--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that good defense embodies…" description: "\"I believe that good defense embodies seven cardinal principle: reduce the number of your opponent's shots; force your opponent into low percentage shot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/adolph-rupp-40882_balls_i-believe-that-good-defense-embodies-sev_2232119.jpg" --- # I believe that good defense embodies seven cardinal… ![“I believe that good defense embodies seven cardinal principle: reduce the number of your opponent's shots; force your opponent into low percentage shots; control everything within 18 feet; eliminate second shots; no easy baskets; point the ball on all long shots; and prevent the ball from going…” quote by Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/adolph-rupp-40882_balls_i-believe-that-good-defense-embodies-sev_2232119.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/adolph-rupp-40882_balls_i-believe-that-good-defense-embodies-sev_2232119.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/589/adolph-rupp-40882_balls_i-believe-that-good-defense-embodies-sev_2232119.jpg) > “I believe that good defense embodies seven cardinal principle: reduce the number of your opponent's shots; force your opponent into low percentage shots; control everything within 18 feet; eliminate second shots; no easy baskets; point the ball on all long shots; and prevent the ball from going into the pivot man.” [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective defense relies on limiting opponent opportunities, forcing low‑probability shots, and controlling the key area near the basket. **In simple terms:** Good defense limits shots, forces tough attempts, controls close range. Key Takeaway Control the paint and limit opponent shots. Themes basketball defense strategy Mood strategic analytical Type technical motivational When to use this quote - coaching - game planning Key Concepts shot selection court control team coordination Practical Applications - player development Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate this defense without sacrificing offense? - What drills reinforce controlling the 18‑foot area? A Different Perspective Defensive focus may neglect offensive balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-coaching/) [Baskets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baskets/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Cardinal Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardinal-principle-4747857/) [Cardinals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardinals/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Defense Embodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-embodies-5025970/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Good Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-defense-966195/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-shot/) [Long shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-shots/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Percentages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percentages/) [Prevent Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevent-ball-5025969/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Seven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) ## Related quotes > [A cardinal principle in systems theory is that all parties that have a stake in a system should be represented in its management.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-knowles/a-cardinal-principle-in-systems-theory-is-that-all-parties-that-have/) [Malcolm Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-knowles/) > [In my view there is a level of human knowledge that involves just getting it right aptly. 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So people make fun of vegetarians for being tofu eaters, but no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/ninety-eight-percent-of-all-the-soy-that-s-raised-goes-to-livestock/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are not themselves members of the middle class, not by a long shot, which means they've searched for other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-keith/donald-trump-and-hillary-clinton-are-not-themselves-members-of-the/) [Tamara Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-keith/) > [In the Latino community, the Trump campaign, even when it seemed it was a long shot he would be elected president, his campaign itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-tobar/in-the-latino-community-the-trump-campaign-even-when-it-seemed-it-was/) [Hector Tobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-tobar/) > [The enemy say that Americans are good at a long shot, but cannot stand the cold iron. I call upon you instantly to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfield-scott/the-enemy-say-that-americans-are-good-at-a-long-shot-but-cannot-stand/) [Winfield Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfield-scott/) > [I'm a big fan of being able to hold those long shots and use space. I don't know, I think everything's so quick cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/i-m-a-big-fan-of-being-able-to-hold-those-long-shots-and-use-space-i/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [I'm not a perfectionist by a long shot, but self-doubt is a large part of my creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-fullerton-whitman/i-m-not-a-perfectionist-by-a-long-shot-but-self-doubt-is-a-large-part/) [Keith Fullerton Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-fullerton-whitman/) > [Are you placing enough interesting, freakish, long shot, weirdo bets?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/are-you-placing-enough-interesting-freakish-long-shot-weirdo-bets/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More by Adolph Rupp > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Success is the best builder of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/success-is-the-best-builder-of-character/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [We're never as good as we think we are, nor as bad as we think we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/we-re-never-as-good-as-we-think-we-are-nor-as-bad-as-we-think-we-are/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [Your defense will save you on the nights that your offense isn't working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/your-defense-will-save-you-on-the-nights-that-your-offense-isn-t/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [If they don't let me coach, they might as well take me to the Lexington cemetery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-they-don-t-let-me-coach-they-might-as-well-take-me-to-the/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [I wouldn't give one iota to make a trip from the cradle to the grave unless I could live in a competitive world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/i-wouldn-t-give-one-iota-to-make-a-trip-from-the-cradle-to-the-grave/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [I know I have plenty of enemies, but I'd rather be the most-hated winning coach in the country than the most-popular losing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/i-know-i-have-plenty-of-enemies-but-i-d-rather-be-the-most-hated/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [He who controlleth the backboard, controlleth the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/he-who-controlleth-the-backboard-controlleth-the-game/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [I've always envied the kind of coach who could go completely out of his mind and nobody would know the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/i-ve-always-envied-the-kind-of-coach-who-could-go-completely-out-of/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Explore all 10 Adolph Rupp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. 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