Myth: It was harder for star NBA players to score in the 80's and 90's than now.

I hear this a lot... even on this board. It's the idea that the game was more "physical" and hand-checking made it very difficult for star players to score. This is an odd myth. The rules today take the star players out of the game in ways that the old rules didn't. The old rules allowed stars to thrive.

First, let's talk about the rule change to allow zone defense. And let's talk about what illegal defense was.

In simple terms, defenders were required to guard either their man, or were allowed to double team the ball AGGRESSIVELY. Meaning, they couldn't play a loose double team where one guy is guarding an area between his man and the ball. He has to be up on the ball.

It was illegal to guard an area or be too far away from your man. If your man was above the 3-point line, you had to be at least above the free throw line.

Also, it was illegal to double-team a player without the ball. Now, since players can double team a player without the ball, it's a way to keep a big man near the basket at all times. Before, teams could have their big man go the the 3-point line, and the defender would have to follow him all the way out to the free-throw line.

Teams could clear out the paint easily. Teams used to run isolation plays where the other 4 guys would literally go stand on the other side of the court, and the defenders would have to follow them. Offenses would often look like this:



Or this:



The rules forced defenders to be put on an island. And if a player doubles him, he has to AGGRESSIVELY double. That means, he has to get up on the ball, leaving a man wide open on the swing pass.

Today, guys can play off their man to help if the guy on the island gets beat.

Today, this is allowed, when this would be an obvious illegal defense before the rule change:



Players today can guard areas to help on star players. Back in the 90's, if you beat your man, it's over. You're going to score. Now, if you beat your man, there are still other defenders there to help right away.

Here are some quotes from Jordan and Kobe to help add some legitimacy to what I'm saying for those of you who don't believe me:


https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-04-01/sports/0104010375_1_defense-recommendations-nba



https://articles.latimes.com/2001/dec/27/sports/sp-18225


And here is Kobe addressing hand-checking:


https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/03/31/the-fourth-quarter



Who the rules help now are spot-up shooters and role players. Now, scoring comes from cutting, screening, and ball movement to find an open man to score. Of course star players still have a big impact on the floor, but the role player's worth is elevated in today's game. Before, it was a league that catered much more towards individual ability and talent.