Defensive Technique Quotes

If I want any shot at getting on the floor, I gotta know what I'm doing defensively.

When you intercept the ball with your stomach, that is great defense

You have got to not get hit. You could be the best puncher in the world, but if you're going to keep constantly taking punches you're going to lose your heart. Once you learn how to miss the punches and then you start to punch them, you become an all-around fighter.

If one of our players gets his second foul in the first half, then he must come out of the game and not re-enter until the second half. To play defense and not foul is an art that must be mastered if you are going to be successful.

If all you ever play with a cornerback in there is man to man, it is a disadvantage.

I like to always be able to contest shots. If you play against a player like Al Jefferson - he likes to pump-fake, so you need to be alert and quick. If he pump-fakes you and you go up, when you come back you need to go right back up to contest his shot.

When you go into a game on offense, you make a couple moves and see what the defender is going to do. Then you pretty much can figure out what he is going to do against you - whether he carries his hands low or high, whether he is bumping or pushing, those type of things.

It's basketball, man. It's being smart, using your size as an advantage. I can get into people. I can get into your stomach, so you can't back me down. I can stay in front of you, I can move my feet, I can be aggressive. People don't understand that it can be a disadvantage being tall, too.

A rebounder, or a shot-blocker for that matter, is always at a disadvantage if he tells himself the only way he can succeed is by out jumping the guy next to him. Sometimes he will have to, but most of the time he will not. Most of my rebounds came from positioning, where I was able to get the ball while in heavy traffic.

Centre-backs with good technique can move the ball forward, even when under pressure.

Rio Ferdinand is the hardest opponent I have faced - strong and quick. He didn't kick you. He was so classy. I could do all my step-overs, but he would watch the ball and tackle so immaculately. He only got the ball.

Kyle Korver - got to treat him like J.J. Redick and not let him get good looks.

Ledley King would get the ball off you without you even noticing he's the only defender in England who doesn't hold onto you, and he sometimes still gets the ball off my feet easily.

As a batsman, I want to stay as long as possible at the crease.

Everyone praises Sachin Tendulkar. He may be a genius in his own right but in my book, Rahul Dravid is the artist. Dravid's defence tactics, his strokes, his cuts, his grace are truly amazing. I'd like to meet the chap sometime and take my hat off to him.

I've added a bit more composure on the ball and defensively got a bit cuter and improved in one-on-ones.

As a big man you may struggle to get much height when jumping for a ball - but by training with your defender team-mates you can develop a technique for making strong challenges in the air, making defenders uncomfortable and work on taking the ball down.

Mayweather has been hit the least out of every world champion in history and that is the art of the sport; to hit and not get hit.

Canelo's a very disciplined guy, but he's very relaxed in the ring. He taught me that there are ways to relax so you won't get hit with certain punches. He showed me that the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to fight your fight by staying put.

My focus had always been the on-side. My coach wanted me to work on the offside strokes since he was convinced of my ability and timing on the leg side. I worked hard and firmed up my defensive technique. I am happy getting runs all around the wicket now, and getting a lot of boundaries. No one calls me a 'leggie batsman' anymore.