Really good reply , thanks . It is probably also true that defenses got more sophisticated and just better in the 1990 s the overall level of the game did rise in that period . This comment made me realize ' zone defenses were prohibited in the National Basketball Association prior to the 20012002 season '. Your comment about Jordan inspired isoball also seems to be extremely onpoint . I looked up the average league pace over that time period and it looks like pace slowed down significantly during Jordan ' s era and didn ' t really climb back up much until ' 13 ' 14 reference . comleaguesNBAstats . html . Seems like you nailed it . <| sep |> Into nonbeing , which is to say , everything . Minerva McGonagall <| sep |> Cobalt , purple , pink , saffron and forest green chakrams