We Are Witnessing The End of The NBA As We Know It

[@mj2kallday]

So do y'all like this high scoring or not Subscribe if you wanna fight the bs with me!

[@ididntaskverified3663]

Scoring to 100 max and 70 on average

[@msshyskye1]

No I don't. It just turns game into a shootout without nuance and different types of play. Which makes the game very samey throughout the league.

[@Cell9074]

Absolutely no one enjoys it but it is what it is

[@TheLaughfactory2]

No

[@TheLaughfactory2]

Sad cause most guys drafted high for their defense were busts, killian hayes, patrick williams etc etc

[@ΜαριοςΚατσιανης]

As a euroleague fan i think that so much scoring without real defense is boring

[@ladscrimpton8590]

You’re not alone, my friend. I don’t even know what sport this is anymore.

[@biltazar379]

The Euroleague and FIBA basketball ARE more engaging watches because they are playing actual basketball, not a staged skills and dunk event masquerading as basketball. The lack of allowable defense has moved pro basketball from offense/defense to more of a single player type game like bowling or archery where the highest score wins and there is no defense in the design.

[@wilkiebeats]

​Your not watching any nba game the game right now is favored offense but teams on the league is trying to defend even it is harder to defend right now dont say they dont play defense because they are playing defense watch full nba game so you could see​@@biltazar379

[@imperix668]

As an American, I'd agree. I'm sure I'd enjoy the euroleague more than the NBA at this juncture, the product is just terrible.

[@TJWest-if3ny]

U want to watch the euroleague, just go to any YMCA on a Sunday morning.

[@glovs4188]

Not to mention. Offensive players can simply barrel into defenders flop and get a foul call.

[@rafaelojeda2777]

Yeah! They tackle players and its ok. Its just nonesense. Not fun at all

[@bdcrazy4019]

lebron james style

[@glovs4188]

@@bdcrazy4019 while traveling at that.

[@KXXNGp]

Yeah and then they have the nerve to flex after, like you can literally just stand straight up with your hands in the air and they call foul, not fun to watch honestly

[@mohamedmaiza3866]

correction they can travel barrel into the defender flop and get a foul call.

[@josephperez4602]

Quiet as it's kept, the Euroleague is putting forward a better product than the NBA. Just sayin.

[@dominiquejones3805]

Kobe told the NBA not 2 get comfortable

[@regdexter4014]

You wish localizer

[@DeVonnePrelle]

Lmfao you’re nuts

[@josephperez4602]

@DeVonnePrelle I didn't say better talent. I'm saying a "better product." What they're doing more resembles basketball to me--better ball movement, cutting and passing, even better play out of the post. Overall, better teamwork and effort on defense. Today's NBA more resembles pick up ball at the YMCA. Lots of one on one play, too many threes, and little to no defense. I actually watch hoops dude. You're looking at the names on the backs of the jerseys and getting duped. Please don't comment if you don't know.

[@josephperez4602]

@regdexter4014 see previous comment to DeVonnePrelle☝️it applies to you too. I really don't talk hoops with millennials since all they know is "the LeBron era" so you guys should just move on.

[@m3anmug]

I feel bad for older players records. Its unfair to them.

[@CP-kb1du]

Wilt

[@sandman1347]

All of the all-star game records have been vandalized by these guys who don't even play defense in the game. That used to be a competitive game.

[@vmac8200]

Dont feel bad. I dont like the sport at all and think its pointless to be a pro sport...but if you are one who cares...just do not regard "record breaks" as they are not under the same guise. Lebron proved this, a linebacker fouling his way to the hoop ...and what do you get - "defensive foul" smh

[@lucashigdon4488]

@@vmac8200you are on youtube 😂 stfu and be more productive then

[@hassan415]

1. Euro3step no calls 2. Defensive 3 seconds 3. No hand checking 4. Defensive players switch without a screen actually being set 5. Speeding up the pace of the game 6. 1-5 high screens 7. You can’t touch anybody on offense

[@neckmouff4092]

Gather step. idk how long that been in the league. It opens up so much offensive opportunities it’s crazy

[@lucashigdon4488]

@@neckmouff4092not only that lebron fans and so many will refuse to admit they travel or even double dribble and say “but but gather step” when lebron literally took 4 entire steps 😭

[@davidwilliamson2341]

The LBJ shuffle before every shot pre 2000 he's a bench player he travels everytime he handles the rock!!!

[@jakecarlson3709]

Freedom of movement was a big one, yes, but does no one else remember the Hibbert rule? The NBA hated the fact that the pacers found a way to slow down LeBron so much that they radically altered the way that they officiated verticality, directly leading to the Harden free throw era. One of the big things we were taught growing up in the early 2000s is that if you created the contact with a player in their own space it wasn’t a foul on them. That one change entirely eliminated that in the NBA.

[@pavelmakarov3565]

As a non-american it amazes me how US leagues leadership leans towards highlights and marketing at playing level expense. Classic USA, all for dollar

[@zlatkojerkovic9456]

The Harden Era that disappeared once playoffs started. Nobody pissed me off more then watching his game, maybe Russ going 4-20 with Durant still on the team.

[@austincarlson9270]

​@@pavelmakarov3565 it gets better in the postseason typically

[@qt3dot14ish]

THANK YOU MR CARLSON. Finally, someone who isn't brain dead.

[@woodsie7222]

Travelling is rampant in the NBA. 3 steps, 4 steps

[@Kingepticon]

They call that "talent" lol. I'm like, yeah no shit they have better handles these days. You can routinely take 3, 4 and sometimes even five steps.

[@aaronbarkley539]

​@@Kingepticonharden would literally take 4 steps in his "stepback"

[@zlatkojerkovic9456]

Right the product looks sloppy.

[@someperson8151]

Also getting away with carrying the ball during the dribble. NBA is a joke.

