I liked playing against him because he’s old-school. When you hit a?lot of guys repeatedly—pound, pound, pound—they’ll move off?the?post. Not him, though. Carmelo Anthony enjoyed the physicality of?it, enjoyed being hit and hitting.

Nothing was more grueling than when we matched up in the?playoffs. At that point, in spite of our size difference—or maybe?because of it—everything boiled down to positioning. In this?instance, I’m not pushing him as much as I’m looking at the angle of?the pass. I’m sizing up where they could potentially throw him the?ball, and I’m using my left arm to discourage that from happening.?Meanwhile, I’m using my right hand, which is out of sight, to clamp?down on his arm. That way, if the pass comes, I can push his arm?down, move in front, and steal the ball. Little tricks of the trade.