| | | What's wrong with the NBA today isn't Allen Iverson, and it isn't the players' lack of respect for the game.
|  | | When players such as Shaquille O'Neal, left, and Kobe Bryant share the ball, the NBA game is a thing of beauty. |
There are those who don't respect basketball, but there aren't many, and Iverson certainly isn't one of them. He has turned his game around, works hard to win and recognizes that team play is vitally important.
No, my criticism of the game is aimed at the defensive rules that bring about constant isolation, two-man plays and perimeter shooting. I realize the restrictions are meant to guard against straight zone defense being played, but the rules now induce a game that is less pleasing than a five-man game with good ball and player movement.
Five players moving in unison -- that's the beauty of basketball. A lot of good team play is created and heavy demands are made on the defense. When players get to the open court and the ball moves quickly, it allows players to demonstrate their great athleticism and unique skills. That's just thrilling to watch.
For example, in a Lakers game I saw recently, Shaq made a pass to Kobe, who had back-cut to the basket. The ball was delivered at basket level, and Kobe went up and stuffed it down with two hands. It was a spectacular play, because it required excellent execution and fine-tuned timing between the two. The crowd erupted.
In contrast, when three players are isolated on one side of the floor and the ball is with the two players on the other side, I don't find that very interesting. And yes, there are times for isolation, such as when the game is on the line. You want to be sure the ball gets into the hands of your best player, the player who can win it for you. The Bulls did that. At the end of the game, Michael Jordan always had the ball. And I think that's fine.
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Although today's players might lack
fundamentals, I don't think that's a radical
difference from the past. I don't think kids have ever been prepared to play in the NBA,
because there's no way to prepare them. |
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But constant isolation does not allow the game to be played at its best. People get excited about singular dunks, like a Vince Carter throwdown -- Vince is probably the master of the dunk in the NBA today -- but that's not as attractive to me as seeing something that can only take place between two or three or four players. When someone sets a back pick, a player runs his cuts well and someone else makes a pinpoint pass for a score, that's great basketball.
I think we might be able to get back to that, if the defensive rules were relaxed somewhat. Maybe the answer is to limit the restrictions to the three-second rule in the lane, on both offense and defense, unless you're guarding a player there. That might be enough to prevent the zone and still open up the court for more team play.
Defense is definitely where the game has evolved the most in the past 30 years. Today, there's much greater emphasis on defense -- coaches make a science of it. Because the offensive skills of these players are so extraordinary, coaches spend a lot of time devising defensive plans that are going to limit scoring opportunities. These very, very tough defenses, along with the rules restrictions, are why scoring has declined.
And although today's players might lack fundamentals, I don't think that's a radical difference from the past. I don't think kids have ever been prepared to play in the NBA, because there's no way to prepare them. The college and pro games are so different, even more today than 30 years ago. Even then, every young player needed to be coached and drilled extensively before he became a competent NBA player. All along the way, at every training camp, every rookie camp, you'd be appalled at the lack of fundamental skills.
They all needed work, but you could count on one hand the number of players who thought they didn't need coaching. They wanted to be the best they could be, and I think that still goes today. Basketball fans would be stunned to sit in on an NBA practice, to watch the time and the effort the players make, and to see the teaching that takes place.
I watch just about every NBA game. And I think, whether you compare it to college, international or the women's game, the NBA still offers the best basketball being played today.
Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay, who took his team to the playoffs 16 times in 20 NBA seasons and led the Portland Trail Blazers to the NBA title in 1977, works as an NBA analyst for ESPN.
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