[@Robert-bk1dm]

Started with Michael Jordan. Just saying.

[@discodontdigit4698]

As a casual fan I will say defensive plays have always excited me more than offensive. Yea i enjoy seeing curry hit from the logo but nothing made me more excited to watch than ben wallace blocking someone like shaq

[@imkurisuchan]

this.

[@Fraudkuna]

with the power of ten crackheads he blocked Shaq

[@DoubleTTB22]

Blocks per game is actually the highest its been since 2001 this year.

[@robert-h2x]

@@DoubleTTB22 casual

[@DoubleTTB22]

@@robert-h2x Objective truth is for casuals apparently. Unlike you. You don't know what your talking about, but with pride.

[@ajatathemu]

As a 44 year old that has watched basketball since the 80's. You explained it perfectly.

[@rwalker0130]

remember how fun it used to be to watch a good offense have to grind out a tough win against old school Pistons, Knicks or Heat? Funny too how everyone now forgets that the Bulls were one of the best defenses in the league, not just Jordan scoring 63. good times.

[@ajatathemu]

@@rwalker0130 defeating the defense was also a part of the game.

[@teddyj5187]

Miss the battles of old. As a Knicks fan growing up I couldn't stand bird and Jordan though I respected them.

[@zoominnboomin]

Its boring to me now. If the NBA geared itself more toward defense, then the actual superstar players would stand out more. 60pt games would mean alot more. I completely agree with u...we are numb to big numbers and all that

[@qt3dot14ish]

More importantly, if teams/players played TEAM ball, no one would ever have a 50 point game. But the NBA is a highlight-whore so that led to the "you can't touch the star" league.

[@ghost-type]

The fact that there is no defense means scoring more points means less. When I see Embiid score 70, I take that as 50 points 15 years ago.

[@DNotzz]

He literally got 90% of his points playing in the paint lol. Embiid hate is so weird. He’s one of the few current stars that’d be just as dominant 15-20-30 years ago.

[@eemfunnyasf]

Embiid’s scoring wouldn’t change in any era. He’s efficient in the paint and midrange, there would be nothing the 90s could do to stop him lmfao.

[@ghost-type]

@@eemfunnyasf 20ppg in the 90s. Tops. Lol

[@amapnamedpam]

Hakeem would lock him up ​@@ghost-type

[@ghost-type]

@@amapnamedpam Hakeem, David Robinson, Mutumbo, Ewing... take your pick.

[@01BLSP4Y]

"Offensive basketball is exciting to watch" except its not, its only exciting when its done over good defense, the all star game is pure offense now, its unwatchable, there needs to be balance, not layup lines and 3pt chucking.

[@obarich]

All star game after 2018 wasn’t even competition it was nobody trying 🤦‍♂️

[@steviethomas8319]

Well said..I agree

[@Macodythemetta]

Is my music good?…….

[@davinnicode]

Who even watches the Allstar weekend anymore? Last time I watched was probably over 10 years ago.

[@RandomShowerThoughts]

Facts

[@logicoveremotionspodcastre453]

JJs comment in the literal first 5 seconds is an example of saying what he has to say to not lose connections with the nba. For Gods sakes the flopping rule they implemented is barely even being enforced. GREAT VIDEO PER USUAL MJ!!!

[@logicoveremotionspodcastre453]

KNOW!!!

[@contentovercommaz4754]

Damn. Im sure he values his connections but I actually think he believes it though. He was so passionate that I'm not convinced he is capping at all, regardless of if he's right or wrong.

[@freezhollywood]

All he does is glaze today’s nba. Scary journalism. Scared to burn a bridge. A guy can go 0/20 and he wont hold tht player accountable. He’ll just say things like this happen and he knows bc he was in the league.

[@arguseyed9982]

Flopping rule shouldnt be on his list because it is applies to both on offense and defense. And truth to be told, I have seen it called more times on defenders.

[@tonyh4513]

Is there a link to the JJ video for this? Can't scour through tons of videos. Thx.

[@bos3835]

In the 80's and 90's you'd never say the Euro league was more physical than the NBA. The fact that it has been for years now would tell you how the NBA is nowadays.

[@thomaswestover2443]

Hoopflation: A phenomena when the value of a bucket is decreased through rule changes, and lack of defense.

[@meltyandre]

This is the only video that has linked the lower viewership to overall lack of defense. Great job MJ

[@timmyg831]

It’s true, most viewers want true competition meaning tough defense as well. That’s why the NBA taking out physical defense and hand checking were one of the worst things they did. Not only that, we want to see diversity in playing style, we don’t want every player being identical. We want centers to be dominant in the post, not 3 point shooters. So-called modern basketball sucks. Ratings will continue to fall regardless if teams score 130 per night.

[@MrLouisanalane]

could be true. but you also have to account that there are so much content to consume now. so NBA viewership is not just competing with other sports but the whole entertainment industry.

[@MrJohnnyAOA]

Rusty Bucket made a video a week ago so clearly not the only youtuber to do it

[@woodsie7222]

What defense? Players scoring with little or no defense at all

[@Turk_2023]

Pretty common knowledge

[@terrancevanliew1814]

Simple. If it was all talent like JJ said, we wouldn't have 19 teams with a higher offensive rating than the 2018 warriors.

[@lafif1707]

Fully disagree, more talented offenses overall mean higher scoring games. Therefore, teams become more effective overall. It doesn't mean that those 19 teams have more talent, but it does mean that the 2018 warriors didn't need to score as many points to win games because offenses were less talented.

[@ajatathemu]

@@lafif1707 no sir! Rules interpretation opened up even more after the Warriors won a championships.

[@Schistomaisis]

@ajatathemu rules and teams just started to copy the warriors offense,, with 5 out offense

[@ajatathemu]

@@Schistomaisis and the nba helped them.

[@zlatkojerkovic9456]

With 3 of the best shooters possibly ever on the same team...

