That wasn't a rant. That was an in depth answer to a question about how professional basketball is played today versus how it was played by the best teams in the 1980's, offered by one of the NBA's greatest Hall of Fame low post players of all time. All time great power forward players such as Olajuwon and Garnett owe their many successes to Kevin McHale, he was such an innovator in the low post. He was unstoppable, even against double and triple teams and he was an underrated passer and shooter for his size, too. 😉😎
Great and experienced knowledge from McHale here......By the way, for some in the thread who weren't there, and as someone who grew up in the 80's watching...The best teams of the decade were any of the Lakers teams (especially '87), the '83 Sixers, the '86 Celtics, and the '89 Pistons.....Those teams were all incredible. And one more thing, Billy Cunningham is one of the most underrated coaches of all time. Pre-'84, as a Celtics fan I almost always thought the Sixers had the edge on us, somewhat due to the coaching greatness of Cunningham. Fortunately we had Bird though. :)
Man I miss the 80s and 90s style of play... I remember the stress of having my heroes (especially the big guys or main pg) getting 2 fouls in the 1st quarter. That tactic and many others are non existent anymore...
I love Kevin offering up the criticism on passing, when, I believe Larry called Kevin the "Black Hole," because, when you threw him the ball, it was never coming back😂. Just kiddin' Kevin! It would be nice to have a roundtable discussion with Cornbread, Larry, Danny, Kevin, and Robert for about 2hrs! Just have you guys free associate and bring up some of your favorite games, game situations, trips, cities, bus rides, locker room banter, rookie stories, family stores, etc. Not only would the fans absolutely love it, I think you guys would as well! Thanks again!🙏
When he can shoot 68% lay in some games ? Automatic. McHale wasn't Larry or DJ or ainge touching the ball first. His role was being a top 2 post player of all time. Hakeem and Mchale destroyed everyone on the block. Shaq is the other with ridiculous accuracy in history.
If you drive the ball and get fouled you get a and one. That's a 3 point play , it's lets you set your defense, and it gets other team in foul trouble. Driving the ball is still as good as a 3 pointer.
The modern league just doesn't seem to hustle and grind like the old school 80's did. Back then you had to work for every scoring opportunity and make it count. The modern league no doubt has talented players , it's just the game seems more relaxed and free-wheeling. It still has it's intense moments just not as frequent like the old school '80's league.
@@kn23m I think (i'm 49) that today players have better overall skills, like drybling, shooting etc. But... Is nowadays NBA more fun to watch than 80-90? Nope. Cos of lack of defence
@@patek9789 60's my favourite era, but not golden age at all. More teams, rivalries, competition and great teams in the 80's. Celtics, Lakers 76ers, Rockets, Pistons, with some of the best rosters of all time. 1988 Pistons is probably the best roster in NBA history (I mean as a team, not about number of all stars). 1986 Celtics, best team ever. But I agree 1967 76ers is right there too.
Today's game everyone plays the exact same way, everyone has the same moves, everyone work out together. Everyone want to play like a guard, when their strength is not being a guard. No one knows how to play off the ball, and if they don't crossover at least 3 times it ain't a good move in their eyes. Then throw in guys who think they shoot like Curry when in reality they shoot like Ben Simmons, this modern game is trash. I don't watch modern NBA anymore and don't miss it. On the flip side I still get entertained and hype from watching games from 30-40 years ago
Yup. Those 1981-1983 Dr.J 76ers teams took the Larry Bird's Boston Celtics lunch money. Just imagine what would happen to Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics if they had to go through those 1981-1983 Philadelphia 76ers!
Todays game has all but eliminated the value of size for the product of skill. I understand that the NBA is a business yet somethings will never make sense to me. Why would you pull a 7footer off the low post to set a pick just to roll back to the same block??? JUST GIVE THEM THE DAM BALL ON THE BLOCK the first time and run your motion or sequence off the post options. SMH
Yeah…it is boring when you know the only 2 options on offense are 3 point shooting or fast break. You see player hitting 10 3’s on a game but missing 2 point shots on the perimeter without defense.
The NBA has turned into a left foot pivot league. 99% of the time, regardless of the situation, it's a left foot pivot. Guys that are able to play well pivoting with either foot are going to be the next wanted commodity by team's. Recently there was a run on 3-and-D guys, then cutters/3 pt shooters. Next will be guys that have an added pivot game. Those offenses will start separating themselves from others.
Two of the greatest players of all time, never mind all the BS you read about. Didn't miss a big game from 81 to 87 in the Garden. Celtics and the Lakers mid eighties were the two best teams of all time.
Today's boring game now, guys are just throwing it in the rim and act like they did something amazing. I'm not amaze about it like other people are today. The old school fun game they play the right way where it made u want to be a basketball player. Now it's a joke, I don't even watch basketball anymore I'm ready for football season.
