The NBA Just Isn't What It Used To Be

If you followed basketball in 1989 and fell into a coma, waking up today may shock you right back into one.

Sure, the shorts are longer and no one is complaining. Maybe the game is a little more sophisticated now, implementing more team-oriented attacks instead of the isolation-oriented game of the Magic Johnson era.

The big men seem to be far more polished, stepping out to the three-point line, and the guards are bigger and far more athletic today than they were 20 years ago.

Over this twenty year period of evolution, something else happened, and it happened ever so slowly that it almost went unnoticed. It seems the players exchanged their balls, and not the rubber ones, for friendship bracelets.

Gone are the days when a player would be slammed to the floor ruthlessly for attempting to enter the paint, and gone are the days of grit and defensive pride. How many true rivalries even exist in today's NBA? That was the point of sports in the first place right?

In today's NBA, the tough guys are sitting at the end of the bench, while those with an ounce of talent are at the salon getting manicures. If I'm being harsh, excuse me. One can only take so much before turning to college basketball for a sigh of relief.

Where's the pride? How does one justify laughing while your team is in the midst of a blow out, or dancing during timeouts? Soulja boy anyone?

Are NBA players taking lessons from the WWE? Sadly, through marketing and this blase on-court demeanor, NBA athletes become more and more like entertainers with each passing day.

Two instances which are actually quite current come to mind. Shaq called out Robin Lopez for not being physical with opposing teams when they entered the paint.

Now I'm sure Jordan did this to Bill Cartwright, but Lopez is hardly as soft as some of the other big men in this league who provide nothing in terms of lane intimidation. Sadly, not many Shaqs remain to call them all out.

I can't stress that lane intimidation does not come from shot-blockers alone, but from men who take pride in their manhood, protecting their team's paint, and winning.

In a second example, LeBron and the Cavs are playing Dwight and the Orlando Magic in Orlando. You would assume that such a match-up between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams would be filled with competitive fire and bad blood.

Instead, two of the NBA's marquee names are jokingly holding each other prior to engaging in a half-court shot competition. You can't be serious?

Needless to say, the Cavs were embarrassed by the Magic, who blew them out, but the display of the two superstars brought fans to their feet. This begs the question: have the fans lost their minds too?

There are few stars in today's game who respect the game of basketball more than the glamor associated with it. They're rare, and hopefully will be an inspiration for those who enter the league in the following years, and serve as examples for young players like James and Howard.

I'm not attacking the personalities of these two, or players like them. I have nothing but respect for the charismatic Howard and his desire to win a championship for Ewing, and James' overall impact on the game globally.

But where's the professionalism? Where is the desire to not only beat, but annihilate the other team?

I personally feel that the larger number of high-school players and underclassmen entering the league is a large reason for this, but perhaps the best counter-example is Kobe Bryant, so there goes that theory.

Players like Bryant, Duncan, Shaq, Wade, Durant, Roy, Billups, and Paul seem to have grown up learning from, listening to, and idolizing the right people.

Players like Howard, James, McGrady, Bosh, Bynum, and any other player who brings their personal relationships with players on the opposing team onto the court should probably go watch some Larry Bird highlights.

A life without dancing is a life not worth having. Just keep the dancing, singing, half-court shots, Soulja-boy dances, and general caring off the court.