[@mrbeaverstate]

I remember back in the 70's they had something called an 'offensive foul', can you believeit? Also😳 travelling and carrying over were enforced.

[@josapathlapiz4722]

Watching Embiid makes you realize how much you miss guys like Tim Duncan playing this game. This dude really geared his offense on tryna draw as much fouls as possible by flopping

[@PurpleMonkeyDishwasher88]

It's no wonder the dude is injured so much by flailing around and falling to the ground all the time like a sack of potatoes.

[@weliveinasimulation.]

I miss his post up turnaround bank shot with that high release so much. It was so unique and fluid. Nobody had his shooting motion as it looked like a swimming stroke partly due to his childhood goal of becoming an Olympic swimmer which was his first sport.

[@Raydington]

TD made 15 All-defensive teams. That's beyond impressive.

[@aguywithcommonsense7503]

I'm a bit younger of a fan, not old enough to remember early 2000's basketball, but my time as a fan was at its prime from 2010-2016. You covered a lot of my thoughts and reasons for why I only exclusively watch College basketball now and not the NBA. The first time I saw a 130+ game I was like "oh yeah that's cool" but now with every game pretty much having a score like that, it's become less special and boring. This is because there is: 1.) Little to no defense being played due to rule changes and also the look of a lack of desire to play defense and give up easy points 2.) Continuous flopping and doing very intentional acts to draw fouls 3.) Literally everyone is shooting threes or its a dunk/layup and there's no in between 4.) An average play now averages like 20 points per game 5.) The traveling has gotten egregious Overall these games feel meaningless and like a waste of time to watch and I have zero interest in it when I can just watch College basketball where there are some similarities to this, except they actually play defense and with physicality, they call most flops as fouls on the player who flopped, and the game results aren't as predictable. Makes me feel better that I was not alone with the way I've felt about the NBA in recent years.

[@8Blackmamba81]

You didn't even mention the changes to how the gather step is officiated. Giving players an extra step is a massive advantage to the offense.

[@neckmouff4092]

Yup this plus carrying not being called can make ANYONE unguardable.

[@davinnicode]

In microeconomic terms: the NBA has past the saturation point on many levels of their product. It‘s too many games, too much scoring, too much 3s, too much superstar teams, too much rule breaking actions etc.

[@isidoro8566]

I agree. but so are the masses... don't care anymore.. cheap entertainment. i bet if you revealed today that the nba is a rigged scripted competition, half the fans would not care at all, too desensitized, mindless consumers.

[@cappy2282]

This is best video I've seen explaining the problems I have with NBA

[@jlui21]

-- just this morning, Booker fell down and got up WITH to ball to shoot an airball 3....A decade ago, that would be a travel. Whatever JJ is smoking, I want in on it. I'm tired of 80s players getting compared to plumbers when today's players play against podcasters and TikTok dancers.

[@BlindfoldSniper]

@@jlui21 That's what today's NBA players are: *_Dancers!_*

[@Macodythemetta]

Is my music good?…….

[@cappy2282]

@@Macodythemetta Best I've ever heard

[@Macodythemetta]

@@cappy2282 fr bro??? That genuinely means a lot u just made my day😂😂god bless you💙💜

[@odman7945]

Historically in NHL there was similar transition where they made the rules safer, which also made the skilled players become more prevalent, because you just could not go and hackle them out in defense. They counteres this with other rules to make scoring harder. Bigger equipments for goalies etc.

[@bilogskii2216]

Two things, players can travel now and carry the ball. That creates a plethora of offensive moves that the defense just couldn't keep up. Just try blocking a three step back shot like Harden does. But ultimately, defense is 99% effort and players today don't value defense anymore as much as before. Give 12 pts a game while averaging 38% and above behind the arc and you'll get a solid contract.

[@blue-phoenix115]

Kobe's 81 ain't safe! MIght be broken this year.

[@gokusupersaiyan3inreallife937]

kobe's 81 and klay's 14 3s

[@shyamnatarajan5149]

@@gokusupersaiyan3inreallife937 As a Warriors fan, the NBA is trying to destroy History. If they trying to beat a record, do it against the top 5 team in the NBA with some real defense. U hardly can play defense today. After the Warrior won back to back, that very next season, teams opposite defense avg 111PPG and above which is terrible defense due to rule changes. We know what they trying to do.

[@PrinceZakariyya]

it's awful man nba is ruining history

[@dezw.9225]

Kobe's 81 only happened because of piss poor defense, not handicapped defense, I won't be suprised if we see Wilt's records eat dust.

[@carlkellman6215]

Correct. Wilt next year!

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

To put it into perspective… Dwayne Wade was Electrifying in college. Durant was a generational talent at UT. James Harden just knew how to run into people.

[@Peakfreud]

😂😂 💯. 💯💯

[@thugtrippin]

James Harden changed the game with the step back 3 cmon now

[@Peakfreud]

@@thugtrippin But it wasn't a step back 3. It was a Step back, Step back, hop, gather step three. And he set it up by threatening to drive to basketball and hook the defender and frailing his arms .

[@SDesWriter]

I looked it up last night after arguing with a playground player. Harden averaged 11 free throws a game (shooting 90%) the year he averaged 36.

[@PurpleMonkeyDishwasher88]

@@SDesWriter That's right where Embiid is at, and it also looks like he learned some tips from Harden on the dark arts of foul-baiting.

[@primetimegametime7831]

I remember about 15 years ago some people said that there should be another professional American basketball league. That is so evident at this time Now.

[@aaronbarkley539]

Exactly. NBA players are some of the most greedy people in all of sports, they are so unlikeable and so annoying. I can't watch the NBA anymore.

[@zlatkojerkovic9456]

Maybe Trump can start it. LMAO.

[@gooshnpupp]

Hand checking was the most critical

[@doge1590]

Grab and throw???

