I'm with you guys in how the sport has changed. There is more emphasis on individual play and super star athletes than the actual mechanics of the game. With that being said, change is always inevitable. This sticking with old school bull crap is thankfully dying out. People are bigger, stronger, faster, and smarter than when the game started. When the 3 point line was introduced, old farts said the same thing about the game you are saying about possession time. We must accomodate for athletic advancement. Does it bring more $$, thankfully that is a big yes.
Refs allowing to be more physical, time of possession, and isolation plays for super stars is needed to accommodate the insurgence of superior athletes.
The issue I have is this 2 1/2 or more steps being allowed to create separation and refs being allowed to be soft on walking in the NBA.
I understand teams and athletes pushing the envelope on gray area issues to gain an advantage. Some examples of that are; Harding shuffling his feet to find separation, Draymond Greene teetering on technicals, Chris Paul treating a whisper like a bear swiped his head, etc.
Obviously I'm asking everyone to think a little outside the box. After all, 10 years ago a shot between the 3 line and half court was considered a Hail Mary. Now It's a strategy that wins championships.
Go Miners