The clock caused scoring to soar from 79.5 to 93.1 points per game the first season. Scoring continued to increase as player talent improved during the 1960's. The problem is that the number of standout players hasn't increased. Now a team is lucky if it has one. For all the good Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson did for basketball's image, young players tend to notice their flashiness and to overlook their basic skills.
Nobody boxes out on rebounds any more.
Nobody practices free throws by the hundreds. Shortening the line to 22 feet one year ago has proven to be a disaster. Let's talk about the three issues. The major eras of expansion were the ABA period and the past decade. Both watered-down periods were boring.