zach Levine doing a 360 slam dunk I almost puked. Back in the day when coaches were the boss if someone did that he would have been invited to the bench for a rest and a talking to. The conversation would certainly point out about being serious and treating the game with respect.

Now all the game seems to be like a choose up schoolyard game in the hood. Now the players have more time to whine and cry about referee's decisions than focusing on playing the game. Now the inmates are running the asylum and the coaches are baby sitters or counselor.

Back in the day the lane was sacred. To venture inside one had to be brave or tough and very talented. Now it's like a bullfighter waving their capes to invite the bulls to come in and go by. The way the lane is open today is basically bullshit. This style of play is sacrilege to the game as it was intended.

The NBA has video interviews of some of it's former players such as Bob Cousy, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Michael Jordan, the Detroit Piston Bad Boy two title winning teams and even up to the last of the serious basketball game to sissy ball is a ESPN video feature on Reggie Miller's battles with the New York Knicks.

Again I almost puked when I heard Brooklyn Nets analyst praise a behind the back pass of Kyrie Irving. Ohhh Pleaseeeee! Cousy was doing it the from the late 40's through the middle of the 60's. He was the exception because he did it to make the team more fluid and he had the players that could read each others moves and coach. GM Red Auerbauch made sure of that by selecting players that could play together. Back in the day a behind the back pass was considered HOT DOGGING. Today it's entertainment, which had NOTHING TO DO WITH BASKETBALL.

One of my biggest peeves is when did they start permitting a players to take two steps? It's so confounding that the league has produced a video of the rule of what is a travel and what isn't. Apparently this question must have come up numerous times or there would be no need for and explanation.

I recall playing a pick up game in Asia when this guy was shooting the lights out of the basket. He claimed that he played for Toronto University and once scored 63 points in a game. It was easy to see why since all he did was play like they do today dribble up the court and take threes while his teammates watched or he drove to the basket taking two steps. He took steps every time. I then asked other players in the game DID THEY CHANGE THE RULE? THE ANSWER WAS NO BUT now the NBA is permitting two steps. When did that start?

Current players now waltz down the lane singing MC Hammers 'You Cant' Touch This,' while they stroll to the basket. I want to jump through the TV set and beat the shit out of those players. What PUSSY'S.

Hall of Fame player Bob Pettit revealed on an NBA TV video that he wore a cast for two years and slipped it on before a game and off after. It was a signal to opponents that he owned the lane and don't come inside without and invitation which was never given.

I recall Pettit slugging former Philadelphia Warriors center Neil Johnston right across the nose AT HALF COURT. The noise was so loud I could hear while sitting on the first row second level behind the basket. I don't know if Pettit was wearing the cast that day but it's a good question to ask him.

This Showtime bullshit began during the Magic Johnson LA Lakers five title wins 80's era. That was the point when the Magic first uttered that phrase. The difference is those Lakers teams were special the second best overall in league history second only to the super teams on the Boston Celtics during the Bill Russell era from 1956-57 to 1968-69. Johnston is the all time greatest in running a team, those Lakers teams were as smooth as silk.

This is the end of part one. The next step is to see what kind of reaction if any from the league about being criticized for ruining the game of basketball for the sake of entertainment. This has tweaked my beak for some time and after the All-Star Game it's TIME TO PURGE.

TO BE CONTINUED

***

TRIVIA ANSWERS:

1st Round: Q 1. Blake Griffin by the LA Clippers

Q 2. James Harden # 3, Ricky Rubio # 5, DeMar DeRozen # 9, Jrue Holiday # 17, Jeff Teague # 19, Taj Gibson # 26 and Wayne Ellington # 28

2nd Round: Patrick Beverly # 42, Danny Green # 46 and Patty Mills # 55

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

February 16, 1967 Rick Barry of the San Francisco Warriors scored 52 points against Chicago at Fresno for his second consecutive 50-point game.

February 16, 1972 Wilt Chamberlain of the Los Angeles Lakers became the first player in NBA history to reach the 30,000 point mark for his career during a 110-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Chamberlain also passed Bill Russell during the 1971-72 season to become the NBA’s all-time leading rebounder.

February 16, 1992 The Los Angeles Lakers officially retired Magic Johnson’s #32 jersey at halftime of the Celtics-Lakers game at the Great Western Forum. Johnson became the fifth Lakers player to have his jersey retired, joining Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

February 16, 1994 By handing out 12 assists in Utah’s 103-99 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers, John Stockton became the third guard in NBA history (joining Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson) to reach the 9,000 career assist plateau.

February 16, 1996 Vancouver dropped a 110-100 decision to Atlanta in the first of an NBA record 23 consecutive games lost by the Grizzlies.

February 16, 1999 Gary Gerould, the voice of the Sacramento Kings, announced his 1,000th broadcast during the Kings 101-98 win over the Boston Celtics.

February 16, 2001 Philadelphia 76ers’ head coach Larry Brown notched his 1,000th professional basketball coaching victory when the 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 108-93. Brown had 771 coaching wins in the NBA and 229 in the American Basketball Association.