Editor's Note: ESPN NBA analyst and Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay was on an 11-member committee that met March 20-21 in Phoenix and endorsed ways to improve the game, including the use of zone defenses. Also on the committee, headed by Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, were Theo Ratliff, Jerry West, Rod Thorn, Wayne Embry, Bob Lanier, Stu Jackson, Russ Granik and supervisor of officials Ed Rush.

The committee unanimously recommended to eliminate the illegal defensive guidelines because of the inactive offensive game that they fostered. There were too many isolations on one or two offensive players while the others stood on the opposite side of the floor pointing out to officials what they perceived to be illegal defenses of the opponent.

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Basketball is supposed to be a five-man game; isolations make for an inactive and unattractive game that doesn't involve all five players. Allowing defensive freedom will take away the standstill part of the game. In addition, there has always been a cloud of uncertainty among players, coaches and officials about the rules regarding illegal defense.

Plus, the fans have no clue. Most don't understand what is or isn't legal. The rule change removes any uncertainty about illegal defense. The term "illegal defense" is gone after this season.

There are two other worthwhile changes: a defensive three-second count, in which a defender cannot be in the lane for three seconds without guarding somebody, which means an arm's length away from an offensive player; and an eight-second count in the backcourt, instead of 10. It will speed up the game and also invite trapping defenses. We should see a quicker pace, more strategy and more open-court opportunities.

Everybody on the committee feels good about the changes, especially the removal of defensive restrictions. Isolations are not appealing to a player who is asked to stand outside the 3-point line on offense while one or two players play and try to score. The NBA was the only league to put a limit on the kind of defense a team could play. No other level of basketball requires a team to play its defenders in certain parts of the playing area.

So then why did the NBA prohibit zone defenses in the first place? The league banned the zone defense in January of 1947, halfway through its first year of its existence -- and it's been banned ever since. The Pittsburgh Ironmen, who lasted only one season, played zone defense. I went to see the Ironmen play against the old Philadelphia Warriors, and their defense was so bad it was ludicrous. The league only banned the zone because it was bad, not because it was difficult for teams to play against.

Through the years teams have managed to use double-teams and some zone principles. When Joe Mullaney coached the Lakers during the 1969-70 season, with Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, he tried to play a combination zone defense, which he had used very successfully in college at Providence. But at the end of the year, I remember him telling me that the defense doesn't work in the NBA.

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The NBA's nuts-and-bolts defense will remain man-to-man with weak-side help. Man-to-man defense will be just as intense as ever and will win. Teams that go to the playoffs won't be ones that play zone defense -- I guarantee it. ”

With no restrictions on defense next season, people assume a lot of teams will play a zone. I don't think they will because a zone can't be effective in the NBA. Teams could play a combination zone, but I don't see it working. So eventually, we will still see one-on-one matchups.

The NBA's nuts-and-bolts defense will remain man-to-man with weak-side help. Man-to-man defense will be just as intense as ever and will win. Teams that go to the playoffs won't be ones that play zone defense -- I guarantee it.

Zone defense will, however, increase the number of strategies a coach can use. I think NBA coaches will try to put some kind of zone defense together to see how effective it can be, but it won't be a team's principal defense. And offensively, coaches must have an attack ready in case a team plays a zone defense. It will become part of a team's preparation.

Most of the fears about zone defense are groundless. Detractors have said the offenses will become stationary and end with a lot of 3-point shots. If you are playing against a zone, you don't beat it from the outside. The best strategies against the zone are to either beat it down the floor, or to get the ball into the heart of the zone and beat it inside as well as on the perimeter, with a good balance between the two.

The rule change will not help or hurt anybody. A team can put two defenders on Allen Iverson and play three on the rest of the team. If that's the case, then Philadelphia will have to find a way to run Iverson off screens so he can get the ball and go to work. Larry Brown will figure out a way to make it happen, and it won't bother Iverson.

If Shaquille O'Neal is triple-teamed, then there will be four players on two defenders. That's not good math, especially when one of the other players is Kobe Bryant.

A lack of defensive restrictions will increase the demand for players to have better all-around skills, especially passing. Teams will need five players on the floor who can pass the ball and some good perimeter shooters. And defenders must be alert, quick and ready to make adjustments. Those are all good qualities.

I was talking to Lakers coach Phil Jackson on Wednesday night, and he was proposing ways for teams to put two defenders on Shaq. I told him they could under the new rules. And if Shaq stands still, he will have a problem. But if Shaq moves, the ball moves and his teammates are aware of what's happening, Shaq will kill the defense. He is too good.

I have high hopes for the changes to have a positive impact on the game. It's been a long time coming. The game should be very interesting and appealing to watch, to coach and to play, with no more mystique about illegal defense.