A Long-Time Fan Returns...
Unhhh…I’m not really sure what most posts will be about, but I can tell anyone who comes across these posts that I’ll always be honest and straight-forward and, hopefully, interesting to read.
I’m watching lots of NBA games, these days, for the first time in years. I’ve always watched the playoffs, because those games are just different, but for the last 4 or 5 years or so, I’ve not been able to watch NBA regular season games. The games reminded me more of Harlem Globetrotter exhibitions, rather than the NBA games I grew up watching.
This year the games are definitely better and more interesting than in past years. In my view, the games had become unwatchable because of the rampant fakery on display on the courts every night. Nothing…nothing was, or is, more boring than watching James Harden fling himself into the lane and throw both hands towards the sky as he tumbles to the floor, while he turns and contorts his face in the direction of the refs and silently pleads for a foul. That is not basketball. It’s an exhibition….it’s just one step above professional wrestling.
Harden was the most accomplished practictioner of that fraud, but unfortunately, his conduct seeped down into all levels of the league. Everyone - superstars, stars, starters, subs, guys on two way contracts - everyone mimicked the guy who is successful and the fact is they were often rewarded for their trickery.
In the ‘80’s, players like Bernard King went head up with an entire league full of guys who were trying to stop him from launching that unstoppable jumper. The battles were epic. Against Dominique…Bird…Gervin…English…Blackman…Calvin Natt…While my memory of those days is far from perfect, I don’t recall Bernard King flailing around, faking contact, while he begged the ref for a foul. It was a different game, without the layer of artifice that ruins NBA contests these days.
But…but…this year is different. Lots of players are still playing their games, trying to get easy trips to the foul line by faking contact but most times refs are ignoring these attempt to game the game. And it’s made a real difference in the quality of the games. Fewer stoppages…fewer free throw line trips….more intense athletic competition as players are now trying to beat their man, rather than fool the ref. The games have been a lot more fun to watch and this fan - who’s been watching since Dave Debusschre was the player-coach of the Pistons - has started watching the games again. It’s been fun.