--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play defense what happens is…" description: "\"When you play defense what happens is everybody pays attention and they start talking about how you're the stopper, you can stop this guy. All of a sud..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/gary-payton-4951_attention_when-you-play-defense-what-happens-is-ev_2310892.png" --- # When you play defense what happens is everybody pays… ![“When you play defense what happens is everybody pays attention and they start talking about how you're the stopper, you can stop this guy. All of a sudden your game gets better on the offensive end and you become that versatile guard that everybody wants.” quote by Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/gary-payton-4951_attention_when-you-play-defense-what-happens-is-ev_2310892.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/gary-payton-4951_attention_when-you-play-defense-what-happens-is-ev_2310892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/gary-payton-4951_attention_when-you-play-defense-what-happens-is-ev_2310892.png) > “When you play defense what happens is everybody pays attention and they start talking about how you're the stopper, you can stop this guy. All of a sudden your game gets better on the offensive end and you become that versatile guard that everybody wants.” [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defensive focus draws opponents' attention, freeing opportunities to excel offensively and become a versatile player. **In simple terms:** Playing defense can improve your overall game. Key Takeaway Use defense to boost offensive skills. Themes sports defense offense versatility teamwork Mood strategic insightful Type sports motivational When to use this quote - basketball training - coaching strategies - team dynamics Key Concepts strategic focus psychology of attention skill development Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance defense and offense? - What habits enhance versatility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on defense may neglect offensive practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [It's a scary thing when a team don't know who to match up to, whose night it's going to be on the offensive end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-crowder/it-s-a-scary-thing-when-a-team-don-t-know-who-to-match-up-to-whose/) [Jae Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-crowder/) > [When you defend and rebound and you trust the pass on the offensive end, you're going to have the ability to win a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vogel/when-you-defend-and-rebound-and-you-trust-the-pass-on-the-offensive/) [Frank Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vogel/) > [Basketball has turned into an offensive-minded situation. They don't play on both ends. They don't play defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/basketball-has-turned-into-an-offensive-minded-situation-they-don-t/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [This is a physical game, and that's how you have to play. When you do that, the defense eventually gets tired of tackling you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/this-is-a-physical-game-and-that-s-how-you-have-to-play-when-you-do/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [We have to get better at that. All of the Stanley Cup winning teams throughout the past few seasons, when they needed to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-yzerman/we-have-to-get-better-at-that-all-of-the-stanley-cup-winning-teams/) [Steve Yzerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-yzerman/) > [In high school, you don't play much defense. It's mostly offense. In college, it's vice versa, and that's what I tried to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donte-divincenzo/in-high-school-you-don-t-play-much-defense-it-s-mostly-offense-in/) [Donte DiVincenzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donte-divincenzo/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-daly/if-one-of-our-players-gets-his-second-foul-in-the-first-half-then-he/) [Chuck Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-daly/) > [Yeah, I mean, if you're bracing yourself playing defense, you shouldn't play defense, one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chung/yeah-i-mean-if-you-re-bracing-yourself-playing-defense-you-shouldn-t/) [Patrick Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chung/) > [A lot of guys are offensive minded, which is good at some points and times but bad at others - at lots of others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-butler/a-lot-of-guys-are-offensive-minded-which-is-good-at-some-points-and/) [Jimmy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-butler/) > [I wasn't going to play on defense in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/i-wasn-t-going-to-play-on-defense-in-college/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/if-you-are-going-to-have-to-play-defense-all-the-time-you-cannot-have/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [My mental approach is totally different. My coach predicated everything on defense. He always talked about defense, defense, defense. I took it to heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-williams/my-mental-approach-is-totally-different-my-coach-predicated/) [Eric Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-williams/) > [I try to play defense and be an unselfish teammate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/i-try-to-play-defense-and-be-an-unselfish-teammate/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [I can play defense against anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/i-can-play-defense-against-anybody/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [A big part of defense is effort and moving your feet and a will and wanting to play defense. You put it all together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/a-big-part-of-defense-is-effort-and-moving-your-feet-and-a-will-and/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) ## More by Gary Payton > [Guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, they'll take bad criticism in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/guys-like-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-kevin-garnett-they-ll-take-bad/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If he's averaging 25 points and I can contain him to 17, then I've won the battle. If he averages 12 assists and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-he-s-averaging-25-points-and-i-can-contain-him-to-17-then-i-ve-won/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I did a lot of things I regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-did-a-lot-of-things-i-regret/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I'm not going to sit here and dwell on whether or not I am going to the Hall of Fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-m-not-going-to-sit-here-and-dwell-on-whether-or-not-i-am-going-to/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [It is much easier to be the hunter than the hunted. When you are the one not expected to do anything, you play better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/it-is-much-easier-to-be-the-hunter-than-the-hunted-when-you-are-the/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I am going to go on with my life, and if they call me and say 'Yo, you are going to be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-am-going-to-go-on-with-my-life-and-if-they-call-me-and-say-yo-you/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Patrick Beverley is one of my favorites. What he does is he brings a lot of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/patrick-beverley-is-one-of-my-favorites-what-he-does-is-he-brings-a/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Because of how I am on the court, people think I'm wild and crazy. But really, I'm a kick-back guy, so Seattle suits me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/because-of-how-i-am-on-the-court-people-think-i-m-wild-and-crazy-but/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [Coming from Oakland, Calif., I never thought I'd be a Hall of Famer. I wasn't thinking about basketball like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/coming-from-oakland-calif-i-never-thought-i-d-be-a-hall-of-famer-i/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If Seattle could put my jersey on top of the Space Needle, they would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-seattle-could-put-my-jersey-on-top-of-the-space-needle-they-would/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I don't give a damn about MVP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-don-t-give-a-damn-about-mvp/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [If you see yourself in the paper every day and people keep talking about you, you will have a little breakdown in yourself, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/if-you-see-yourself-in-the-paper-every-day-and-people-keep-talking/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [You don't have to like me, but I'm going to tell you the truth. If you don't like what I'm saying, then go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/you-don-t-have-to-like-me-but-i-m-going-to-tell-you-the-truth-if-you/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I would go after any rookie. Any rookie with a lot of hype. I used to do it to Jason Kidd. I would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-would-go-after-any-rookie-any-rookie-with-a-lot-of-hype-i-used-to/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I was guarding the best player and getting 25 and having eight assists, and three-four steals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/i-was-guarding-the-best-player-and-getting-25-and-having-eight/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) [Explore all 103 Gary Payton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you play defense what happens is everybody pays attention and they start talking about how you're the stopper, you can stop this guy. 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