Speaking in a recent chat with reporters, former All-Star big man Rasheed Wallace unleashed his true thoughts on the modern state of the NBA. In a verbal assault against today’s playstyle, he specifically blamed the three-pointer as the biggest culprit of the game’s corruptness.
“Back when I played it was more physical. There were guys who had more than one attribute, but now it seems to me that the game is one dimensional. Everybody wants to shoot the three,” said Wallace via the Daily Mail. “You got guys stepping over half-court wanting to shoot 40-footers. Even the guy who knows he can’t hit the ocean standing from the beach, but he still gonna try to hit that three…That’s what I think most of basketball is now: it’s a gimmick”
No matter what you think of Wallace or his career as a player, you cannot deny there is some truth to his statement. The three-pointer is more popular now than ever before and it’s becoming an increasingly important part of every team’s game plan. Pretty much every position has to be able to shoot now, and it’s really simplified the game in many ways. For someone like Wallace, who played during an era notorious for its toughness, it can be hard to embrace how much different the game has become.
Three-Pointers Ruined Basketball?
The NBA is deeper and more talented than it’s ever been, but the recipe for success is the same for almost every team. In fact, since the rise of Stephen Curry and the explosion of the three-pointer, perimeter shooting has really become the primary focus of every team, and the ones who are currently dominating are the ones who are able to hit their shots consistently.
According to many fans, and some former players, Curry ruined the NBA by popularizing the three and now it’s all that teams and players will do to try and outscore their opponent. This dependency on the three is why we’re seeing more blowouts than ever before and why some teams, even those at the top, can have trouble maintaining consistency from game to game.
Modern NBA Keeps Taking Shots
Interestingly, it’s become increasingly popular for old-school/retired players to criticize the style of the game today. From guys like Gilbert Arenas and Shaquille O’Neal to Tracy McGrady, a growing number of former players have taken a very critical stance on the modern NBA. Wallace is also on that list now, and it really makes you wonder who else will speak out.
Unlike the NBA of the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, things are much less physical on the court and the advantage belongs to the offensive player. With the implementation of hand-check rules and other pro-offensive changes, it’s no wonder why the league has seen some of its highest-scoring games in recent years. But as long as the ratings are good and the money keeps pouring in, the NBA will consider their venture a success and will likely only double down on what’s already been established this season. Like it or not, it’s a new era of NBA basketball and those who do not keep up will be left behind….
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
