--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest thing to realize when you're…" description: "\"The biggest thing to realize when you're guarding great players is, look, they're going to score - it's hard to guard anyone one-on-one, straight-up an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/harrison-barnes-6200_great_the-biggest-thing-to-realize-when-you-re_2080599.jpg" --- # The biggest thing to realize when you're guarding great… ![“The biggest thing to realize when you're guarding great players is, look, they're going to score - it's hard to guard anyone one-on-one, straight-up and have them be shut out. You just want to try to make them work for their possessions.” quote by Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/harrison-barnes-6200_great_the-biggest-thing-to-realize-when-you-re_2080599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/harrison-barnes-6200_great_the-biggest-thing-to-realize-when-you-re_2080599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/harrison-barnes-6200_great_the-biggest-thing-to-realize-when-you-re_2080599.jpg) > “The biggest thing to realize when you're guarding great players is, look, they're going to score - it's hard to guard anyone one-on-one, straight-up and have them be shut out. You just want to try to make them work for their possessions.” [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Defending elite opponents is difficult; instead of trying to shut them out, force them to earn possession through effort. **In simple terms:** Guarding great players is tough; make them work. Key Takeaway Make opponents earn their chances. Themes sports strategy defense effort fair play Mood analytical motivational Type sports strategic When to use this quote - coaching sessions - game analysis - team drills Key Concepts player skill team tactics work ethic Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance pressure with fair competition? - What training improves defensive resilience? A Different Perspective May overemphasize effort, ignoring skill gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-players/) [Guard Straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guard-straight-4061998/) [Guarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarding/) [Guarding Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarding-great-4061996/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Realize Guarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-guarding-4061997/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Most bigs aren't used to guarding out on the perimeter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/most-bigs-aren-t-used-to-guarding-out-on-the-perimeter/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [If you're guarding a guy like Carmelo, obviously you have to stay close to him because he can get hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/if-you-re-guarding-a-guy-like-carmelo-obviously-you-have-to-stay/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Fortifications, artillery, foreign aid - will be of no value, unless the ordinary soldier knows that it is HE guarding his country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-gustaf-emil-mannerheim/fortifications-artillery-foreign-aid-will-be-of-no-value-unless-the/) [Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-gustaf-emil-mannerheim/) > [When we put someone in our jail cell of hatred, we are stuck guarding the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-put-someone-in-our-jail-cell-of-hatred-we-are-stuck-guarding/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Basketball also helps you learn to move your feet by playing defense and guarding guys, and that all carries over to playing football with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-pryor/basketball-also-helps-you-learn-to-move-your-feet-by-playing-defense/) [Calvin Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-pryor/) > [Leadership is absolutely about inspiring action, but it is also about guarding against mis-action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/leadership-is-absolutely-about-inspiring-action-but-it-is-also-about/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [My main goal is the man I'm guarding doesn't score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/my-main-goal-is-the-man-i-m-guarding-doesn-t-score/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [Everything you say or allow into your eyes or ears becomes data that is stored in your heart. That data is later replayed during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/everything-you-say-or-allow-into-your-eyes-or-ears-becomes-data-that/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [None of us like the concept of law because none of us like the restraints it puts on us. But when we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/none-of-us-like-the-concept-of-law-because-none-of-us-like-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Guarding LeBron James has to be the hardest job in basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kerr/guarding-lebron-james-has-to-be-the-hardest-job-in-basketball/) [Steve Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kerr/) > [The practice of patience guards us against losing our presence of mind. It enables us to remain undisturbed, even when the situation is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-practice-of-patience-guards-us-against-losing-our-presence-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A sense of being part of the great all-inclusive life prompts us to reflect on our own place and on how we ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/a-sense-of-being-part-of-the-great-all-inclusive-life-prompts-us-to/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Your heart is sacred land. Don't let just anything enter it. Guard it with your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/your-heart-is-sacred-land-don-t-let-just-anything-enter-it-guard-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [...Individualistic material progress and the desire to gain prestige by coming out on top have taken over from the sense of fellowship, compassion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/individualistic-material-progress-and-the-desire-to-gain-prestige-by/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) ## More by Harrison Barnes > [I remember throughout middle school and high school how excited my mom, sister and I would be when a UNC game was on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-remember-throughout-middle-school-and-high-school-how-excited-my/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [You can never not make your voice heard - there's always more we can all be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-can-never-not-make-your-voice-heard-there-s-always-more-we-can/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [The longer you stay in college the better a brand you build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/the-longer-you-stay-in-college-the-better-a-brand-you-build/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [From the small town in Iowa where I grew up, to Chapel Hill where I went to college, to the Bay Area and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/from-the-small-town-in-iowa-where-i-grew-up-to-chapel-hill-where-i/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I think how you dress says a lot about how you carry yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-think-how-you-dress-says-a-lot-about-how-you-carry-yourself/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Basketball is such a good platform to be able to have a real impact on kids. We don't have all the answers, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/basketball-is-such-a-good-platform-to-be-able-to-have-a-real-impact/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I love to get involved with the community by doing programs that promote literacy and education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-love-to-get-involved-with-the-community-by-doing-programs-that/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I've grown in maturity because I understood from an intellectual standpoint how serious Covid-19 is and all the effects it was having on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-ve-grown-in-maturity-because-i-understood-from-an-intellectual/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [You have to commend the players who've stepped up and used their voice, who've been courageous, and when it came to Colin Kaepernick, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-have-to-commend-the-players-who-ve-stepped-up-and-used-their/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I think as I've gotten older, I've realized the more important details. Yes, you're going to make money. Yes, you're going to do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-think-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-realized-the-more-important-details/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [The NBA is a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/the-nba-is-a-business/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I know that I won't be an athlete forever. I have to have a vision of what I want to be afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-know-that-i-won-t-be-an-athlete-forever-i-have-to-have-a-vision-of/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [You want to know what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-want-to-know-what-you-do-best/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Anytime you have opportunities to spread the game of basketball, it is a big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/anytime-you-have-opportunities-to-spread-the-game-of-basketball-it-is/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I know my body pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-know-my-body-pretty-well/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) [Explore all 99 Harrison Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [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/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest thing to realize when you're guarding great players is, look, they're going to score - it's hard to guard anyone one-on-one, straight-up and have them be shut out. 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