Al Horford Quotes

On the defensive end, I have to do my job.

My shot-blocking ability, it's really second to none.

You can be a great defensive player, and if you don't put up splash statistics, then you're not going to get noticed.

Any good defensive team has a strong anchor, because he cleans up mistakes.

You look at Kawhi Leonard, Tony Allen, Draymond Green: they are great on ball, and they are great team defenders as well. You want to be both of them, not just one.

That's how you get better on defense; not just 'oh, man, my guy beat me,' but you have to think about, 'okay, my man beat me, so I either have to pick up the next man, or I'm going to give somebody a foul.

Tony Allen is a good defender, very smart.

I think my wingspan helps me out on defense, because I can cover a little more ground and block a few more shots.

If you commit to the defensive end of the floor, you're going to have a chance to win every night. And if you're a great defensive team, you're going to go to the playoffs.

I was a guy that had a lot of tools and could do a lot of other things, but my main thing was controlling the defensive end of the court.

You don't want your opponent to score. You don't want your guy to score and once you get better at it, you get used to it, it becomes a mindset. You just try to do it every game.

I always felt like I'm a good one-on-one defensive player.

With all the talk of the 3-point line, it's still most important to build your defense inside to out.

I'm a defender first and foremost - blocks, headers, vital tackles, or even just the communication side of it, which is massive but doesn't really get recognised.

I've always loved blocking shots.

Good basketball always starts with good defense!

Being able to guard the pick and roll makes you a high asset in the NBA.

Being out there, I know how to play the game and know my spots. Just get rebounds, block shots, defend.

You have to defend the perimeter guys otherwise you're going to struggle getting playing time or staying on the court.

I realize I have to continue to work on defense. I think a lot of people have to work on defense.

I think I am a good help defender as well as just bringing a lot of communication to the floor.

I really wasn't a good defensive player at all.

I'm a defender, and my first job is to make the team secure at the back; that's my primary responsibility.

I'm a 6'1' guard, but I'm blessed to have a wingspan of 6'7'. I have good lateral movement. For me, fighting over screens and using my hands, I kind of get tips on the ball. People don't understand getting a hand on the ball - not just stealing it - means a lot, especially in this league because everything happens so fast.

I think I stand up more often than I should on defense. I've got to be solid and continue to get better.