Many noticing a decline in basketball talent

[Kountzer]

Fundamental basketball skills have declined noticable in the NBA.  That has been in the news at least ten years to twenty years now.  It used to be that in the World games or the olympics you could take a team of NCAA stars and take on the world.  Now, a team of NBA allstars can't even do it.  The rest of the world has caught up. 
I think it started with ESPN.  ESPN sportscenter nba highlights focus on the monster dunk.  Fundamentals BBall skills seldom make the top plays shown on sportscenter.  The high school kids emulate their nba role models. 

[FanintheStands]

[quote name="Kountzer" post="735160" timestamp="1261902270"]
Fundamental basketball skills have declined noticable in the NBA.  That has been in the news at least ten years to twenty years now.  It used to be that in the World games or the olympics you could take a team of NCAA stars and take on the world.  Now, a team of NBA allstars can't even do it.  The rest of the world has caught up.  
I think it started with ESPN.   ESPN sportscenter nba highlights focus on the monster dunk.   Fundamentals BBall skills seldom make the top plays shown on sportscenter.  The high school kids emulate their nba role models.  
[/quote]So.... have the NBA players lost the fundamentals?  Or have the international teams finally devoloped the fundamental skills?  I think the latter is more conducive to the parody in international play.

Also, there are the skill players out there and some do get airplay, though not all.  And these guys make their team complete.  That's why you see San Antonio near the top so often.  Parker and Duncan and the rest have made that possible.  John Stockton and Steve Nash come to mind as well.  But its also why you haven't seen Cleveland rise above the rest yet.

In the local levels, I believe (at the risk of beating a dead horse) that Hardin Jefferson's success comes in the teaching of the fundamentals.  Take the last HJ Kountze game.  After each of the dunks by Kountze what did HJ do?  While Kountze was celebrating and high-fiving, the Hawks were taking the ball in for a layup.  Its the same for the Kountze 3 pointers....  HJ layup.  That's fundamental basketball.  It's why HJ doesn't look good in warmups and its why they don't care how many dunks the other team is doing on the other end..... well MOST of them don't care.

[BLUEDOVE3]

Well, when you mix in kids playing videos and eating all day, then come to a practice and begin shooting 3's before warm-ups, and practice for maybe 2 hours it't not quality time used. And I use the word "practice" loosely.

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="bleed orange" post="734966" timestamp="1261794131"]
I think a lot of things have hurt the game. Fundamentals are not taught enough for one. The NBA is another, the way the game is played now days you can throw defense out the window. Kids don't play defense anymore. I mean why when you can grab, shove and get mugged. It is all about offense. How many kids shoot a left handed layup with their left hand if they are right handed? Not many. Too much TV and video games. You don't see kids playing outside anymore. My goal was nailed to a pine tree with a big root at the bottom. My court was dirt. But you know what you do what you have to do and you play where you have to play in order to get better.
[/quote]As far as the NBA, you have to realize there is a lot of "space" created on the floor. Meaning everybody is up on their man. This makes it easier for very athletic players to score and create off the dribble. They're playing defense but these guys are good! Watch a game in the 1970's and mid 80's and the players look like they are moving in slow motion. The guys btoday are still using pick and rolls and back door. The game is just so much faster now.

[mammagotjuice]

[quote name="CATMAN" post="735227" timestamp="1261942230"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg734944#msg734944 date=1261768760]
IMHO, I Think the middle school talent is down. And this includes the HOuston area. You might find one or two players on a team with decent skills and I've seen a lot of middle school talent. I don't think most kids have a love for the game. They know nothing of the history.
[/quote] Blue, that always not the case in all school.Look @ Big sandy how down they are this year,but the jr.high boys have not lost a game in 2 year.Next year will be all 10 and 9 grader,then the next they will be back. ;D ;D ;D 
[/quote]cmon Catman, Hf is a good example. We win in middle school and get to high school and lose. But the overall talent in middle school still isn't that good.  Most kids hitting high school will find the reality of having new positions {bench or band}

[Guest bleed orange]

In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="bleed orange" post="735306" timestamp="1261961413"]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.

[Guest bleed orange]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="735314" timestamp="1261963493"]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735306#msg735306 date=1261961413]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.
[/quote]


I like you bluedove, You speak how you truly feel, like I do. Sometimes people can't handle the truth. I can!!!!!!