Today everybody has to have to the ball in their hands, everybody including centers want to bring the ball up( give it to a point guard although there are few true point guards) . Taking threes six seven ft behind the three point line when they can easily put their toes just behind the line, And just bad shot selection…oh one more comment, jumping in the air in the lane and then trying to pass, oh one more, defensively players watching the ball and getting back door Ed ( they don’t split their vision between the ball and their man.
@@rafikz77 the old man wasn't just a player in the 80s and early 90s he went on to coach and be a GM he has not lost touch with the game and his views should be taken seriously by young people of limited experience.
80s NBA Is Fantastic
Real payers... Before the magnets that control the games and who the stars are.
Say it again & we will NEVER see that era again as pretending to talent.
That 80’s CBS era was the absolute best ever.
100%
@@Fakename70 amen, god
i miss those days.
That wasn't a rant. That was an in depth answer to a question about how professional basketball is played today versus how it was played by the best teams in the 1980's, offered by one of the NBA's greatest Hall of Fame low post players of all time. All time great power forward players such as Olajuwon and Garnett owe their many successes to Kevin McHale, he was such an innovator in the low post. He was unstoppable, even against double and triple teams and he was an underrated passer and shooter for his size, too. 😉😎
RANT in the title gets more CLICK$.
Great post!
The NBA was so much better back then.
Great and experienced knowledge from McHale here......By the way, for some in the thread who weren't there, and as someone who grew up in the 80's watching...The best teams of the decade were any of the Lakers teams (especially '87), the '83 Sixers, the '86 Celtics, and the '89 Pistons.....Those teams were all incredible. And one more thing, Billy Cunningham is one of the most underrated coaches of all time. Pre-'84, as a Celtics fan I almost always thought the Sixers had the edge on us, somewhat due to the coaching greatness of Cunningham. Fortunately we had Bird though. :)
Man I miss the 80s and 90s style of play... I remember the stress of having my heroes (especially the big guys or main pg) getting 2 fouls in the 1st quarter. That tactic and many others are non existent anymore...
I love Kevin offering up the criticism on passing, when, I believe Larry called Kevin the "Black Hole," because, when you threw him the ball, it was never coming back😂. Just kiddin' Kevin! It would be nice to have a roundtable discussion with Cornbread, Larry, Danny, Kevin, and Robert for about 2hrs! Just have you guys free associate and bring up some of your favorite games, game situations, trips, cities, bus rides, locker room banter, rookie stories, family stores, etc. Not only would the fans absolutely love it, I think you guys would as well!
Thanks again!🙏
Danny Ainge was the originator of the "black hole" comment.
@@billjames1556 Thx!
When he can shoot 68% lay in some games ? Automatic. McHale wasn't Larry or DJ or ainge touching the ball first. His role was being a top 2 post player of all time.
Hakeem and Mchale destroyed everyone on the block. Shaq is the other with ridiculous accuracy in history.
If you drive the ball and get fouled you get a and one. That's a 3 point play , it's lets you set your defense, and it gets other team in foul trouble. Driving the ball is still as good as a 3 pointer.
it can be but teams would start giving up the 2 and take the 3 instead.
The modern league just doesn't seem to hustle and grind like the old school 80's did. Back then you had to work for every scoring opportunity and make it count. The modern league no doubt has talented players , it's just the game seems more relaxed and free-wheeling. It still has it's intense moments just not as frequent like the old school '80's league.
80's were NBA golden age.
That''s what happens when players are overrated and overpayed - they don't think that there needs to be put any effort in!!
@@kn23m I think (i'm 49) that today players have better overall skills, like drybling, shooting etc. But... Is nowadays NBA more fun to watch than 80-90? Nope. Cos of lack of defence
@@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212 nah 60’s was golden age
@@patek9789 60's my favourite era, but not golden age at all. More teams, rivalries, competition and great teams in the 80's. Celtics, Lakers 76ers, Rockets, Pistons, with some of the best rosters of all time. 1988 Pistons is probably the best roster in NBA history (I mean as a team, not about number of all stars). 1986 Celtics, best team ever. But I agree 1967 76ers is right there too.
Great show
Today's game everyone plays the exact same way, everyone has the same moves, everyone work out together. Everyone want to play like a guard, when their strength is not being a guard. No one knows how to play off the ball, and if they don't crossover at least 3 times it ain't a good move in their eyes. Then throw in guys who think they shoot like Curry when in reality they shoot like Ben Simmons, this modern game is trash.
I don't watch modern NBA anymore and don't miss it. On the flip side I still get entertained and hype from watching games from 30-40 years ago
Hard to see these old Celtics and not be able to hear from DJ
Bill Fitch was very tough on Danny Ainge.
Fitch was tough on most of them..and took it too far, to the point where in '83 most of the team mutinied.
