gordontrue
Bandwagoner
You have never heard Magic Johnson and Kareem talk about it, but they have commented extensively that the players are not having to learn more complicated plays in little time and that the NBA has dumbed down considerably. That doesn't mean they are incapable of learning, but when that becomes the normal and standard in the industry - they balk when asked to do more for all of those millions and in there eyes the management would be doing to much - such was the attitude in New York when the dominoes like Marbury got told to leave forever.
That being said - the triangle is too rigid and too slow and for a long time Phil Jackson wouldn't budge or move from it. With Dwight Howard, I think there would have been a greater chance of the success with Phil Jackson in place then Dumb AssToni. I think in today's NBA flexibility to run what will work is needed and part of the equation is that bad teams can make up for the lack of talent by being young, able to run and shooting so much that by virtual the number of throws they are going to compete. If they shoot twice as many throws, then they will still get their's even though they are shooting 39% for example. On the other side of that because the Lakers for example were so slow they had time to move to the other side, set up a defense and actually got rested up in comparison because they are so much younger and used to running. I think all of these things help contribute to the demise of teams like the Lakers
Former players love to talk about everything that is wrong with the current players... how nobody is as smart or good or tough or has to walk uphill in the snow anymore. Blah blah blah blah blah.
More effort and energy is put into scouting and scheming than ever before, because so much data is available. Want to know what percentage Chris Bosh shoots from the left elbow when guarded by an opponent 7 feet or taller? There's the data.
I wouldn't say that offense is more or less complicated than before, but I WILL say that defense is much more complicated. With all of the recent rules to favor offense, playing great team defense requires a lot more complication for the players.