Sept. 23, 2004

by Jackie Manuel

Before I got to Carolina, no one talked very much about my defense. In high school, it just wasn't emphasized. But I realized something when I was in high school: the easiest way to guard somebody is to make sure they don't get the ball. At this level of basketball, your teammate will look at you for maybe one or two seconds, and if you're not open, he's going somewhere else with the ball. So if I can deny my man for those one or two seconds, I've done my job, he's not getting the ball, and it's easier to play defense against him. If he does get the ball, my long arms and quickness are helpful. I'm able to stay in front of him, play the drive, but still contest a shot. That's when you have to know where your teammates are, because if you've got them help side, you've always got someone to back you up.

The hardest player to guard is someone who knows the game. He makes it tough if he's active and constantly moving or coming off screens. By now, though, I've been around long enough that I've seen most of the guys I'll guard play before. I know their strengths and weaknesses. Within our defensive principles, I want to make my man do the things he's not comfortable doing. I watch tape, and I watch my man on both ends.

The first couple of shots he takes are very important. That's what determines whether he has a good night or a bad night. If you try to ease into the game defensively, you're going to have a long night. If he hits those first couple shots, he's going to start feeling it. So you have to make it as tough as possible right from the start. What I want to see are those signs of frustration that let you know you're getting to him a little bit. When he misses a shot, you want to see him drop his head or clap his hands in frustration. That's when I know I'm in his head. That makes me play even harder. It helps our team if my man can't score, and I feel good that I'm able to stop one of their best players.

I know a lot of people who aren't players or coaches don't pay much attention to defense. Or maybe they pay attention, but it's a lot harder to tell a good defensive player because there's no stat you can look at. To find out who is a good scorer, you just look at points per game. You can't do the same thing for defense. But the game is changing on every level. It used to be that teams just thought it would be nice to have a top defensive player. Now everyone has to have one. You need that player who can stop the other team's top guy. That's what I like to do.