Flagrant fouls for normal contact. Load management means stars don't play. The regular season is meaningless. The 80s and 90s were tougher, more physical, more entertaining.
Players are bigger, faster, and more skilled than ever. The game is more watchable. Scoring is up. The "tough era" also had hand-checking that made offense boring. Nostalgia is lying to you.
82 games is too many. Players rest anyway. The quality of regular season games is low. A 58-game season (like the lockout year) would make every game matter more.
Revenue. TV deals are based on 82 games. Players' salaries are based on 82 games. Shortening the season means less money for everyone. The owners will never agree.
Every team shoots 35+ threes per game. The mid-range is dead. Games feel the same. Jack up threes, get to the rim, nothing in between. It's boring.
Scoring is at an all-time high. The game is faster and more exciting. Steph Curry made basketball more popular globally. The math says shoot threes. You can't argue with math.