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@approxinfinity-I also was taught to watch a guys’ hips, that it was almost impossible for him to fake you if you did. Also to keep your feet squarely in front of the offensive man; if you get one foot further ahead of the other & he gets past the front foot, he’s got you beat. These are fundamentals still preached today I’m pretty sure. It’s more difficult to apply these habits now with the longer, much quicker athletes in the game now. I often try to picture just how good a Havlicek, or a Billy Cunningham, or a Tom Heinson would match up with some of todays tremendous studs because of the pace & size in the game is so different. Some of the backcourt guys like the Big O, Earl the Pearl, the “Jones Boys” (Sam, KC, or Wally), Bing or Cousy would likely still be as great, & so would Wilt or Russell, but the forward position is so different now than even 25 years ago. Athletic big guys like Tisdale & Manning & Durant are really a lot greater in numbers, & has made the NBA a greater spectacle than ever IMO, but without the great, night in & night out, defense. One thing different for sure is the baffling numbers of the incredibly, butt-ugly TATS…just on one freaking person! JMO guys, certainly no offense intended.