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="bleed orange" post="735355" timestamp="1261968082"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg735314#msg735314 date=1261963493]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735306#msg735306 date=1261961413]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.
[/quote]


I like you bluedove, You speak how you truly feel, like I do. Sometimes people can't handle the truth. I can!!!!!!
[/quote]Yeah bleed, your team sux!!!!! :D

[Guest bleed orange]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="735389" timestamp="1261972260"]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735355#msg735355 date=1261968082]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg735314#msg735314 date=1261963493]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735306#msg735306 date=1261961413]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.
[/quote]


I like you bluedove, You speak how you truly feel, like I do. Sometimes people can't handle the truth. I can!!!!!!
[/quote]Yeah bleed, your team sux!!!!! :D
[/quote]

Not as bad as yours does. ;D ;D  

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="bleed orange" post="735402" timestamp="1261973208"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg735389#msg735389 date=1261972260]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735355#msg735355 date=1261968082]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg735314#msg735314 date=1261963493]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735306#msg735306 date=1261961413]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.
[/quote]


I like you bluedove, You speak how you truly feel, like I do. Sometimes people can't handle the truth. I can!!!!!!
[/quote]Yeah bleed, your team sux!!!!! :D
[/quote]

Not as bad as yours does. ;D ;D  
[/quote]that hurts

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="CATMAN" post="735424" timestamp="1261976859"]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg735314#msg735314 date=1261963493]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735306#msg735306 date=1261961413]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  (Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.
[/quote] U can when u are the head coach in high school.and the head coach in jr.high.You can judge the jr.high kids.And u can predict there success in high school. :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X
[/quote]You need to get that Big Sandy ISD (0-A class)out of your system.

[CATMAN]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="735450" timestamp="1262007730"]
[quote author=CATMAN link=topic=64090.msg735424#msg735424 date=1261976859]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg735314#msg735314 date=1261963493]
[quote author=bleed orange link=topic=64090.msg735306#msg735306 date=1261961413]
In Junior High some kids mature and never get better. So just because you win in Junior High does not mean you will win in High School. You can throw that Junior High theory out the window.  (Kids mature at different ages. Some don't mature until they get into high school, some don't till they get out. Holding your kid back does make a difference in the maturing process. Graduating at 19 is not a bad thing. I did not hold back my kids and it was strickly a money thing. (Day Care) ;D ;D ;D
[/quote]Good points. You really can't judge your middle school years and try and predict success in high school.
[/quote] U can when u are the head coach in high school.and the head coach in jr.high.You can judge the jr.high kids.And u can predict there success in high school. :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X
[/quote]You need to get that Big Sandy ISD (0-A class)out of your system.
[/quote] Ok BLUE :D :D

[Bench Warmer]

only east of exit 830....

[CATMAN]

[quote name="Bench Warmer" post="736263" timestamp="1262139758"]
only east of exit 830....
[/quote] HF

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="mammagotjuice" post="735300" timestamp="1261958369"]
[quote author=CATMAN link=topic=64090.msg735227#msg735227 date=1261942230]
[quote author=BLUEDOVE3 link=topic=64090.msg734944#msg734944 date=1261768760]
IMHO, I Think the middle school talent is down. And this includes the HOuston area. You might find one or two players on a team with decent skills and I've seen a lot of middle school talent. I don't think most kids have a love for the game. They know nothing of the history.
[/quote] Blue, that always not the case in all school.Look @ Big sandy how down they are this year,but the jr.high boys have not lost a game in 2 year.Next year will be all 10 and 9 grader,then the next they will be back. ;D ;D ;D 
[/quote]cmon Catman, Hf is a good example. We win in middle school and get to high school and lose. But the overall talent in middle school still isn't that good.  Most kids hitting high school will find the reality of having new positions {bench or band}
[/quote]Hey, this is da Dove, I didn't realize I was on my wife's account......

[BLUEDOVE3]

Yall be hard on HF.

[Guest HFGirlsSportsFan]

Basketball is a team sport.  IMO the overall parity being seen today is a result of the rise of soccer and to a lesser extent year round sports (ie. baseball, softball and volleyball).  It is harder for the stars to shine when there are no support players below them.  Soccer is taking away some to the prime athletes that used to play soccer.  Baseball, Volleyball and Softball year round has allowed kids to specialize.

[FanintheStands]

[quote name="CrazyLikeThat" post="736389" timestamp="1262181087"]
Basketball is a team sport.  IMO the overall parity being seen today is a result of the rise of soccer and to a lesser extent year round sports (ie. baseball, softball and volleyball).  It is harder for the stars to shine when there are no support players below them.  Soccer is taking away some to the prime athletes that used to play soccer.  Baseball, Volleyball and Softball year round has allowed kids to specialize.
[/quote]So...  a sport that has been limited to mainly "Specialists" has had a decline in quality because it doesn't have the "part-timers"?  I'm not sure that's a reasonable hypothesis.

[BLUEDOVE3]

[quote name="CrazyLikeThat" post="736389" timestamp="1262181087"]
Basketball is a team sport.  IMO the overall parity being seen today is a result of the rise of soccer and to a lesser extent year round sports (ie. baseball, softball and volleyball).  It is harder for the stars to shine when there are no support players below them.  Soccer is taking away some to the prime athletes that used to play soccer.  Baseball, Volleyball and Softball year round has allowed kids to specialize.
[/quote]The environment created by the parents has definitely helped to make sports very competitive. You can tell which kids took off during the off season and the kids who worked to get better. This creates a big disparity. Specialization has always been around but kids chose to pick a sport to concentrate on and not the parents back in the day.