For All the NBA Haters......

[potato]

Hand checking makes defense tougher, but also makes it easier to call a foul, so more freethrows.

Also the difficulty to cut the basket with hand checking makes strategical moves more important and result in higher FG%.

Plus players in the 80-90's grew up in tough environment, current players grew up in better environment & better educated, thus it affects their playing attitudes, and also shaped their crybaby character. *ahem the King*.