I don’t think I have a memory without the game of basketball, in some way, shape or form. It’s almost like my father injected Spalding into my veins at birth, and I’ve been addicted ever since. Pops was not only an avid player himself, but a coach in various leagues, including the collegiate level.
See, he’s die hard old school, and I love him for that. I believe that the 80s and 90s was the golden Era of basketball. I believe the 70s ushered in the golden Era and 00s gracefully led it away.
So what does that say about the 10s and the current state of the game? And how does the current state of basketball stack up against the legends of yesterday? And what direction will the young stars of today, shift the game for tomorrow?
Pros and Cons
Old School
Like most eras, the Golden Era of 80s/90s was able to build from its predecessors. You had the best of the best at that time all playing together. The major positive from that Era was defense.
Defense, defense, defense! Physical defense at that. So much so, playoff games often resembled UFC Pay Per View bouts. Not only that, but arguably 5 of the top 10 greatest players of all time played during that time. MJ, Magic, Bird, Shaq, and Kareem. With a host of other legendary players, too many to name.
The Golden Era seemed to just play the game the right way. They played unselfishly, they hustled, they played fantastic defense, the level of basketball IQ was high, the games were exciting to watch. Teams were built organically through the organization’s front office. The big man reigned supreme in the post, the mid range game was maximized, there were distinct positions and roles, the game was just pure.
The Dream Team took the game global and Michael Jordan’s endorsement of the weight room made physical training viral in the basketball world. These two phenomena would forever reshape the game as we know it today.
With all of these fantastic things happening in basketball, how could you improve it? What holes could possibly be left to fill?
For starters, player’s skill sets were most often limited by their positions. Which trickled down to the lower levels like high school. (More on that in another article.) This affects the versatility and growth of the game.
Also, I’m a huge fan of the physicality of the Golden Era. However, the fights should never have been apart of the game. And sometimes flagrant fouls were a tad bit overboard. This can result in unnecessary injuries and squabbles among players.
Which ushers in the New Age, Euro Style of play.
New School
Believe it or not, this New School style of play didn’t begin it’s integration in just the last 5 years or so. New School basketball got its grass roots when the Dream Team took center stage 25 years ago.
We all know, now, that the NBA is mirroring the European style of play. Bigs bringing the ball up the floor and shooting three point shots, 5 out offensive sets, high pick and rolls and pick and pops. The old school, inside-out game is dying down. And while the mid range game is not phased out, it’s utilized less, as our youth fall in love with the deep range trey ball.
I love New School basketball (to the disdain of Pops), because it teaches all players, to be ball players. You can’t quite sneak by as only a specialist as much as you could in the old school. Not to say, that specialist are gone, far from it. But the New School encourages a well rounded game.
Player development has changed with the mass infusion of European players and schemes and offensive sets. It’s an exciting time for the game of basketball because the preparation is so advanced in terms of schematics, skills training, and knowledge on how the weight room translates to the game that we love.
Just like every new tech device tho, there are bugs to be worked out, and I’m not buying until the upgrades come out. See, everything is cyclical. This Era is in its infant stages. Much like the Golden Era in the 70s. It’s a new brand of basketball. I expect the 20s/30s to be much like the 80s/90s.
While the New School has made phenomenal leaps and bounds in basic skills and physical abilities through training, it’s neglected some very vital aspects of the game.
Namely, DEFENSE. This can be credited to amazing ball handling, fantastic improvements in schematics, partly due to rule changes, and widely to the cultural change in the sport. Defense simply isn’t encouraged at most levels.
The focus has shifted from defensive prowess, to 6 million ways to create a shot.
Also, while schematics have improved, and we now have a plethora of European playbooks, good old fashion basketball IQ seems to be a thing of the past for most.
The emphasis on setting 16 screens to get a wide open shot is great, but our youth seem to be willing to sacrifice opportunity for robotics.
So are we creating cookie cutter play runners or highly skilled ball players.
The competitive edge and know how seem to be at a lack in this Era.
So what can we take away from all of this information?
Youth School
Like, I said earlier, I think this Era is in its early stages. And I believe the best is yet to come.
People are resistant to change, so people like Pops will be hard pressed to be receptive to the New School. But life is cyclical, there’s nothing new under the sun. What goes around, comes around.
Growth can be painful, but it begins with the youth and what we teach them. Yes, it’s important for our youth to carry the torch in a way that respects the past, but also paves a way of progression for the future.
I believe that players should continue to develop a well rounded, all around game. But you can’t abandon one thing completely for another. The Spurs have shown that you can mesh old school and new school, and that’s the most progressive style of play.
The Spurs play phenomenal defense, they utilize New School assets to spread the floor and create, without neglecting the inside out game. The schematics work seamlessly, allowing the players capitalize on openings and develop a higher understanding of the game.
It’s truly beautiful for a fan and historian of the game to watch.
I believe that the Spurs are the model for the future. And the principles they impart, is what we should teach the youth.
Those principles are basketball iq, advanced fundamentals for a well rounded skill set, defensive prowess, unrestrictive schematics, emphasis of the mid range, proper floor spacing, and an overall love for the game.
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3T Sports Performance 