[@gooshnpupp]

@@doge1590 what?

[@YardDogBoxing]

This is happening in all sports leagues . It's to a point that they have fundamentally changes the games that are being played. It's now counter productive

[@AlAl-b5j]

The 3+steps/dribble and the offball/onball offense being allowed to initiate contact and push off the defender is making scoring too easy.

[@robert-h2x]

never even heard them call that ward off hand foul in like a decade

[@AlAl-b5j]

@@robert-h2x but the D cant

[@JJFX-]

They're making stats even harder to compare, allowing them to hype up records for newer fans as if they are a 1:1 comparison. They even did it with the 3pt contest even though hardly anyone watches it but the more hardcore fans. Once games start pushing 200 pts I think it'll become impossible to ignore.

[@ghostflame9211]

i feel like those NBA Execs forgot the one important fact as to why fans like high scoring games: they werent seen so often. at this rate, it's only a matter of time that someone breaks 100 points in a game. just this past week, 4 players scored 70+, suggesting kobe's 81 record is about to be surpassed soon, and wilt's 100 isnt far behind. these high scoring games are not a spectacle anymore. another good example is just these past playoffs: curry went off for 50 points, which at the time, this was the highest points scored by a single player. and then not 3 weeks later, tatum breaks that record with 51. scoring records dont mean anything anymore because they get passed around like a blunt.

[@aaronbarkley539]

There are literal bums who regularly put up 30 points from different teams and no one even knows who they are, it's ridiculous

[@iakadayrneh]

​@@aaronbarkley539bums don't play professional basketball.

[@pooloftim8263]

In MJ’s last year (97-98) he averaged 28.7 ppg…league team scoring average was only 96 ppg. If he played today, he’d average 42-45 ppg

[@michaelpaullang4401]

That’s jus not tru

[@ЛевРассказов-о6ж]

I'd love to see a team in the NBA to go full defensive mode. A team that would stall the game clock, slow down pace, use every defensive trick in the book to concede as little baskets as posible. A team that would lose most of their games with the score like 80-88. They would really stand out! And you'd be scared as hell to face them in the playoffs if they somehow manage to get the spot

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

when is the last time we seen a team like that

[@gabefresh1661]

Thank you for this video, I thought I was going insane watching games and being bored out of my mind

[@SamirHusainy]

Playoff basketball is the best... But that is when it is slow methodical and every mistake gets emphasized. I think people want competitive games where it sits on a knife's edge. I swear nowadays, one of the biggest annoyances is the blow outs. It's so weird seeing teams losing by 15-30 pts as if it's normal.

[@King_Siz3_Chocolat3]

It's for betting purposes. It destroys parlay bets that have teasers. You might be able to take a bad team +15-+20 at bad odds but ain't no +30 option.

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

I remember in 2K16, all the games you played against CPU, was geared to give you close games, worst you lose is by 14-16 points, and I used to say it was unrealistic, and that there is a bunch of blowouts in the NBA in 2015-16 season now, complained in the community, and people ave me crap for it, and they might have been right either that or it was really was like that season, because it would seem like I was ahead of my time with that prediction and where the NBA games were head into from now on, so I think it just seemed that way at that time

[@antshaq1]

While smiling w the opponent while doing so. It just seems like they don’t care as much as we as fans care

[@AaronMichaelLong]

No, modern players are *not* more talented. It's easy to score when the defense can't touch you, and no, those rules don't date from 2018, they date from 2004. They just took a while before GMs caught on and started scheming and drafting to the new paradigm the rules created. There's no point in drafting a 6'10" bruiser who can contest the paint, because nobody is driving the lane, they're ducking around a screen and jacking up 3's, and if you commit to stop that play, *then* they cruise to the hoop for a layup.

[@ResidentNick]

Love this take. 💯

[@nydibs]

That clip of Kenny Smith shows everything. During his playing time nobody would say Kenny had handles, he was considered a spot up shooter But, without hand checking and defense, Kenny would be a superstar in todays game

[@fastbreakreport]

Great video dude!

[@bradleybailey8893]

Thank you so much man. I literally been saying this for years but I didn't know how to put it exactly into words and you put it perfectly. Great video!

[@staidenofanarchy]

3 steps, carrying, 'freedom of movement,' flopping, the 14 second shot clock, it ALL favors the offense. Also JJ Reddick is a clown who should have been shamed off the internet for the 'plumbers and carpenters' thing

[@GregRJohnson736]

Why do you need to shame anyone off the internet? Just don't watch his content if you don't like it. Also carrying has been in the league since like? 1990s? So how can you say that has lead to more offense when the 1990s/2000s were the lowest scoring period since the 50s? Freedom of movement wasn't a rules change, it was just something the league wanted to emphasise more. And your last 2 points don't make any sense. Flopping? How does that help the offense? It's called like once every few games on the defense if you really want to stretch that and say its helping the offense. 14 second shot clock helps the defense by pressuring the offense into a shorter shot clock. Stop being a hater.

[@zorasamor]

that's a terrible take and as much as it may be disrespectful, the 'plumbers and carpenters thing' is very true. most nba players back then literally couldn't sustain themselves off their nba salary alone and had to work part time jobs. also every sports analyst has had egregious takes that are as bad if not worse than jj so saying he should be shamed off the internet is just clear hatred.

[@Peakfreud]

All Facts

[@Peakfreud]

He's just turned into Hot Take rhetoric and trying to trigger viral social media moments

[@Macodythemetta]

Is my music good?…….

[@santiagotorres7296]

Travel every play. Double dribble every play. Carry every play. Illegal screens every play. Sure it's not a "rule" that says you're allowed to do these things Mr Redick, it's the lack of any sort of rule enforcement. Don't even get me started with all these touch fouls.

[@Christopher._M]

You're definitely right about that. Not to mention the landing space rule that makes it more challenging to contest on jump shots without fouling.

