Three-time NBA champion B.J. Armstrong has experienced more pro basketball than most of the rest of us combined. He played alongside Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls at a time many consider to be the peak of the league (from the 1980s to Armstrong’s era of the 1990s).
At least, those who have seen that era … and see this one … will tell you that today’s game lacks the creativity and character of previous eras. Armstrong seems to be among those who hold such an opinion.
“Where’s the creativity in the roster construction, and the basketball philosophies in how we play?” he asked on the excellent Hoop Genius podcast, with host Mo Mooncey. “… There are 30 teams in the league and over 20 of them play the same exact style.
“So the creativity that is in the NBA right now is probably at an all-time low as far as style of play. Everyone shoots threes, everyone runs a five-out offense, switches on defense.”
Armstrong conceded there are a few exceptions, “but for the most part, everyone else plays the exact same way.”
He added that he understands why some teams shoot a lot of threes. But in too many cases, if you’ve seen one team, you’ve seen mostly all.
“We, as a league, the majority of us are playing the exact same way,” Armstrong said. “Pace and space. Five-out offense. Switch everything on defense. And we want ‘stretch’ everything — stretch fours, stretch fives, and so on and so on.”
Now, Armstrong didn’t appear to be criticizing today’s style of play as much as he was pointing out that those running teams have lost their willingness to experiment. And perhaps the NBA has lost a little flair along the way.
Those seem like fair arguments.
- More NBA | BJ Armstrong: ‘Half the league is tanking’
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
