Quotes About Preparation

The first thought is always about making the playoffs. That's the tough part. And once you get there, only then you can allow yourself to start thinking how you are going to play in the playoffs against other teams. And a lot is left to chance then. There's an element of luck as well: sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you do not.

We've played with a lot of confidence and that's been the key so far. Hopefully, we can take more confidence into the playoffs.

I'm not a guy that believes you've got to have a lot of experience to have success in the playoffs.

You never want an injury as you're getting ready for the playoffs.

I just want us to be playing our best basketball here when the playoffs start, and in the right mindset.

Teams that can run the football, stop the run and take care of the football will win in the playoffs.

You always take rest over rust in the playoffs.

I'm a big believer that if you can have success in the playoffs, when it means the most and when the game is at its highest pace, it always carries into the next year and it gives a player confidence.

You want to be ramping up toward the playoffs. You want to be peaking as you're heading in.

There's nothing that can teach you about the playoffs besides going through it.

You don't talk playoffs a few weeks before training camp.

You have to be ready for anything in the playoffs.

Especially when it comes to the Finals and playoffs, your team needs you mentally and physically.

Being rested and playing bad is not going to be a good formula going into the playoffs. That's not good.

I thought the playing time I was getting during the season was getting me ready for the playoffs. When it didn't happen and Coach Riley never told me why, I thought, 'Maybe I'm just being used as a pawn in the game.'

The first game of the playoffs is the worst. After that, you kind of settle down.

The big plays will come.

Believe me, I've had interviews where the person says, 'So when did you start and why? What about your parents?' I say to them, 'Please, have you heard of the word 'Google?'

It may be a cliche, but it's true - the build-up to Christmas is so much more pleasurable than the actual day itself.

You need to know the characters as living, breathing people before you start the plot; otherwise, you'll feel panic, anarchy and chaos.

Our adversaries no long fear us, and our enemies are plotting against us.

I pluck with my fingernails. If I break a nail, I can't cancel a concert. So I can make a nail out of a ping-pong ball.

I was a diver. Looking back, I realize that putting yourself out there, literally, on the edge of the platform is very similar to doing live TV. It's taking the plunge and knowing, with lots of practice, it'll work out fine.

To know you are going to run out on the pitch on a Saturday is a big plus.