[@acidspit14]

the carries are ridiculous

[@hkarmy96]

@@Christopher._M Landing space rule is fine. Getting in someones landing space can cause ankle injuries. We've all seen Zaza Pachulia on Kawhi Leonard. It's all the other BS that they don't call anymore that makes offense so hard to stop

[@Christopher._M]

@@hkarmy96 It's not fine. It rarely happens and it makes contesting a shot basically a formality. The zaza one was more of a slide under him.

[@nathancook2852]

@@Christopher._M Yeah, ZaZa was intentional. I think the landing space rule is also fine. You are spot on for the rest though.

[@ladscrimpton8590]

MJ, this is the best video I've seen of yours. Very thorough, hits all the major changes in rules and reffing. Great vid, man.

[@ladscrimpton8590]

I stopped watching the NBA, and switched to college. There is obviously a MASSIVE skill gap between college and the NBA, but I think it's an overall better product. College is way more physical, way more passing. It's also super diverse in terms of game plans... some teams have success running through their big men, others have more 3 point shooting, etc... It's like watching MMA, where you get to see how styles match up. Also, I was shocked at some of the no-calls I see in college... it's so refreshing to see. Plus, those college kids play like their lives depend on it.

[@geoimage]

its insane that JJ thinks more rule on defense is helping defense. you know what's best for defense? no rules for defense. make defense easier so everyone can start doing it.

[@acidspit14]

he's being paid by NBA to convince the average low IQ Joe the NBA isn't rigged towards certain things

[@tonysobon4669]

That was my thoughts as well. That is also the reason defense matters more in the post season because they do not enforce the rules as much .

[@brandonstewart8083]

Started watching in 02-03 teams back then literally had to scrap for every point especially in the playoffs now we're supposed to celebrate an individual player getting 70 every night when there's no resistance whatsoever. I can't even watch a single game anymore I used to tune in nightly probably til about 2009 hopefully the NBA realizes they have f**ked the game up royally I think allowing hand checking again would go a long way towards returning professional basketball in the U.S. to some kind of respectability

[@nathanlarson3632]

Finally someone keeping it all real!! And giving real knowledge!!!

[@6stringgroover]

What JJ doesn’t seem to understand is that EVEN if we are wrong about the rules favoring the offense, we don’t like what the product has become. I’ve been watching vintage NBA more than current games

[@TylorHuebner]

The problem for me is it just feels like less actual basketball is happening now. You can carry, you can travel, you can set illegal screens. Basketball is less watchable and approachable when it isn't relatable. People want to see the best players playing the same game they do, not some variant.

[@wolfievondon9896]

Just like he said, when all the teams started to be like the Warriors, it went downhill. We don’t even have specialists anymore (other than guys like Demar and others). Everyone shooting threes and not specifically playing defense anymore like back in the days.

[@FekalistaGrzybowory-lz8lh]

DeMar seems to be the last mid-range specialist in today's basketball 🥺

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

its cool that curry changed the game, never been a fan of curry or warriors, in fact I hate them, but respect them for changing the game, but my gosh is it horrible to watch, changed for the worse

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

@ceevideos4298 yeah, thunder figured warriors out, but KD decided to cower away, spurs in 2017 and rockets in 218 kinda figured them out, but still opted to jack 3s, or not get more proper big men, or a fill enouhg guys with talent around someone like kawhi, teams have not figured out that, warriors style doesn't win championships unless you have a guy close to the shooting of curry, klay, and a guy that knows how to run the system and play defense and raise the tempo in scoring whe needed like draymond

[@qweschuning]

Very glad you brought up USA ball and im glad im not the only one who didnt acoff at luka saying its easier to score in the NBA. The lack of physicality in todays A is off putting.

[@Casper0123]

JJ wouldn’t have been in the NBA if there had been hand check .

[@itz-luigi1210]

It's not just about rules being added or taken out. The referees don't call travel, illegal screens, or 3 seconds violation for stars.

[@ar90242]

Weak ass sport. basketball was my first love. Watched it in the 90s as a kid and the 2000s. Produced one of my sweetest and memorable moments of my life. Watching Kobe, Jordan, Shaq, Miller, Duncan, Malone, Allen, Payton, Vlad, so many to name. That was a beautiful and hard fought game now it’s unwatchable.

[@joelv92]

Same here, after witnessing the 2024 finals and knowing the Inside The NBA won’t be around in the future was the last straw for me

[@StCropper]

This is probably one of the best videos describing why the love of the game is diminishing. Very spot on

[@judahali7538]

I used to laugh at what I believed was sour grapes when old schoolers said JJ doesn't know the game. He totally doesn't! This is not even qualified as a hot take, it's just stupid.

[@cappy2282]

It's the rules and the fact that players really don't care to play defense. The palming/traveling is also unacceptable Most NBA games are unwatchable.

I used to wake up at 3-4 am to watch an NBA game. Today, I can watch any game anytime I want, but I don't. I cannot stand it.

[@fatboianonymous]

The play at 17:29 is one of the best "this is what's wrong with the nba" plays I have ever seen. Good God that shit is goofy

[@thinren]

Great vid man, really enjoyed the breakdown and showing the data backing up your talking points.

[@DungarooTV]

Players aren't encouraged to play defense so they simply don't thus allowing prolific scores to go nuts! Jordan or Kobe would get 80 points in today's NBA. The NBA believes allowing more scoring will entice fans to watch it more but it's potentially going to turn them off!

[@mikael557]

Big entertainment industries underestimated the power of the Internet revealing all the BS in the future

[@madd.villain]

Offense has been favored because the league believes it drives viewership up. All this inflation means records are coming and going, what's more enticing than "tune in to watch ____ break the record for _____ tonight!" or "____ is on a record breaking pace this season" to incentivize people to pay for tickets to witness history in person? I think a lot of people, including myself, have seen the changes over the past decade. What I'm shocked about is the NBA media and personalities just playing right into it, I used to appreciate JJ's input on the game and commentary... but it seems like he's just ignorant and high off his own supply, no better than Nick Wright or Collin Cowherd.

