QUESTION FOR OLD NBA HEADS!

[tempo]

ok, im just after some advice from the godo people on the board with regarss to the nba in the 70's 80's and 90's. i was just wondering what the differences were between each player during different eras. i.e how was dr j different from the 60's to the 70's? like was he more of an athletic freak in his eraly career but became more of a jump shooter duing the 70's as his athletiscm disappeared.

the following players are

- dr j 60's
- dr j 70's
- joe dumars 80's
- joe dumars 90's
- olajuwan - 80's
- olajuwan - 90's
- shaq 90's
- shaq - 2k+
- malone - 80's
- malone - 90's

[Zoom]

Shaq in the 90s was an athletic type of beast in a way. He was sort of slim and really strong and was a monster. He could dunk at will and that's why Grant Hill compares Dwight Howard to a mini Shaq. Basically Shaq I believe had much more refined offensive skills. He was crazy...

Shaq in the 2000s had maybe two phases. The early 2000s saw Shaq sort of become bulkier although he passed that off as being 'big boned.' Other players couldn't contain because of his size. He didn't dunk nearly as much due to his toe but he was still a consistent scorer.

When he joined Miami, he shed some pounds and has been how he has been recently. He's able to cominate a game perhaps if he felt like it but I don't think he could dominate throughout the season every game. Age has caught up with him.

Anyone can correct me if they want to.

With Malone, I think he improved over time and basically got stronger from season to season. He was consistent throughout his career. I haven't seen any of him from the 80s so I wouldn't be able to know if my statement about him is true.

[Dan's Brain]

Just a minor correction. Dr J would be 70s and 80s not 60s.

[Isaiah]

Shaq in the 2000s had maybe two phases. The early 2000s saw Shaq sort of become bulkier although he passed that off as being 'big boned.' Other players couldn't contain because of his size. He didn't dunk nearly as much due to his toe but he was still a consistent scorer.

He was dominant from 1999-2001. i think the 2001-2002 season he started to have that "lazy" attitude, though he still won the Finals MVP. the following offseason saw his total laziness by having surgery late and coming to training camp overweight....then he struggled to get in shape throughout the season.

[maes]

A lot of these players were among the most consistent in the NBA so they didn't change much.

Dumars was an all around combo guard who was a very physical, very strong defender. That aspect didn't really change from 80s to 90s. He shot a little bit more from range as he got older but still was never a volume 3 point shooter.

The Dream's game was also pretty consistent, he was constantly faking/spinning and scored well from multiple positions with either hand. Very throwback. His last major addition was a turnaround mid-range jumper that was consistent and unguardable since he was 7'.

Malone is considered the most consistent of all the HOF players. The only change in his later years was that he added a mid range jumper.

Shaq IMO changed the most. The Orlando Shaq was very athletic, the most athletic 7' 300 lb player i've ever seen. He would sprint on fast breaks w/ Penny better than most forwards. I recall one All-Star game where Shaq took the rebound coast to coast & finished with a 180 dunk. He didn't really have many go-to moves however, and relied a lot on assists & hustle scoring...perhaps a David Robinson type.

The LA Shaq parked his body in the low post and stayed there. He conserved his energy and could play strong even in the 4th quarter, which was shocking for a guy his size. He was much more consistent offensively, but in a much more boring way.

[sdot_thadon]

Hakeem was more of a raw talent in the 80's, was sort of an athletic power player, had problems staying out of foul trouble though.

In the 90's Dream reached his mental prime: great timing on blocks and steals, could stay in games late and still be a defensive beast. On offense he became in my opinion the most untouchable center ever. He beat power guys with his speed and finess. He beat speed and finess guys with his power, there had never been a player with his combination of speed and power at that point. And his post arsenal was awesome, he could face the basket, he could bang down low. His fadeaway was 2nd only to MJ's in that era.

About Malone, I agree with the previous guys. The same for Shaq(the refs were more friendly to shaq in his prime)

[cyanide]

Malone in the 80's had more hair and a thicker accent than the Malone in the 90's.

[Robby]

Can't say much about Dr. J since I never really saw him play much. As for the others:

Dumars: Early on he mostly played SG and let Isiah do the ball handling but in the mid and late 90s he became more of a PG/SG. His defense was excellent pretty much every year. His shooting and leadership abilities also improved over his career.

Hakeem: Pure athleticism early on with a great footwork and a decent jumpshot. Later on, he became the perfect, and best ever, center and low post player in my opinion (and that of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin). There was nothing he couldn't do. Inside, outside, steals, blocks, assists, rebounds, and anything else he wanted to do. And he did it all with a level of class and humility that the following player couldn't even dream of getting to.

Shaq: Early on, he was unstoppable inside and had incredible athleticism for his size. I always believed his two best seasons were in 95 and 98 but unfortunately he was on young teams that couldn't quite get it done. Later on, he became fatter (his body fat used to be less than 10% early on in Orlando) and the rest of the great NBA centers retired or were injured and he became the best by default and he appeared more dominant than the young Shaq.

Malone: In the 80s, he was exactly like Amare is now (Try to find some old Jazz games if you don't believe me). Athletic, strong, decent shooter for his postion, and ran the floor well. In the mid- and late 90s he became the best PF ever as he could go inside and outside because of improved shooting. He also upped his defense and passing near the end of the decade but couldn't get his ring as he ran into the great player and greatest team of all time in the finals.

[rochefort]

- dr j 60's
- dr j 70's

Although I have never seen a full game, highlights of his seem to suggest he was anathletic swing man, who in his ABA days mixed it up more from both the inside and out. Eg, in his final ABA season in 75/76 he launched 103 3pters, where as in the NBA for Philly he only took over 50 in 1 season and used his athletism more around the basket and getting out on the break.
Check this : http://www.basketballreference.com/play ... =ERVINJU01

- joe dumars 80's
- joe dumars 90's

Developed a more consistent jump shot and became the pistons main 3 point shooter. Early days used high scoop shots over defenders, didn't live off the 3.
Check http://www.basketballreference.com/play ... =DUMARJO01 for break down of how his game changed from 80's to 90's.


- olajuwan - 80's
- olajuwan - 90's

What everyone has said above is right.

- shaq 90's
- shaq - 2k+

Yep 90's a freak, check out some of his college games, would rebound and take it all the way down for a dunk or dish off like a bigger Magic (not as regular though). Still lived off the dunk but was able to spin a lot quicker.


2k - During the title years he was unstoppable down low due to his massive fame, used to bore me watching him knock over Divac (who flopped a lot) and score easy baskets.

- malone - 80's - Ran the floor more,
- malone - 90's - Developed a nice outside game to go along with his inside layups(didnt get off the floor much from 94 onwards). Often settled for jump shots and broke more jaws with his swinging elbows.