NBA Style of Play

[Coolbreeze44]

I've been watching a lot of the early season action on League Pass. My overall impression is this bombardment of 3 point attempts is really boring to watch. I can handle it when my own team is doing it, but when you don't have skin in a particular game you realize how unappealing the product can be. I think I'll find some old video of Pete Carril's Princeton teams, or Bobby Knights Indiana teams to remember how good the game can be.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Your sentiment has been what I've been screaming for years. This "pace and space" era is garbage. A tremendous amount of skill in the game has been ignored because it does not fit with the modernization of the game and that's an absolute travesty. Guys are taking quick threes early in the shot clock over working an actual offensive possession. Teams are insisting that their players take threes in transition instead of attacking the rim. I can't tell you how many times I've seen three-on-one fastbreaks end in a three-pointer being clanked off the rim instead of guys filling their lanes and scoring easy layups. It's maddening to watch for those that love the game and what the game should be.

[Coolbreeze44]

The beauty of screening away from the ball while the screen is set up properly by the cutter, and then a pass arriving on time while the receiver positions his feet to be able to elevate as he catches the ball. Reggie Miller, where are you today?!

[Lipoli390]

I agree with both of you!

[Monster]

The game is evolving. The game that was played X amount of years ago was ugly too in many ways. That's what made watching guys like Stockton and Malone so beautiful to watch. I only used that one because it's pretty hard to argue with. :) I think what makes the "pace and space" thing annoying is when it's put forth in some sort of narrative that it's the ONLY way to play. That's not true either.

Anyway when a game evolves there is some ugliness to it. I also think the way the game has evolved does and will open up more skill to be shown by various players as time goes on. I don't always love the jack up the 3's thing either BUT it also makes a ton of sense to some extent for a few reasons. I'll be honest though if this was in my younger days and you gave me a wide open midrange FT line jumper I'd take that all day and laugh when I made over 50% of them. :) There will always be room for elements of basketball that work. James Harden can be annoying to watch but he is also a Really good passer.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think the good part about the game is that it really emphasizes running, dribbling, shooting, and passing and therefore all shapes and sizes can become impact players. For a while there in the 90s and first part of the 2000s, things got too bogged down and physical.

Having said that, the analytics movement has warped the game a bit to where things like post-ups, mid-range turnarounds, floaters, and pull-up jumpers - all very skillful moves - are largely eschewed. Now it's all about either getting all the way to the basket or taking 3s.

I think it falls on the NBA and the rules folks to sort this out by lengthening the 3-point line, including eliminating the corner 3, and allow less physical play in the paint ( currently you can't touch a penetrating guard, but you can get away with a ton of pushing, grabbing, and shoving against post-ups). This won't make long 2's any more desireable than they are now, but it will bring back the mid-range game and post skills.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I'm torn on this one. With my hoops buddies, I joke that I'm the godfather of the analytics movement... At our weekly game, we played "2s" and "1s"... so I basically refused to shoot anything other than a layup or three pointer for many years. The math made sense.

As for the NBA... as noted, it's always evolving. I HATED the late 90s and early 2000s style when a lug like Anthony Mason could play "PG" while facing the other hoop for 22 seconds of the possession. I've mentioned previously that Steve Nash brought me back to the NBA (even though I hadn't stopped watching it or anything).

Traditionally, when the NBA leans in too deep in any one direction, it self-corrects. We're bubbling near that level now with the three point shot. I don't think the NBA needs to change the court to curb its appeal. Simply make other efforts offensive more appealing. Reward skilled post players by not allowing them to be pummeled while posting up. With more advantageous post play, spacing gets even better between the three point arc and the hoop... opening up the mid-range... maybe? If nothing else, it keeps teams honest and makes it a more honestly called game.

Right now the deck is stacked against post ups... so why bother...




[Note: Space on a basketball court is NEVER bad. The game should be fun, fast-moving and reward creativity. You get that with a court that's wide open and skilled players.]

[TAFKASP]

As a casual fan not immersed in the X's and O's of the game I like the faster pace as it's more entertaining.

[thedoper]

I think the regular season has gotten worse but the playoffs has gotten better. The pace and space style really is exaggerated when teams don't play hard defense. This last playoff run was the most engaging I remember in a while. I think there are still real problems in the regular season, but I was so glad last year that they stopped calling those ridiculous shooting fouls on three pointers in the playoffs. Last year, a team with an excellent mid-range jump shooter and defender won the title, so I think this year kind of shows a variety of approaches to try and get it done. Philly has gone crazy big in their attempt to zag, the Clippers are all wings. It will be interesting to see the next fad. The real problem with the product in the regular season is that bad teams are shooting more 3s. Which is ugly.

[Leado01]

I agree that pace and space is boring compared to the more balanced style displayed pre Golden State.

I also believe that officials and unspoken NBA policies have contributed to encourage this style of play by rendering players like Harden and to a lesser extent Curry impossible to guard from the front at the three point line.

That being said, I think that we may have witnessed the beginning of the end of space and pace during last years finals. Toronto chose to defend the line from the side, eliminating the referee advantage so many players take advantage of. They really pushed players into those 14-18 foot shots that we are all railing against.