[@meltyandre]

He makes his money through corporate partnerships like LeESPN. No way he actually believes the trash he’s spewing.

[@staidenofanarchy]

This is what happened with baseball. They juiced the balls to combat ratings tanking, more strikeouts and walks, more home runs, less views. Then they went the complete opposite direction, incentivized base hits, steals, and added a pitch clock, and the viewers have come right back.

[@ItsMeStrider]

@@meltyandre exactly, JJ isn't some scrub, he was a player and he knows damn well he's bullshitting his audience.

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

I don't know why people act surprise by that news, does anyone not remember Adam Silver ushering those exact words bac in 2014 when he was taking over the commissioner job? I remember hearing him say that, then when I waited for the NBA season to start, and watched few games, the enrgy and aura felt dead, like the soul and life of the game was taken away, so I stopped watching full games, and just watched highlights, any teams that won in the adam silver era looks sus and fake to me for some reason

[@madd.villain]

@@theonlygoodonehere2259 It's been dead since Kobe's retirement season imo, there's been sparks of that energy Ina few games here and there but you're right, a lot of the time now it just feels like they're going through the motions.

[@mydogsnameislucy768]

I liked JJ Reddick when he first started being an analyst . He clearly knew more about the game than almost everyone else doing it at espn, but he is now the biggest apologist for all the BS in the modern game. He doesn’t hold the players or league accountable for anything always getting passionate defending this crap as if Silver’s NBA hasn’t been noticeably worse than Stern’s. 🙄

[@ridemywheelie]

The hand checking is more than impeding moment, it allows the defender to feel the movement of the offensive player and react accordingly.

[@BillyKristel]

💯💯💯 Thank you!! Couldn't agree more.

[@michaelrice6620]

Ive responded multiple times in his comments telling him hes crazy and that the nba hardly even allows you to play defense anymore. Especially for certain teams that they call more heavily then others. Thats why he gets so mad because real nba viewers know this. The nba even came out the last few years stating that theyve made moves to make it a more offensive fast paced game. Thats why hes crazy. Idk why he keeps trying to say the opposite theres no way he can actually believe that.

[@peterguidry6084]

Adam Silver specifically said he hated the physicality of the 90s and wanted to change it. This is the product we got from that.

[@pooloftim8263]

In the 2012 London Olympics, Team USA beat Nigeria by 83 POINTS(!!) 156-73. 9 years later, we lose to them. 🤦‍♂️

[@idothisforfun1300]

Love these types of discussions with actual PROOF to back up what youre saying. I totally agree and wilp use this video as a reference

[@khrome5677]

recently just watching wemby block shots and be massive defensively is way more exciting than watching the ticky tack foul calls the refs make because he slightly hit him on the hip while he was going to the rim

[@richmahogany1]

it's no so much new rules that favor the offense, it's the lack of enforcing the current rules.

[@GloryBetothehighest]

Yes. Defence rule changes need to be implemented. Even just take away the freedom of movement act, and moving offensive screens. I miss it. Feels like every time someone drives to the basket now, it goes in or it’s a foul. Officiating needs to be less bias and more objective. Thank you for the video.

[@markreza3273]

Great video!!! I only watch playoffs and even that I’ll barely watch. Basketball doesn’t get my attention anymore

[@ridemywheelie]

One of the key things is that it used to be about 50-50 whether the offense or defense wins the play. Back in the 90s, if a team hit the go-ahead shot, due to time constraints, they maybe had a 60% chance of winning, as long as MJ wasn't on the other team. Now, it seems like last basket wins. It becomes a shooting contest, nothing more.

[@ND-OPS]

The thing about high scoring games today is at first, I was impressed until I watched the highlights and see how terrible the defense today is.

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

I haven't watched a single game of the NBA this season, I am so afraid to watch how bad its gotten

[@JesseWhiteman117]

5:33 You know it's messed up when Paul Pierce is right about something.

[@Turk_2023]

He's not right though, His championship celtics were defense 1st and that era was way more exciting than now. I watched every fn game until 2013

[@xtrasolido]

Players are not more skilled today. Most have to be taught basics basketball skills and they're supposed to be pros. Just ask Pop.

[@frederickdelius1106]

Great video

[@GoldenGamesHaloStyle]

I think the biggest factor of the high scoring games we have now is pace of play. Teams get way more possessions and field goals than they did even just 10 years ago. Not to mention the average skill level of the league continues to climb year after year. So more shots by better shooters, and you end up with what we’re seeing

[@contentovercommaz4754]

Solid analysis here, but does it bother you at all?

[@GoldenGamesHaloStyle]

@@contentovercommaz4754 not necessarily. I understand the impact that it has on the history of the league, but I believe this is the best generation of basketball in the NBA, and it’s amazing to see how far the league has come. I think we just need to wait for the new wave of defense, whatever that might look like.

[@isayu9242]

The mistake that NBA make were thinking that fans like high scoring games, however what the fan actually into was and still is great and exciting offense, and great offense come with great defense, you not gonna find making an open 3 more exciting than making a tough three with defender hand on your face

[@francistein8409]

scoring a lot is easy in nba nowadays because everybody keeps shooting 3s

[@johnsepulvedacruz6428]

I strongly disagree that player today are better. They look better because thats what the league wants everybody to say and see. Everybody in the nba carry the ball literally all the time and walks. And other rules like the 3 second rule just that rule breaks defense. Players are not more skilled because defense is also part of skill and its unstoppable players because of the rules

[@jayskate6631]

It was easier to look good on defence when guys couldn’t dribble the ball naturally. Those guys you consider skilled defenders would have their ankles broken by players today and get booed off the floor.

