One-on-One with Tony Allen, on perimeter defense

One of the things that's always fascinated me is digging into the mind of a defensive player and learning about how he goes about his sometimes thankless yet invaluable job on the court. Well with the Grizzlies in Toronto to take on the Raptors last Friday, I was lucky enough to get a few pre-game minutes alone with Tony Allen.

As if his defensive reputation needs an introduction, Allen is a three-time All-Defensive Team member, a two-time All-Defensive First Team selection, has been a key component of at least a top-10 defense in seven straight seasons and has posted a positive on-court/off-court net rating (between +2.6 and +8.3) in four straight seasons. He also won a championship with the Celtics in 2008 and is widely regarded as one of the game's absolutely elite perimeter defenders.

So without further ado, here's a quick Q&A with Tony Allen:

Casciaro: Most people think of playing defense as all effort, but there has to be at least some portion of defensive ability that is actual talent and smarts as opposed to just pure effort. As one of the game's best defenders, how do you feel about the notion that D is based purely on effort?

Allen: I look at defense it as if it's a challenge, night in, night out. And I want to compete the best way possible. The best way to do that is to go out there and give it your all and understand what the other team is trying to do. Once you get that mindset down, I think everything else, the technique and things of that nature, you just look back at what you've been taught throughout the years and you apply it to the competition.

Casciaro: On the offensive side of the ball, we think of preparation and practice as going into the gym and shooting a number of jumpers, free throws and threes or working on post moves, for example. Is there on-court stuff you can practice to become a better defender, or does it just come down to watching film?

Allen: That's pretty much what I do - watch film and understand the guy's tendencies. I might watch a whole edit of just one guy and see his tendencies and go from there.

Casciaro: You'll often hear of players watching footage of older players and trying to pick up things. Are there any players, whether current or former players, whose defense you watch clips of?

Allen: No, I just watch the new NBA. I just watch what's going on right now in the league.

Casciaro: When you say 'the new NBA,' what kinds of observations are you making now?

Allen: Guy's are putting their arms out, I call it 'the James Harden.' Guys are using the Euro now, you know, 'the Ginobili' and pretty much guys are shooting and kicking their feet out now when they shoot threes trying to draw the foul. So you've just got to be aware of those types of things and just use the competition within the competition.

Casciaro: When you're defending a guy on the perimeter and trying to keep him from getting by you, are you watching the ball? His chest? His hips? His feet? His eyes? What are you keying in on to anticipate his move?

Allen: I don't pay attention to that. I'm keying in on everything. I might look at the ball, I might look at the ball in his right hand, I might take away his left hand. I switch it up. I can't give you all my tactics, man (laughing). You're trying to get somebody else a slot on the All-Defense team.

Casciaro: How does having a defensive presence like Marc Gasol behind you allow you to maybe take some gambles on the perimeter?

Allen: Yeah you're right. It gives me more opportunity to gamble. Because I know he's the guy that's going to be there to clog up the paint. He's going to alter shots. That's definitely a plus.

Casciaro: Who's the toughest guy in the league to guard on the perimeter?

Allen: I have to say my boy Mike Conley. He's a problem in practice.