Knicks at that time were definitely physical, but I'd kinda lump them in the same generation of players as those Pistons were. Maybe not fair, but lol.
And Hornets did play rough at times, so did the Miami Heat. There have some strong defensive teams that have their own level of play since then, but it's not the same imo.
That's more of the way the game has evolved than anything else though. If the rules were were the same as then, you'd have a handful of teams playing that bully ball brand of basketball.