[@KevD720]

@@jayskate6631what do you mean guys couldn’t dribble naturally?

[@ResidentNick]

​@jayskate6631 It's easy to break ankles when defense is a non-factor. In other words, it isn't that impressive, and it makes role players look like borderline all-stars these days.

[@jayskate6631]

@@ResidentNick it’s easy to defend when they can’t dribble the ball, in other words, it isn’t that impressive and it made role players look like boarderline all stars in those days.

[@ResidentNick]

@@jayskate6631 Can't dribble the ball? You're outta your mind if you actually believe that.

[@aldb7577]

And that is why Jordan would average 50 now!

[@michaelpaullang4401]

No he wouldn’t

[@venividivici3653]

I would've love to see the Kings- webb, doug, Stojakovic, bibby, divac, j will, bobby was meant for this era...

[@graham5990]

Or the Lewis, Allen, Payton Sonics

[@eugenegreen2285]

that team would get run out of the arena today, get absolutely torched. an offense run through a power forward that works from the elbow. i suppose thats the knicks right before brunson. but who the hell could Divac guard today?

[@aneedkassim9727]

run tmc, denver in the late 70s early 80s sonics phoenix suns before trading for Barkley with KJ ainge hornecek

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

@@eugenegreen2285 so would kobe and shaq teams get run out of the building too???? since that kings team took them 7 games?

[@eugenegreen2285]

@@theonlygoodonehere2259 no, that Lakers team was defense first, they could win in any era. kinda like the wallace , billups Pistons could win in any era. but the old high power offenses didn't win in their era, and aren't going to beat today's teams because the skill level is higher.

[@s0uldr4ke]

Regarding Rule#1: Yes NBA! As always thank you because games going 155:135 all the time with everybody scoring 50pt on a weekly basis is definitely making the game more exciting for me to watch compared to these things happening on a rare occurance and feeling special...sure NBA keep telling you this. And free throws and fouls for everything also are such great opportunities to show me some advertisements which I love to watch, I mean I hate watching the game itself go without being interrupted almost every play...who seriously wants to see basketball in a basketball game...get out of here!

[@acidspit14]

HAhaha :D

[@paquinraino8180]

Free throws is at a lowest level ever in NBA history

[@ItsMeStrider]

@@paquinraino8180 the last season there were more free throws per game than 2022-23 was in the 2010-11 season, and the following season there were a total of 44.5k fts, 2022-23 was WELL over 57k. Stop talking basketball.

[@scottskizzy1405]

​@@paquinraino8180u don't get the sarcasm n all time low.. the Lakers had 43 free throws the other night..u should at least research before you try to make a fact buddy!

[@GoldMoufP]

i never thought id see the day where J.J would be this loud and this wrong lol smh

[@mohkin4611]

Good stuff brother! Love your videos, keep it up! "Know"

[@juddarcano151]

If the NBA was to implement the rules again from the 90’s and early 00’s which allstars today you think will not make it?

[@rafikz77]

Today’s stars would average 50 ppg in the overrated 90s

[@ericfranklin1802]

JJ makes this claim and then lists a bunch of recent rules that are barely being enforced at all. The rule that was meant to call flopping as a foul? I’ve seen it properly enforced only enough times to count on a single hand since its implementation. The rule that was meant to cut down on layers jumping into other players for fouls? Once again I can barely think of a time I’ve seen it enforced and we still see the players most well known for doing it still do it at the same, if not a greater rate like Harden and Trae.

[@pwnser]

i think the main issue with defense currently is that they are struggling to keep up with the tons of new offensive schemes that have been made due to rule changes because everyone is incredibly talented and can just run wherever they want to go, give it maybe 4-5 years without rule changes and then people will start to figure out how to play defense against them. it’s insanely difficult to play defense, if you’ve played basketball you would know that. people simply don’t see the rewards of becoming a defensive god in todays nba when you could be a good playmaker or scorer, because people see the pra and move on. i genuinely think it just takes one person with a mastery of defense to make the nba and shut down players and soon enough everyone will need a great defensive player

[@rafikz77]

Thank you People don’t understand the evolution of the game and just stick to narratives and lack context. Anyone who has played organized basketball understands how difficult it is to play defense. Players are skilled, mobile, there is a lot of switching and defenders have to make quick and smart decision, as the offensive game isn’t as static and basic as it used to be.

[@rwalker0130]

whatever. Its hard to play defense in soccer and football too but you don't see Mahomes (might end up being the best ever) averaging 40 a game or champions league soccer games all like 7-6 scores. Both those sports don't allow defense to be as physical as they used to be but they haven't taken it as far as the NBA

[@oscarlara-yg9do]

If prime Jordan was put in this era he will score 100 points a game with this freedom.

[@Lord_Hamlet_III]

Spot on bro. This conceptualizes everything wrong with modern basketball. I'm going to share this video anytime I have this argument with someone about why the NBA isn't as good as it was before

[@AlecLapierre108]

I want to make another KZbin account just so I can like this video again. Love your content.

[@kenv2667]

we all hope NBA brings back defense. that is real basketball

[@rafikz77]

They never played defence back in the good old days

[@MikeM-np4od]

All you have to do is go to the 2022 1st round series with the Nets and Celtics when refs let the Celtics be physical with KD and Kyrie and go back and look how normal they looked. Both shot under 45% and KD averaged like 5 TO a game that series. People don't realize how much allowing more space and more movement and not allowing the defense to touch any more makes it so much easier to score.

