Over the past couple years I have felt Boeheim allows his opponents to attempt open 3 point shots to start the game. Not exactly open, but we play a bit loose along the 3 point line. Sure this probably has to do with our defense picking up the intensity on close outs after we give up a couple early 3's, but i actually feel these makes benefit us. I never mind seeing a team come out and hit 2 or 3 consecutive 3 pointers to start the game. Opponents see the ball go in and fall in love with the 3. It has seemed to happen almost every single game(or what feels like) this season. I know it has happened a lot over the past 5 years or so as well. I doubt JB would admit it, but I bet he doesn't mind it as well. Watch as the season goes on. It never fails, but we quickly adjust.
While JB doesn't want people to go all nuts on us, yes, that's part of the hoped-for outcome. They called it "fool's gold" in an interview or article for ESPN a couple years ago. Happened to Nova, as you pointed out.
The big thing about the zone that we do, that other teams don't really do, is we ADJUST it so well, mid-stream in the game, to take away specific things that the opponent does. It's like, "oh, you're going to to THIS? Well, now we'll take that away, and what will you do now?" Bilas called it a "scouting report zone", and that is certainly the foundation of the approach to each opponent. Just look at how we limited JayVaughn Pinkston to only 3 points. And in the St. John's game, a similar result. Make somebody ELSE other than the star player beat you. How will the other team's offense adjust?
Boeheim forces more adjustments on other teams during the game, because of how he has mastered the rotations in the zone, where the passes are going to go, and has refined our defensive position to almost always be in position to contest a pass and maybe get a steal. The way he plays this zone now has so little similarity to the way they played it in the late 90s, when it became the staple defense. I think the last couple years, that's a big part of what has made us elite.
People used to accept that he was a very good offensive coach - he kept things natural and instinctive for players, and used his best players to take the most shots, in the best positions on the floor for those players. They gave him some props for his offensive and in particular the fast break abilities as a coach. We were "Show Time" before the Lakers ever were! Those Pearl and Sherman teams gave us a unique identity on par with Phi Slamma Jamma. SU was the Funkiest Team in the Land. Our jackets could be found on a lot of inner city playgrounds.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble, but I agree with your premise, that an opponent hitting some early 3's against the zone can lull them into taking those shots all game long instead of getting inside the zone and getting to the foul line against us. We push them out a couple more feet and suddenly those shots don't fall. The opponent's offense starts standing around, and hopefully at this point we make our move and get on a run. Boy, it's late and I am really excited by how this team is playing !!!