It's a phrase most often associated with players who are playing on a level above everyone else. Yet, recently, in the college game, you are hearing it more and more as it relates to team defense. Teams today are playing a lot more zone defense, a defense that was suppose to be obsolete with the advent of the 3 point line. The 3-point line did change things.
Teams have to be able to defend the perimeter.
This has changed what traditionalists would call zone defense. What has not changed are the three reasons why teams play zone defense. Cannot defend the other team. There are many reasons why a team may not be able to defend their opponents. Other team can't shoot.