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The NBA is going through a richly talented golden generation is a fact. But is it in close comparison with the level of the greatness that was assembled in the 80s and the 90s, is up for eternal debate. Foreseeably, the NBA has changed massively with the advent of technology and social media.
Talent wise, the NBA has been overachieving for a while now. Players have been revolutionizing the gameplay with the three-point shot.
The points per game stat have been on such an elite level that even for someone who has scored twenty points per game is not assured of an All-Star roster spot.
Not just players, even the coaches are analyzing plays and setting up incredible defensive as well as attacking sequences with the kind of technology at their disposal.
However, there are still some factors which are affecting the overall quality of the game. Aspects which make people claim confidently that NBA of the past tougher and better. We are here today to list and talk about those aspects!
#1 Over glorifying statistics
The primary flaw in the NBA right now is the over usage of analytics and stats. It can't be overstated how stats and the analytics cannot always delineate the impact of a certain player on a game.
The main problem with these stats is that there is no real time stat that can decipher the defensive display any player has put on the court.
For starters, you will never know that even though a player had a bad statistical game, he guarded the superstar on the other end for the entire night and absolutely shut him down, by just a statistic.
Similarly, stats just cannot measure the value of a vocal leader who inspired a major comeback with that one block or one dunk with a magnificent emotional eruption. Draymond Green has been creating a niche and a case for players with fewer numbers and more impact who can still be considered for greatness.
Another great example is romanticizing the triple-double. It leads to players trying to stat pad, and which is a prime case of the degradation of the legacy and the fabled history of the NBA. Not to take away any importance from stats and analytics, they should not be used as the only means to judge a player.
After all how any player plays and approaches the game, both emotionally and intellectually is what makes him unique as an NBA player.
#2 Refereeing blunders
Refereeing errors at crucial championship junctures should be unacceptable at this date and age.
The obnoxious rule of checking the replay in case of conflict of opinions only during the last two minutes of the last quarter is something that continues to baffle me.
When the world of sports has adjusted and accommodated video reviews to minimize the manual errors, it is high time that the NBA brings such a process to be available throughout the game as well.
A game full of missed calls, undeserving no calls and wrong out of bound calls have almost made some plays and some games dependent on luck. Something that the NBA can learn from the FIFA in this regard.
An overhaul of the entire refereeing system needs to be in place. Even if it is something on the lines of a permanent television referee giving calls on each and every play which could be used in a case of conflict, throughout the forty-eight minutes, not just during the fag end of fourth quarters.
It would save time, take human errors out of the equation and keep the stoppage short.
#3 Flopping
Ah! Here comes the root of a lot of problems. Flopping is something that has just sneaked into this generation of sport-persons.
My basic premise about flopping is that it unruly, unsportsmanlike conduct and it has no place in this popular association.
But again, it just becomes a vicious cycle of referees not noticing the fouls, hence players having to sell the fouls happening on them to get them called.
The more they try to sell, the more they start flopping, and this never stops. A perfect instance of this is how any player nowadays tries to dramatically look for even a slight hint of contact after shooting the ball to fall theatrically and get a free shot.
This practice has to be curbed if the NBA doesn't want to ruin its legacy and culture. It's a two-way street.
Starting from referees to the NBA commissioner and to the players, everyone has to do their part to keep this game fair and competitive at the same time.
#4 Careless application of technicals
There are just too many technicals flaring out of the referees in today's game. The most famous is Joey Crawford's technical on Tim Duncan for laughing on the bench.
I strongly feel that referees having this kind of power is very unhealthy to the nature of the game. Another case when referee Kourtney Kirkland had to be removed from the official rotation this season after he bumped heads with Shaun Livingston on another extremely controversial technical call just substantiates this point.
The refereeing system needs to take a leaf out of the book of FIFA referees and be more tolerant.
Yet another incident when Russel Westbrook was teed up for accidentally throwing the ball in the referee's direction which resulted in hitting him, even though Westbrook profusely apologized and explained the situation to the referee.
Dishing out technicals for ever so slightly "showing up" to the referee, or even at a minute exchange of words or an altercation is literally taking the toughness out of the sport.
It almost feels like the referees are looking for actions that they take offence with instead of trying to understand the emotional matchups and letting the game flow in its own pace.
There have to be certain limitations to the freedom that a referee enjoys. A system of checks and balances has to be present, which is why referees and technicals are of paramount importance, but it is when they take advantage or get complacent about the level of powers that they possess, that it when a situation arises like there is today.
A time where fans and players alike disrespect referees more than any individual players or associations, that is a sad moment in the illustrious history of the NBA indeed.
Now, public opinion would have been expecting that one point that looms large in today's NBA, Super-teams. I am here to clarify that super-teams don't hurt the NBA in the slightest. Super-teams have always existed in the NBA, they just weren't called out like they are nowadays.
In fact, when there is a dynastic team leading the NBA, that has always led to greatness, the number of records breaking, stepping up of competition and legendary players in the making.
Such teams are the reason why there hasn't been a dip in the quality and competitive nature of the NBA even after so many years pos the Jordan-era. They are here to stay and super-teams will be relevant even after fifty years from now.
This was our take on various aspects that are degrading the level of the NBA and one aspect which is actually not. Do let us know if you agree or disagree with any points in the comments!
Guess the Lakers players!
