By Sam Amico
ProBasketballNews.com
Doug Moe knows all about pro basketball’s so-called golden age. He played and coached in the ABA in the 1970s, then coached in the NBA in the ‘80s.
It was an era when every shot was taken with perfect form, every pass was preceded by a timely cut, every pick followed by a roll. Ah yes, the good ol’ days.
Or were they?
Not according to Moe, now an assistant under George Karl on the same Denver bench Moe ruled from 1980-90.
“A lot of old-timers like to say that back in the old
days, they did this or that better,” Moe said in an
exclusive interview with ProBasketballNews.com.
“Well, they may have done this or that, but this or
that wasn’t nearly as good as it is today.”
Moe’s comments defy what seems to be popular
opinion -- which says too many of today’s players
have not mastered the most basic aspects of the
game.
The comments also come from a coach whose
teams thrived on crisp passing, good shooting,
and lots of scoring. It was move the ball until
you find the open man, then do it again and again
and again. Then you were expected to knock down
the shot once you got it.
If you’re impressed with the high-scoring ways of today’s Phoenix Suns or Golden State Warriors, consider that Moe’s Nuggets teams averaged more than 120 points per game for five straight seasons -- and no fewer than 114.6 during his entire decade in Denver.
So this is a man who knows a lot about fundamental basketball. Heck, he practically invented it.
It’s also what makes his opinion about modern-day players, and their critics, worth noting.
“A lot of people talk about shooting, and say that shooting (in today’s NBA) isn’t as good. But shooting is a lot better than it ever was,“ Moe said. “Defenses are a lot better than they ever were. Everything is better. Talent is better.”
Then Moe laughed.
“And for all those old players who say that today’s players don’t have the fundamentals, well, they need to go back and look at some of the old films,“ he said. “It’s almost comical.”
He added, “The overall talent today is unbelievable. It just keeps improving.”
Moe is no ordinary assistant. He is a legend in Denver, having his “number” retired after compiling a 432-357 record in 10 seasons (fittingly, the Nuggets gave him No. 432, which hangs from the rafters of the Pepsi Center ).
After all that, he came back to help Karl -- and is now in his fourth year in his assistant's role.
What does he contribute today?
“Nothing, nada, zero, zilch,” the always-colorful coach said with a wide smile. “I’m just here to keep George company, and I'm having an excellent time doing it.”
Moe plans to keep doing it too. At least, he does for the time being.
“I go day by day,” he said. “I told George when he first asked me to sit on the bench that I couldn’t find a reason NOT to sit there. But at my age [69 years old] … well, I was just happy today because I woke up. When that happens, it’s a good day.”
Sam Amico is the editor ot ProBasketballNews.com. Contact him or subscribe to his free e-mail newsletter at amico@probasketballnews.com.