[@DoubleTTB22]

The Celtics actually gave up an average defensive rating of 106.9 during the regular season that year but 109.0 in the series against Brooklyn. There defense was actually great all year and five points better than average during the regualar season. Therebdefense wasn't notably better in the playoffs than the regular season that year

[@MikeM-np4od]

@@DoubleTTB22 I hate the stats arguments, but stats can be misleading on what actually happened in the game. Go back and watch how physical they were with KD in particular. They held KD and Kyrie to 16 points each in game 3, and even though KD had 39 in game 4...it took him 31 shots to get it and he need 10 FTs. The Celtics were allowed to bump him off his sweet spots and make him uncomfortable the entire series. They used Williams, Tatum, Brown, and Smart to give him different looks. Celtics didn't allow him (and the refs allowed it) to just get to a spot and pull up like he usually does. They got up into him, KD shot 38% that series.

[@DoubleTTB22]

@@MikeM-np4od I'm not saying they weren't physical. I'm saying they were great on D all year. It wasn't really just a playoffs thing. And them selling out to stop KD and Kyrie, didn't actually lead to their defense being much better than usual, it just led to more headlines because it decreased the stars scoring, while also leading to a lot of open shots for teammates. There D was great overall, but it also was not actually better than it usually was in the regular season overall at the same time.

[@MikeM-np4od]

@@DoubleTTB22 Nobody was talking about their overall defense being better I am talking about how hard physical defense makes it hard to score even for modern great players, plus and you can't compare a collective regular season defense that includes games in January and February against the Pistons, Hornets, or Wizards (some on back to backs) to 4 games against KD and Kyrie in the playoffs. There is no one to sell out to to stop on the bottom tier teams or that can go off like KD and Kyrie. Point is KD especially makes scoring look too easy...until the Celtics put the physical defense on him like it was in the 00s and 90s. Point is, defense used to be like that all the time, not just in playoff games. Like I said their defense held KD to 38% shooting his lowest in the playoffs since his first playoff series. Now imagine if the NBA allowed that physicality ever game? I assure you players wouldn't be going off for 70.

[@DoubleTTB22]

​@@MikeM-np4od Steph arguably had the best playoff series of his entire career against that Celtics defense. Again I agree they were a great defense and that they were really physical. But that only makes so much of a difference. Physicality alone doesn't have quite as big of an effect as you're thinking. I actually just realized a mistake. I said the Nets had a 109 offensive rating. Actually they scored 109 ppg.There offensive rating was actually 117.1 which is actually a really great offense. The Nets offense actually played much better than usual. They only had a 113.9 Ortg on the season and the league average was 112.0 that year. Selling out to stop KD didn't drive scoring down, it mostly just embarrassed KD. Really the Celtics won that series by killing the nonexistent Nets defense. The defense they played on KD, was really impressive and really physically, but it also didn't stop the Nets from having 6 players average double digits against them on great efficiency overall. Also they do allow that physicality in the regular season. You can be physical as long as you are athletic enough to get your body into them. Pat Bev basically just does this every night. Guys like Draymond and Kawhi did it in their prime, etc. Its what the Celtics did a lot all year that year, and It is how Marcus Smart won DPOY. It is just tough to have the ability and personnel 1-5 to pull it off. Its also tough to maintain that energy though 82 games and in back to backs on the road. Plus matchup come into play. They went against Steph in the finals, and he absolutely torched their bigs all series on the perimeter. Al Horford and Robert Woods are actually solid perimeter defenders, but that doesn't matter against some guys. Just physicality and energy a lone only change so much. " Point is, defense used to be like that all the time, not just in playoff games. " And Yet the overall offensive output of the Nets was still higher than it was back in the day. Even if teams played like that every night, They wouldn't have the Celtics defensive personnel to pull it off nearly as well, and scoring and efficiency of offenses would still be higher than it used to be overall. Right now teams are scoring about 115.8 ppg on average. In the peak of the 80's when pace was similar to how it is now they scored 110.8 ppg. They scored 110 while taking next to no 3's, Not running as many on/off ball screens as they do now, Not doing as much match-up hunting as they do now, and running lineups with more defense stoppers with little offensive ability on the floor at once then they do now. Give 80's teams the level of 3 point shooting and spacing of today's teams and they would be at least at 113 a game if not 115, even with the reduced number of free throws that comes with taking more outside shots. A lot of the things we are talking about are actually smaller changes on the margins. The biggest changes are pace, space, Getting rid of double big line-ups focused on rebounding and adding more shooting instead, and analytics affecting play-calling. All those things would get us to pretty much what we are seeing now either way. With our without a 2021 Celtics brand defense. Players would still be going off for 70. Maybe the average score would be 113 or 114 instead of 115.8, but it would only change so much.

[@lettucetomatoonion]

The NBA just wants five guards on the court at all times. Thinking of this makes me sad...then I watch Kevin McHale or Hakeem highlights to time travel. It consoles me temporarily. For real Hakeem cooking in the post was gorgeous but NOPE let's shoot 40 3 pointers.

[@FekalistaGrzybowory-lz8lh]

I feel you man. I started watching NBA since last defeat of MJ in ECF against Bad Boys Pistons. Today I can't watch it at all, even highlights seems to be so boring...

[@tennised2283]

If this guy is thought of as an NBA guru, it's over already...

[@dtgtentoe8467]

I appreciate this video, it’s gonna catch there attention and league gonna have to make changes 💯

[@robertfreeman1673]

People stopped watching the nba after people like LeBron displayed how they hated the country and displayed hypocrisy. And other folks stopped watching because it’s boring now 😂

[@unmhking]

lol why is the NBA up this season and up from 2021 then 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@pauljoseph3081]

The league still exists with ratings going up, that's why players are getting paid very handsomely

[@robertfreeman1673]

@@unmhking views gone down just look at how many views them football players get compared to the nba

[@robertfreeman1673]

@@pauljoseph3081 players have been getting paid handsomely for decades… them folks just have hella sponsorship deals and are in bed with china

[@unmhking]

@@robertfreeman1673 lol views where ??? No.1 priority is viewership which is up by 20-25% in the past 2 years and most people have cut off cable 😂 yall so delusional