While NBA play began Tuesday with the spotlight squarely focused on No. 23's second comeback -- this time in a Wizards' uniform -- a new rule attempting to speed up play, increase scoring and reduce individual isolation plays quietly became official. Banned since the first three months of the 1946-47 season, zone defenses made a return of their own, bringing along criticism from players and coaches alike. 

On April 12, at this year's annual meeting of the NBA's board of governors, a two-thirds majority vote by 29 ownership groups (one for each team) established new guidelines for the way defense can be played. Illegal defense is a violation of the past, replaced with a defensive three-second rule that allows a player to stay inside the lane for up to three seconds at a time, unless they are within an arm's length of the player they are guarding. 

"I think it's a stupid, idiotic rule," last year's MVP, Shaquille O'Neal told the Associated Press. "I think a bunch of old people upstairs need to retire and hire young people if they want to make the game better." 

Team owners also approved a rule lowering the amount of time allowed to bring the ball past mid-court from 10 seconds to eight. They believe these adjustments will speed up play; which will intern increase scoring and interest among the steadily diminishing number of fans watching games. Some players and coaches argue the new rule will allow weaker opponents to use multiple men on defense to pursue an offensive team's key scorers, resulting in fewer points per game. 

What can defensive zones do and how will it affect the NBA game? 

· Stifle a team's primary weapons with more than one player -- Previous high-scoring threats will have to use second and third options, and these players must be ready to hit the outside shots created by zone defenses. Although Allen Iverson will now be able to break multiple ankles with his killer crossover and quick moves, long-range scorers will now command an increased focus on offense. 

· Control and slow down the tempo of a game -- As if a deliberately physical Knicks vs. Heat game didn't already crawl at a snail's pace, it will only get slower. 

· Help against height mismatches and present an intimidating force of big men stacked inside --Look for defensive-minded big men such as Dikembe Mutombo and Alonzo Mourning to put up stellar numbers. Could Shawn Bradley finally have a break-through season? 

· Rest and protect foul-prone players -- This is especially favorable for centers and power forwards who will now be able to collapse towards the basket for help, and wait for the offensive player to make a move or take the outside shot. Previously developed and mastered at the Derrick Coleman School of Defense, this tactic will become increasingly popular. 

· Create offensive rebounding opportunities -- Without clear-cut rebounding and box-out assignments on defense, offensive players crashing the boards will have ample opportunities to convert loose balls and errant shots into points. Scrappy guards and small forwards should enjoy the increase in hustle stats.