Has The NBA Changed..............For The Worst?

Being 15 years old, a majority of the NBA games I watched live has been in this decade, this era. The post- Jordan era.

I remember watching the Lakers win three straight NBA titles back in '00-02 . They were my favorite team. I loved watching Shaq dominate in the post, Kobe's dazzling dunks as he slashed to the basket, Robert Horry's clutch shots, and Derek Fisher's and Rick Fox's great three point shooting.

I remember watching Iverson score at will against the best teams in the NBA. The way he'd make defenders look stupid with his amazing crossover. The way he would go to rim and take the hardest hits yet still finishing the play. I never worried about how much scoring titles he would win because he was unstoppable on the court and he was clearly the best scorer in the NBA(I still think he is, no disrespect to Kobe).

I remember watching the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest when Vince Carter put on a show. It was one of the most mind-blowing things I have ever seen. I use to envy his athleticism, his hangtime, his ability to make everything look so easy. I remember watching him constantly perform at a high level in Toronto and making me become a fan of the Raptors.

I remember Tracy McGrady putting on a show every night in Orlando. It was like he could anything on the court. He was an amazing dunker, he could shoot with the best of them, he could set a teammate for a open shot, he defend the other's team top perimeter player because of his long and athletic body, and the way he could score with ease. I heard the comparisons to George Gervin and that forced me to learn more about Gervin's game.

I remember watching the Mavericks and Kings all the time. They have great, high-powered offenses. Dallas had the sweet shooting of Steve Nash at point guard, the high-flying wing man in Michael Finley at shooting guard, and the high scoring big man in Dirk Nowitzki at power forward. I loved to watch their great shooting performances and the way they score 70 points by halftime. Sacramento had possibly be the best passing big men in NBA history in Chris Webber and Vlade Divac, the clutch play of Mike Bibby, the deadly shooting of Peja Stojakovic, and the best sixth man in the NBA in Bobby Jackson.

I remember when Jason Kidd was in New Jersey, and he took control of the offense and turned the Nets into contenders. He made Jefferson and Martin play at an All-Star level. He also prove to be the master of the triple-double(not LeBron). Steve Francis, Baron Davis, and Stephon Marbury showed the NBA that point guard could do more than just rack up assists and direct an offense. They expressed their explosive scoring ability on opposing defenses and they revived the combo guard position.

Don't think I forgot about Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. I still recall the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals when the Nets had a 25-point lead over the Celtics and Paul Pierce along with Antoine Walker brought the Celtics and they won by four points (Does that reminds anybody of the 2008 NBA Finals). I also recall Ray Allen leading the Bucks along with Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson to the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals against Iverson's 76ers. That seven-game series displayed the talents of two superstars in the making in Ray Allen and Allen Iverson. Both Pierce and Allen are prime examples of the new era of shooting guards with long wing spans, great shooters at perimeter, and players that can slash to the basketball at will.

Don't even get me started with the amazing post players I watched. From dominant big man who would always win titles like Tim Duncan to extraordinary athletic big man like Kevin Garnett to strong, undersized defensive forces like Ben Wallace. I know all about it. I watched young, up and coming big men like Jermaine O'Neal and Rasheed Wallace lead their team far in the postseason. I admired how more and more power forward learn how to step back and hit that 18 foot jump shot while still able to score in the low-post.

Yet now, in 2009, I see less and less of these amazing abilities with each passing day. Dwight Howard is considered by many as the best center in the NBA(I personally believe Yao Ming is the best center in the NBA) yet he has little to no effective ways to score in the post other than dunking, outpowered his defender, and on occasion he'll attempt a running jump hook. But that's it.

I see wing players like Josh Smith, who relys completely on their athleticism to succeed, without developing a consistent jumpshot or develop their dribbling and ballhandling skills so they can create easier shots for themselves and others.

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