The other factor IMHO (where the H is missing after getting kicked out of the weight room) is that the pre-college development of elite hoopsters is far more rigorous, organized and intense than it was for the Laettner-Hurley-Hill teams. Parents, coaches, even USA Basketball all have awakened to the importance of year-around training and basketball. (And, of course, my era of the 1960's is light years away -- did you ever take a close look as those skinny-minnies, a number of whom had good runs in the NBA?)
If only they would dedicate a portion of that year long training to playing defense and shooting free throws...
The other factor IMHO (where the H is missing after getting kicked out of the weight room) is that the pre-college development of elite hoopsters is far more rigorous, organized and intense than it was for the Laettner-Hurley-Hill teams. Parents, coaches, even USA Basketball all have awakened to the importance of year-around training and basketball. (And, of course, my era of the 1960's is light years away -- did you ever take a close look as those skinny-minnies, a number of whom had good runs in the NBA?)
And, of course, while they all smoked Marlboro reds and drank Coors banquet in the locker room at halftime.