Now That's What I Call Basketball

In addition to being a fan of sports to the tune of watching them, I'm a fan of sports video games. Through video games I can best perhaps portray how my view on the NBA has changed. My favorite NBA video game of all time? Tecmo Basketball for the old, and original, Nintendo Entertainment System? (For the record those Warriors teams with Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond were among my favorite to play with) Why? Because it's the only basketball game I can recall playing where basketball was beautiful. It was about the scoring. The players and teams on that game were the kind of players and teams that basketball great, and the gameplay reflected such. It allowed the high scoring, high flying action without having an arcade feel, it still had a simulation feel, because at that point in time, that's how the game was played. To get the same fast paced feeling in today's NBA video games, you almost have to treat it like an arcade game, because that fast paced style would not be an accurate simulation. 

Fortunately, things have changed in the league. The point/forward is all the rage. For the last decade championship teams were built from the inside out, and while that still may be true, what constitutes an inside guy is perhaps changing a bit. No longer is it neccesary the 300 pound banger who lumbers up and down the court is the cornerstone of a championship team, but rather someone between about 6'8 and 6'10 who can run the floor, can play in the post, can rebound, but can also pass, shoot, and fly through the air defying gravity. It's now the player who defines what is so beautiful about the game of basketball, men of large stature moving with the agility of someone smaller and lighter on their feet.  

The league is blessed with plethora of young stars who in addition to having great skill on the court, also possess good, clean images off of it. The rise of the point guard position to one of artist and creator, and not of just a dump it in to the big guy role player is a big reason the NBA of today is on the way back, and why the NBA of today is capturing the attention again of more and more people. Star point guards like Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Deron Williams now seem to be restoring the glamor in the position. (Quick, name the point guards during the Bulls dynasty, or the point guard of Houston's back to back NBA championship teams, or the Spurs point guard pre Tony Parker)

In addition to the point guards, the new breed of small forward who can either play up as a big, or play down as a guard, only add to the excitement and athletic prowess of the players on the court. The Lebron James, Dwayne Wades, Carmello Anthonys, Brandon Roys and Rudy Gay among others headline this incredible group of players.

Even today's big guys are fitting the bill of athletic and fluid, making for an all around better game. Guys like Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudamire are the new breed of big guy. If not these freaks of nature athleticaly, you have the big guy who can spread the floor with shooting ability, guys like Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki. Sure, there is still a place for your Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal type, and those players are still great in their own right, and can still carry a team, but it's no longer a neccessity to have one to contend for an NBA title. 

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