Is the NBA basketball at it's highest level of quality?

[Robyn]

Please read my latest article, "NBA Today vs. NBA Yesterday" on e-sports. And please feel free to give me feedback! The link is: http://e-sports.com/article.asp?Article_Id=6413

[Marc]

Good topic, Robyn. I think the NBA has lost a lot of quality from it's peak in the mid-'90's. The league still hasn't recovered from the loss of Michael Jordan and the main thing hurting it is the bad image of players being selfish criminals and generally being punk gangsters. Too many young kids are coming out of high school and going pro - this is hurting the league because while many of these athletes have excellent potential, they get stuck on a bad team (do the Clippers ring a bell?) and are ruined.

[JakeLitwicki]

*tear*

Michael Jordan was awesome.

[Jersey Devil]

I definitely agree that the quality of the NBA is lacking. While there may be more natural talent now-a-days (such as Francis, Iverson, Carter, etc.), the overall quality of the league has dropped.

5 years ago, the league showcased talent at ALL positions. There were the guards and forwards -- Jordan and all. But there were also good centers, something that is TOTALLY lacking today. Robinson, Ewing, Hakeem, Smits, and others patrolled the middle for their teams. Today, they are aging and not playing as well as in their primes. It's Shaq and Zo (hurt), and then there's Ratliff (who's playing out of position) and others on the second tier. Then there's bench players cashing in and making $6 million a year like Brad Miller. It's pretty bad when no one out of Philly and Detroit has really ever heard of the Eastern All-star starting center (Ratliff).

Also, the skill level is declining. The 15 foot jump shot has disappeared. Free throw shooting has declined. Players are fancy and have trouble hanging on to the ball, etc. Some claim it is because the players are leaving college too early. Whatever the reason, learn the basics, then come to play in the NBA.

I hope that a few new "Chamberlain's" or "Jordan's" come along soon. I'm tired of seeing the Bulls fighting out with the Wizards with no chance of either team getting better soon in the future. It's quite bad. I hope it stops being just about the paycheck, and more about the game.