Skip to main content

Have NBA games become a "shooting contest" and "layup line"?

 "Exhibit A" in my argument is the score following ther 2023 NBA All-Star game. A score of 184-175? Who won? Who cares? Even one of the participants (Jaylen Brown) termed the "contest" a "glorified layup line". The game was almost devoid of defense.


But beyond the shooting display of the All-Star contest, the League itself has become a "shooting contest". The 3-point shot reigns supreme. We must never forget that the long ball was an invention of the ABL - and then the ABA - as an exciting gimmick to get fans out of their seats, along with a red, white and blue ball and a slam dunk contest.

Admittedly, the 3-pointer has its place in the NBA game, but it may be time to tone it down a bit. All-but-gone are the "specialists" - players that thrived on rebounding, defense and playmaking. Where are the like of K C Jones, Rajon Rondo, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman - and yes - Bill Russell.

Russell may have averaged 16.2 points per game for his career, but he could not shoot from any distance. Layups, put-backs, lobs and short-distance hook shots were what he did. Even then, he only averaged 43% from the field and 60% from the free throw line. 

I am not entertained by the 3-pointer - except as a means for a team to execute a comeback from a large deficit - or as a last-second "hail Mary" when trailing by two points. By the way, I am not enthralled by the slam dunk contest either, but that is another argument. And the red, white and blue ball? Out of the question!


 

 



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Elm Street Nightmare

 A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.)  Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube   Elm Street  surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He  resided on Elm Street  in Townsend, Massachusetts  2.) He  kidnapped a woman  at gunpoint on  Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was  tried, convicted   and sentenced for the murders at  Superior Court , corner of  Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the town police force. When evil and cleverness reside in the same mind, the st

In defense of Marcus Smart

 Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion