Sometimes it's fun to read other Blazer forums

[MarAzul]

I'd be willing to bet that if you had a time machine half of the teams in today's NBA could win a series against the NBA champion teams from about 40 years ago.

I don't, I don't even thing the Current NBA Champion could beat the NBA champ of 40 years ago.
That would pit the Warriors against the Warriors. The top three guys for the team 40 years ago out rank the top three on the current team in every catagory.
Rick Barry, Silk Wilkes, and Cowboy Clifford Ray were top notch in that day and would today. I can think of two shooters that were better than Curry, Geoff Petrie and Rick Barry.

Do you remember those guys?

 

[MarAzul]

Oh I need to add, the the coach of the old warrior team, Al Attles, would have had a play for Curry when he began to jack up those threes. He woud have sent in a reserve to make
sure when Curry went up, he would not come down inbounds. Just the way it was. I had Al in a class I taught once, hell of a guy.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Do you remember those guys?

Oh yeah..I have to agree. The problem is unless you were a local fan or a total news sports junkie to have followed them. Remember , there were only one or two games on TV in those days. Seems to me like the TV promoted only a few teams like Boston, NY, LA or NJ. The only way Warriors get on tv is they are playing one of the media favorites.

 

[MarAzul]

were a local fan or a total news sports junkie

I suppose I was guilty. By 75 Geoff was no longer Geoff, But we did get to see a lot of the Warriors that year since they went all the way.
Their team that year was one of those rare times when everything comes together, great coach and five players that fill out a team in every sense together, one.

 

[e_blazer]

I don't, I don't even thing the Current NBA Champion could beat the NBA champ of 40 years ago.
That would pit the Warriors against the Warriors. The top three guys for the team 40 years ago out rank the top three on the current team in every catagory.
Rick Barry, Silk Wilkes, and Cowboy Clifford Ray were top notch in that day and would today. I can think of two shooters that were better than Curry, Geoff Petrie and Rick Barry.

Do you remember those guys?

Of course I remember those guys. I grew up watching those guys play and they were great...for their time. The thing that you're missing is how much bigger, stronger and more athletic players are today. Rick Barry was a 6'7" small forward who weighed in at a whopping 205 lbs. He'd face off against Harrison Barnes at 6'8" and 225 lbs. Jamaal Wilkes was a 6'6" SG who weighed 190 lbs. soaking wet. He'd be matching up against a 6'7", 215 lb. Klay Thompson. Clifford Ray was a 6'9" center on that team who weighed in at 229 lbs. He'd be going against Andrew Bogut at 7' and 260 lbs. Yeah, those guys from back in the day were talented, but today's players would just wear them down in a series.

 

[Draco]

I don't, I don't even thing the Current NBA Champion could beat the NBA champ of 40 years ago.
That would pit the Warriors against the Warriors. The top three guys for the team 40 years ago out rank the top three on the current team in every catagory.
Rick Barry, Silk Wilkes, and Cowboy Clifford Ray were top notch in that day and would today. I can think of two shooters that were better than Curry, Geoff Petrie and Rick Barry.

Do you remember those guys?

You old farts are delusional. The NBA players nowdays are so much better athletically, shooting from all positions, and with elaborate team help defense. The 2015 warriors lead the NBA in defense efficiency. Those ancient warriors teams wouldn't be able to get an open shot from anywhere. Rick Barry would have to shoot 25 times a game over Iggy. If Iggy can stay in front of LeBron James he can certainly stay in front of Rick Barry.

Geoff Petrie was an 80.5% FT shooter, good but hardly close to Steph's level. Rick Barry shot 29% on 3 pointers. Neither had the quick release Steph has, nobody in history has had a release so quick. Steph's an exceptional ball handler and passer too. Maybe you can make a case they do a couple shooting elements as well as Steph does but there is no way they can be considered flat out superior shooters.

 

[MarAzul]

bigger, stronger

Perhaps. Sound like you discount basketball skill. Didn't Bogut ride the bench most of the last few games of the championship? Well anyway Wes Unseld didn't wear the Cowboy down.
Funny I see Wes Unseld listed as 245. 245 my ass, I weight 245, he was as wide as a triple trailer is long.

 

[jlprk]

Of course I remember those guys. I grew up watching those guys play and they were great...for their time. The thing that you're missing is how much bigger, stronger and more athletic players are today. Rick Barry was a 6'7" small forward who weighed in at a whopping 205 lbs. He'd face off against Harrison Barnes at 6'8" and 225 lbs. Jamaal Wilkes was a 6'6" SG who weighed 190 lbs. soaking wet. He'd be matching up against a 6'7", 215 lb. Klay Thompson. Clifford Ray was a 6'9" center on that team who weighed in at 229 lbs. He'd be going against Andrew Bogut at 7' and 260 lbs. Yeah, those guys from back in the day were talented, but today's players would just wear them down in a series.

Barry was a full 6-7, sometimes listed at 6-8. In today's gym shoes, they'd call him 6-8. 205 sounds like his rookie weight. In his post-ABA incarnation, playing with rookie Wilkes, he had muscles and was about 225-230.

6-7 Wilkes, a tremendous shooter and defender, was one of the thinnest Rookies of the Year ever. It caused injuries later and an early retirement, with the inferior player, but more normal body, James Worthy taking his Laker job.

6-9½ Ray was short even then for a center (and was only a 3rd-round pick), but Dick Motta's coaching gave Ray superstar basketball IQ. (After Wooden and Auerbach, the best-ever teachers of the center position are Motta and then Fitch.)

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

You old farts are delusional. The NBA players nowdays are so much better athletically, shooting from all positions, and with elaborate team help defense. The 2015 warriors lead the NBA in defense efficiency. Those ancient warriors teams wouldn't be able to get an open shot from anywhere. Rick Barry would have to shoot 25 times a game over Iggy. If Iggy can stay in front of LeBron James he can certainly stay in front of Rick Barry.

Geoff Petrie was an 80.5% FT shooter, good but hardly close to Steph's level. Rick Barry shot 29% on 3 pointers. Neither had the quick release Steph has, nobody in history has had a release so quick. Steph's an exceptional ball handler and passer too. Maybe you can make a case they do a couple shooting elements as well as Steph does but there is no way they can be considered flat out superior shooters.

Probably the most realistic way to look at it is the '75 Warriors would probably beat the 2015 Warriors if they play by 1975 rules and "allowances" and the 2015 Warriors would probably beat the 1975 Warriors if they play by 2015 rules and "allowances".

 

[jlprk]

Rick Barry shot 29% on 3 pointers.

3s were discouraged, as hook shots are now. If you compare 3-point shooting then and now, you should also compare hook shooting then and now.