Basketball
So I tivo'ed Game 1 of the NBA finals. I couldn't watch more than a few minutes before i looked at what else was recorded. Instead I watched "NBA's Greatest Games, 1988: Hawks/Celtics, Game 7". I know it's unfair to compare this game with today's games since it is one of the all time greats and they show only certain sections of the game, but indulge me...
One of the things that struck me is that it seemed like the game flowed a lot more fluidly back then. Some shots seem rushed and the pace seemed ragged at time, but as you watch more, it seemed like attacking quickly was quite natural then, instead of *always* trying to work in the half court set.
I grew up watching Dominique and hating the Celtics, so this was quite nostalgic. However, I forgot this shoot out was a game 7 event, for some reason i remembered it as game 6. I found a box score for it here. Everyone knows about the crazy stuff between 'Nique and Bird, but everyone was lights out that game. The Hawks were an unheard-of-by-today's standards 57% from the field. Boston was even better at almost 61%. They shot 92% and 89% from the line respectively. I know this game was quite exceptional and I'd be interested to see the league's stats for that year for fg% and ft%, but I wonder if that wasn't just representative of that era compared to today's game.
That game also made me wonder why Antoine Carr wasn't a better NBA player. He seems to possess all the tools, but that never seemed to pan out.
Even as explosive as 'Nique is and as much as i loved watching him as a young kid, it's so obvious now how much better Bird was. His focus and energy level never wavers, whereas 'Nique will have periodic lapses. His shot doesn't always fall (although it did in this game), but you rarely see him make bad decisions or take bad shots.
You also got broadcasting gems from Tommy Heinsohn like, "It's a duel, put down your saber!" Good times...
One of the things that struck me is that it seemed like the game flowed a lot more fluidly back then. Some shots seem rushed and the pace seemed ragged at time, but as you watch more, it seemed like attacking quickly was quite natural then, instead of *always* trying to work in the half court set.
I grew up watching Dominique and hating the Celtics, so this was quite nostalgic. However, I forgot this shoot out was a game 7 event, for some reason i remembered it as game 6. I found a box score for it here. Everyone knows about the crazy stuff between 'Nique and Bird, but everyone was lights out that game. The Hawks were an unheard-of-by-today's standards 57% from the field. Boston was even better at almost 61%. They shot 92% and 89% from the line respectively. I know this game was quite exceptional and I'd be interested to see the league's stats for that year for fg% and ft%, but I wonder if that wasn't just representative of that era compared to today's game.
That game also made me wonder why Antoine Carr wasn't a better NBA player. He seems to possess all the tools, but that never seemed to pan out.
Even as explosive as 'Nique is and as much as i loved watching him as a young kid, it's so obvious now how much better Bird was. His focus and energy level never wavers, whereas 'Nique will have periodic lapses. His shot doesn't always fall (although it did in this game), but you rarely see him make bad decisions or take bad shots.
You also got broadcasting gems from Tommy Heinsohn like, "It's a duel, put down your saber!" Good times...
posted by Mark Lee at 10:35 PM
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