Maurice Cheeks Defense Quotations

For three quarters, our defense was very good tonight.

He was our best option in terms of putting the ball in his hands. I thought his defense on Garnett was just excellent.

He catches the ball and releases it so quick. I think that?s what?s so impressive about him. I think if you?re not around Kyle that much, and I?ve been talking defense this whole camp, but any time you see a player with his ability to shoot the ball he?s got to be on the floor.

Our offense is fine. Our defense is where's it's at. You have to put guys out there and show them how to play defense. We have to keep trying.

Our defense wasn't as good as it has been, but he was making some incredible shots. He kept them in the game.

Kyle put on a show. He catches the ball and releases it so quick. It's really impressive. I've been talking defense all camp but a player of his ability to shoot the ball has to be on the floor.

I thought Kevin played well. I think he had our offense going a little bit, but on the flip side I think sometimes you want to bring Kyle in to stretch the defense and give Allen Iverson and Chris (Webber) a little more room to operate.

I thought our defense stayed pat the whole game, ... Kobe's a great player, but some nights the ball doesn't go in the basket. He just had an off night.

We have too many breakdowns. I think that we have to go back to the one, two, three of defense rotations, and getting guys in different positions. The only way that you can win games if you are relying on your offense night in and night out, is you have to outscore teams. We're not going to outscore teams, so our defense has to go back to the fundamentals of teaching positions.

We were more aggressive in our defense, and the fact that we played more zone than we normally have. We were active in our zone, we were talking in our zone and we played a little more full-court defense. ... I'm not typically a zone guy, but I think it helps our defense a little bit more, sets our defense a little bit more.

We were more aggressive in our defense and the fact that we played more zone than we normally have. We were active in our zone, we were talking in our zone and we played a little more full-court defense.

The zone hurt us quite a bit. We couldn't get any shots; we couldn't get any dribble penetration. We didn't make any shots and certainly our defense was not up to par.

That's not the best defense you can play. Our defense just has to get better in order for us to win games. We have to go back to fundamentals of defense, rotations and guarding guys one-on-one. You have to want to play defense.

That part of the game is better than the overall game. We'd like our defense to get better for 48 minutes. But I think as the game unfolds and when another team needs a basket, I think our defense gets a little bit better. Certainly if you're going to win games, it has to be better down the stretch.

Our defense is a lot better with Sam in the game, because he can block shots and rebound the ball. They're a jump-shooting team, with the exception of Harrington. We just have to get better in all areas defensively.

First of all, New Jersey is a very good basketball team. We're working our way back. We started out good and they started making some shots. Vince (Carter) made some shots and our defense still has to get better.

This game was a quality game for us because Memphis is a quality team. The other night I challenged our team on the defensive end and our defense was great tonight.

They just controlling the game and our defense was not that good. Everyone that we had out on the floor was not playing defense. I tried to insert some guys that were going to give us a little energy, give us a little defense and they turned the game around. Those guys that I put in there helped us get back in the game. Everyone that came in the game had a part in the victory.

The game was much more important for us than it was for them. We got out early and defended. They got some transition baskets, but for the most part, our defense was good.

It's always easy when we get beat to beat ourselves up. We've got to get better on defense and our offense has slipped the last couple games. We're going to get there.

I am not going to get upset over Johnny taking shots. I did say the next time he has that opportunity to drive the basketball. We were in the penalty, so drive the ball, maybe get a foul, or the defense collapses and kick it out.