@@toddfrank3344 They tuned him out, tired of his voice.
The '81-'83 Sixers would be taking the lunch money of all the players today.
Yup.
Those 1981-1983 Dr.J 76ers teams took the Larry Bird's Boston Celtics lunch money.
Just imagine what would happen to Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics if they had to go through those 1981-1983 Philadelphia 76ers!
@@martyemmons1859 what??? 81 Celtics were champions 😂
@@iamlegend3669 - sixers had the upper hand in 80,82, and 83
@@gary6754 they loose 80 and 82🤷
In what rules?
Todays game has all but eliminated the value of size for the product of skill. I understand that the NBA is a business yet somethings will never make sense to me. Why would you pull a 7footer off the low post to set a pick just to roll back to the same block??? JUST GIVE THEM THE DAM BALL ON THE BLOCK the first time and run your motion or sequence off the post options. SMH
Yeap
McHale is right
Grew up with 80s Celtics. Ain't no one telling me the 86 championship team or even the 87 team wouldn't be contenders today.
As a Lakers fan y'all might win 🏆 8 again n a row😂😂😂😂more nights of no sleep
@@mahlonthomas1775 lol
80’s Celtics wouldn’t be a contender today. No way.
@@Boogie-in6of not gonna happen champ
@@Boogie-in6of yes they would
I like McHale. I'm surprised he doesn't mention Joker. He does everything KM says isn't being done.
Jokic fits the example far better than Giannis
Yea! EVERYBODY knew how to play! Great line! And Great teams know how!
Kevin has aged. Max has aged very well!❤
Max at least 5-6 years older too
@@NBAHistoryCLNSMaxwell is 2 years older than McHale (Cornbread was born in ‘55 , McHale was born in ‘57)
I do not watch NBA games nowadays.
When I want watch a good bball I watch 80’s and 90’s NBA games on youtube.
Yup
I'm right there with you. I do the exact same. Today's NBA is soooo overrated.
Yeah…it is boring when you know the only 2 options on offense are 3 point shooting or fast break.
You see player hitting 10 3’s on a game but missing 2 point shots on the perimeter without defense.
Haven’t watched NBA in twenty years, and there are many reasons.
Thank you Kevin
The NBA has turned into a left foot pivot league. 99% of the time, regardless of the situation, it's a left foot pivot. Guys that are able to play well pivoting with either foot are going to be the next wanted commodity by team's. Recently there was a run on 3-and-D guys, then cutters/3 pt shooters. Next will be guys that have an added pivot game. Those offenses will start separating themselves from others.
Ain't no more pivot foot in the league with all those step back and side steps...all those moves are violations, no pivot foot set
it’s a glorified pickup game
Two of the greatest players of all time, never mind all the BS you read about. Didn't miss a big game from 81 to 87 in the Garden. Celtics and the Lakers mid eighties were the two best teams of all time.
He hit the nail on the head 100 %
As a Lakers fan since 1969. The 80s Boston Celtics would demolishes these teams y'all might win 🏆 8 again and I would lose sleep n the 2020s not fair
must have been tough watching that 69 finals huh
@@patek9789 yes it was....all my sports team's lost that year. Red Wings 🪽 49ers New York Yankees Lakers 4LIFE
Teams hardly play defense. That part of the game is definitely not the same.
Spectrum, The original Garden. Hemisphere, The forum in L.A.
Today's boring game now, guys are just throwing it in the rim and act like they did something amazing. I'm not amaze about it like other people are today. The old school fun game they play the right way where it made u want to be a basketball player. Now it's a joke, I don't even watch basketball anymore I'm ready for football season.
The truth! That's why I cancelled my NBA League Pass many years ago. Amazing happened back then and that's why I loved this game.
💯
U two should get head coaching jobs
Today everybody has to have to the ball in their hands, everybody including centers want to bring the ball up( give it to a point guard although there are few true point guards) . Taking threes six seven ft behind the three point line when they can easily put their toes just behind the line, And just bad shot selection…oh one more comment, jumping in the air in the lane and then trying to pass, oh one more, defensively players watching the ball and getting back door Ed ( they don’t split their vision between the ball and their man.
Great piece... Too bad about the dooey "rant" title from a clickbsut geek..??
No rant. A very simple description of current mess.
No contest. Today's is CRAP!!!
Let's be honest, today's NBA is boring to watch and it looks a bit boring to play.
"ran the whole gamut" no "gambit"
Google those words.
He used gamut correctly.
OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUDS
@@rafikz77 the old man wasn't just a player in the 80s and early 90s he went on to coach and be a GM he has not lost touch with the game and his views should be taken seriously by young people of limited experience.
Plumbers and firemen
It's amazing how those plumbers and firemen wound up in the Hall of Fame. You don't know what you're talking about