You think WE'VE had some unathletic stiffs?
- Thread starter coolm
- Start date
Exactly. As great as Oscar Robertson was said to be back then he wouldn't even be a very good player today.
Yeah, but today he wouldn't do any of that. That is the point.
StatGeek
New member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
- Messages
- 1,946
- Reaction score
- 0
arguing that Oscar Robertson & Bill Russell aren't or weren't great athletes is mindless, pointless drivel.
Come back in 50 years and remind me how unathletic Lebron and company were compared to the athletes of 2060.
I think that's the gist of this entire thread. How far the modern athlete has come. What's mindless and pointless is that we have to keep telling some that this is the point of the thread . :facepalm
ousooners1baby
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 754
- Reaction score
- 12
Please use the brain.
coolm
New member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2008
- Messages
- 8,694
- Reaction score
- 0
mmmmm no....he still looks like the goods..
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8qUZILi8IM[/ame]
Absolutely. The Pistol could still play today. His creativity with the ball and yet still effective would be at the top yet still today.
Really, Pistol Pete is who changed the game to where it is today.
He was revolutionary and years and years ahead of his time.
But both would struggle in todays game. Russell would still be a great defensive player but he'd be a PF and wouldn't be an NBA top 50 player.
stoopified
New member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2010
- Messages
- 509
- Reaction score
- 0
Anyone who thinks Russell and Robertson were not good enough players or athletes to play in today's game is a basketball moron.
They'd play...just not dominate.
SoonerinNC
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2008
- Messages
- 1,751
- Reaction score
- 2
I think even the pro game was more fundamental in those days than it is today. Maybe more like the European game that keeps beating our superior athletes.
I have no doubt that Russell would be a defensive force even in today's game. He outplayed Wilt Chamberlain consistently even though he gave up some heighth.
In his book Russell talks about the first time he jumped high enough to look down into the hoop. He said it was a freightening experience like he was sure he was going to fall on his head. He was one of the smartest players in the game.
As for Robertson his game was smooth and he made it look easy. But by the end of the game he often had a triple double. I think his game would play today.
I do agree that players are stronger and can usually jump higher today because of the weight training and nutrition. But don't sell some of those guys short. They were anything but stiffs.
I have no doubt that Russell would be a defensive force even in today's game. He outplayed Wilt Chamberlain consistently even though he gave up some heighth.
In his book Russell talks about the first time he jumped high enough to look down into the hoop. He said it was a freightening experience like he was sure he was going to fall on his head. He was one of the smartest players in the game.
As for Robertson his game was smooth and he made it look easy. But by the end of the game he often had a triple double. I think his game would play today.
I do agree that players are stronger and can usually jump higher today because of the weight training and nutrition. But don't sell some of those guys short. They were anything but stiffs.
Sooner Quick
New member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2008
- Messages
- 1,734
- Reaction score
- 0
I watched a documentary on Don Haskins Texas Western team that beat UK for the title in 1966. I saw some very athletic people in those tapes, especially the first dunk of the game by David Latin. There were athletes in those days. The difference is the training available to days athletes as compared to those back then. Let me see, would I want to train with cement DP weights or Chrome Olympic Weight sets!
EufaulaSooner
New member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
- Messages
- 114
- Reaction score
- 0
I am absolutely amazed at how high Bob Cousy's dribble was:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIWLgEsHMJw[/ame]
He'd get it stolen left and right today.
Not sure how anyone could argue that Russell's game wouldn't translate well to today's NBA, but Maravich's would. That's just crazy. The league is much more physical today, and they actually play defense. Slow, skinny Maravich would get knocked around like a rag doll. Russell's physical game would translate well. In that sense, Russell was truly ahead of his time. Yes, he'd be a 4 instead of a 5 today, and he wouldn't be a huge scorer, but people talk about Dennis Rodman as a great defender and rebounder in the modern league, and he couldn't hold a candle to Russell.
Although Russell against Duncan or guys like Howard...ouch, huge mismatch.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIWLgEsHMJw[/ame]
He'd get it stolen left and right today.
Not sure how anyone could argue that Russell's game wouldn't translate well to today's NBA, but Maravich's would. That's just crazy. The league is much more physical today, and they actually play defense. Slow, skinny Maravich would get knocked around like a rag doll. Russell's physical game would translate well. In that sense, Russell was truly ahead of his time. Yes, he'd be a 4 instead of a 5 today, and he wouldn't be a huge scorer, but people talk about Dennis Rodman as a great defender and rebounder in the modern league, and he couldn't hold a candle to Russell.
Although Russell against Duncan or guys like Howard...ouch, huge mismatch.
EufaulaSooner
New member
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
- Messages
- 114
- Reaction score
- 0
WARNING: You are going to need to mute the audio on that video I posted. Ouch.
Last edited:
You said it for yourself...Russell against Duncan or Howard is a huge mismatch. I think Russell would definitely be a force in todays game, but he'd be a Dennis Rodman type, like you said. That's a big difference.
Maravich I think would have success because of his size along with that skill set. He's not any less frail than Steve Nash, Manu Ginobilli, Kevin Durant, etc. The difference is Russell would be undersized in todays game where Maravich wouldn't.
ousooners1baby
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 754
- Reaction score
- 12
I know we are supposed to respect our elders but I am gonna slap you for posting that video. Crap that song is still stuck in my head. I am afraid these poor guys would not get a shot off or be able to get the ball past half court. He could pass the ball. Too bad he was way to slow to play today.
Max Power
New member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2009
- Messages
- 5,672
- Reaction score
- 0
Yes, but what if these guys had access to todays training methods? All the weight, nutriton, camps, equipment, etc. Would they still be unathletic stiffs then? I highly doubt it. Also, what if lebron, kobe, kd, and those guys didn't have all of that stuff? Would they be as good as they are?
