I can stretch the defense.
My main improvement on defense has just been my coaches. They've been teaching me defensive schemes, how to guard guys, and how to use my length.
I mean, defense to me is something that when you watch a game you don't really pay attention to defense unless you're very - unless you're a specialist.
I'll knock down the open jumper when it's there, but I want to get after it on the defensive end.
Defense not only wins games; it's what gets you on the floor at every level you play at. Once you get to high school and get to college, if you don't play defense, you won't play.
When it comes to playoff time, the game slows down, the offense slows down and you've got to be able to get stops.
Basketball has turned into an offensive-minded situation. They don't play on both ends. They don't play defense.
When there's pressure on the ball, you can go man-to-man on your striker; you've got the advantage because the ball pressure means it'll be a difficult pass to play.
I just try to play hard defensively.
I just think I've got to be more aggressive at both ends of the floor. When I'm aggressive on the defensive end it really helps me on offense.
The basic premise of my system is to fatigue your opponents with constant pressure defensively and constant movement offensively.
In high school, I figured I'd get a few extra baskets by getting steals. I would just pressure up the ball.
My thing is just cut down the easy baskets. Cut down the easy baskets, and cut down the other guys that are going to score.
Defense, in the game, is something that I just really enjoy. Some people enjoy assisting the ball. Some people like to score, score, score, but to me the first thing that comes up is defense.
You may have to change how you guard somebody because of how they play. But the mindset stays the same - making people uncomfortable, making them do what you want them to do instead them dictating on offense.
When we're leading during the game, we have to squeeze the opponent.
In the NBA, if you can't defend your position, they're going to go at you over and over again.
What is the best thing you can do in a close game? Drive to the basket and put pressure on the defense! Not jack up jump shots
New York basketball is about defense.
I like to get physical on defense. I like to get up on a guy as much as possible. I actually need to calm down, though.
Think about the deflections. The offense can't score every play. They're just trying to get a good shot. If I can deflect a pass, even if it doesn't cause a turnover, it will throw their timing off half-a-second. That half-a-second might mess up their shot.
Having a good defensive line allows you to play better because it's less stressful in terms of defending.
The confidence level that Steph is playing with now, obviously, you won't totally stop him. If I'm playing against him right now, I think I'd try to pick him up full court, get the ball out of his hands, try to be a little physical.
Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players while being as close to him as possible. He is too quick, too fast, too intense with the ball.
My mentality when guarding a point guard was always to try and disrupt him and take them out of the offense.
