[gaspar]

Always make your first foul a hard foul? That's the sort of thinking that has destroyed the essential beauty of American basketball -- along with palming, walking, backing in, holding, trashtalking and managers who have no control over their team. Basketball is now, as O'Neal says it is, a street game, played by and for muggers.

[dfwgator]

Basketball is now, as O'Neal says it is, a street game, played by and for muggers.

Another reason I was glad the US got their butts kicked at the World Championships. I hope the same happens to any so-called "Dream Team" in the future.

[labowski]

Agreed, the only one you left out is travelling. It's nothing but street ball now. Btw, I wouldn't consider Shaq an athelete even, he just happens to be the biggest and tallest. Now, Michael Jordan is/was an athelete, but Shaq, not even close.

[Smogger]

Always make your first foul a hard foul? That's the sort of thinking that has destroyed the essential beauty of American basketball -- along with palming, walking, backing in, holding, trashtalking and managers who have no control over their team. Basketball is now, as O'Neal says it is, a street game, played by and for muggers.

Oh gee. A lot of lamenting and whistfullness in this post. Cry me a river. I have been a basketball fan for 20 years, and most playoff caliber teams today would take the teams from the so-called "glory days" apart.

For one thing the players are about 6 to 8 inches taller and a lot more athletic.

[copycat]

Basketball is now, as O'Neal says it is, a street game, played by and for muggers.

They still miss jumpers when they think they're gonna get bumped.