Potential affects of the new NBA rule changes

By Jan Garcia Sports Central Columnist

The big question for the 2001-2002 NBA season will not be who will be defending their title, but how the new rules will affect play in the league. By new rules, I am referring to the abolished "illegal defense" rule, which will allow any kind of defensive strategy, including zones. There are other smaller rules that will be implemented. A defensive player cannot stay in the paint for more than three seconds, which could affect how big men will play weak side defense. Reducing the time to get the ball across the half court from 10 seconds to eight, supposedly to encourage faster play. Lastly, referees will try to cut down touch fouls by not calling a foul on the defender unless he impedes the ball handler's progress.

These rule changes are a dramatic move for a league that is really scared that the drop in the quality of play will affect future fan interest. Many fear that these changes will lessen the effect of the "superstar". Players such as Shaquille O'Neal will be constantly double and triple teamed, at all times. This could hamper his effect as a scorer, but it could also enhance his team's scoring ability. Although the rules were put into effect so that "team basketball" would return, they could, also, end up allowing untalented players become more effective.

In the NBA, superstars such as Michael Jordan flourished in a league that preferred one-on-one defense. This is why college basketball rarely sees superstars elevate their performances to "one-man-gang" status. No matter how dominating the singular player is, the complete team will always beat him. That is why the best teams in college rarely have players score over 20 points. Last year's NCAA champion, the Duke Blue Devils, were led by Jason Williams with 21 points per game, as they were a high scoring team. If the NBA assimilates in similar fashion, league high scoring averages may dip.

The biggest adjustments must be made by the coaching staff. They must devise strategies that will work employing both strategies. All the teams will not be using a zone all the time. Some teams who will play against great players might use it the whole game, but it is not something that a team will be doing fulltime. It will affect the way poor teams will play against better teams, but not vice versa. Another way that the zone will affect play is give emphasis to the good shooter. Players like Del Curry will play for many more years.

Although the zone will affect certain aspects of the game, superstars will find a way to win. That is what will differentiate the NBA from college. Players like Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant may be hampered by the rules, but it will not decrease their talent. They will still be able to provide their ability while other players, who never had that kind of ability, cannot. Good teams will still win and bad teams will still lose.