https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/09/paul-westphal-is-a-hall-of-famer-boston-celtics-champion-and-no-fan-of-where-the-nba-is-right-now.html

This is an interesting interview in Masslive.com.  Westphal feels that all the teams are running the same offense, with high pick and role, surrounded by 3 point shooters.  There is no longer any inside game. Some of this stuff has been mentioned before, but his take is quite good, and worth a read.

He also distinguishes with Heinsohn's emphasis on running from today's league.

Do you agree with him?

I think the NBA needs to widen the court and extend the 3PT line.

Quote from: Silky on September 06, 2019, 10:50:36 AM

I hate the lack of toughness.
I think that has a bigger effect than the increase in 3pt shooting.

What ever happened to muscling players.

Now you only have 2 or 3 guys who are allowed to do it, and they do it dirty.
Just like 2 or 3 guys are allowed to travel all game long.

add to that its easier to launch a 3pter, and if you can make them at 40% that means someone needs to make 2pters at 60% rate to even your production. That has been done far fewer times than someone making over 40% of their 3pt attempts.

   I hear you. There is a lack of toughness. I attribute that specific aspect ( mostly) to the only increased range and skill of the 3 but and the way it is reffed. Not being able to hand check makes a totally different game but it’s actually one time I support. To me hand checking in a pickup game or league game was always a cheap tactic. Not dirty or anything but I looked at it as an admission that you need to use your hands because you can’t move your feet fast enough. It was part of the game but I think if people are being honest it’s almost impossible to referee. How in the world can you judge how much pressure is being put on a guy’s hip as he’s edging by his defender? There will always be complaining about refs but I feel like it’s much less than in the 90’s.
   The other thing is since “the malice in the palace” they’re so afraid these guys will sneeze on someone. Meanwhile players in baseball are praised for leaving the dugout defending their teammates after some coward threw a 90 plus mph fastball at a guy because he admired his previous home run. This totally disgusts me when a pitcher also doesn’t have to bat himself. It’s so dangerous. Hockey players repeatedly throw punches to the face and they let them do it.  But they neuter nba players and don’t even let them talk trash. Every single player worth anything on the court grew up having to deal with trash talk. It’s weird that the best players on the planet now can’t do it or play against it. It’s outlawed in the nba but nba tv still shows highlights of the stuff and has former players talking about it all over the channel with find memories and fun stories.