I think you should have a mindset of getting to the playoffs, because once you get in the playoffs, it is kind of a crapshoot.
Yeah, once you get a taste of the playoffs - I couldn't imagine not making it back to the playoffs. Give credit to LeBron and those guys who do it so many consecutive years.
The most important thing is win enough games to get into the playoffs. Then, once you get into the playoffs, win.
The playoffs are unpredictable. You never know what can happen and how these playoffs go.
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.
Playing pretty big minutes in the playoffs and having career games in the playoffs is something you dream of as a kid but never really think will happen.
I think as long as you have Kobe Bryant on your team, anything can happen in the playoffs.
I went to Golden State and helped them get to the playoffs my first year there, and they haven't been to the playoffs in 13 years. I played in Charlotte... and I got them to the playoffs. So, every team I go to, I make them better.
The fact that we're in the playoffs doesn't mean anything to us, to be honest with you. Hopefully, we can accomplish our goal of going into the playoffs on a winning note.
It's the playoffs, man. If you don't get excited about the playoffs, you don't even deserve to be playing basketball.
Whatever you do during the regular season doesn't matter once you get to the playoffs.
I know winning 20 is a special kind of thing, but I'd rather get into the playoffs, and be strong for the playoffs.
Well, of course you question it, especially when you get to this point. I always look at it would I rather not make the playoffs or lose in The Finals? I don't know. I don't know. I've missed the playoffs twice. I lost in The Finals four times. I'm almost starting to be like I'd rather not even make the playoffs than to lose in The Finals. It would hurt a lot easier if I just didn't make the playoffs and I didn't have a shot at it.
I write every paragraph four times - once to get my meaning down, once to put in anything I have left out, once to take out anything that seems unnecessary, and once to make the whole thing sound as if I had only just thought of it.
Nothing is going to happen to me, or you, for that matter. Anything can happen, though. Anything can happen. But most always, just normal things happen, and people have happy lives.
I don't just want to make the playoffs or get to the first or second round. When I compete or make it to the playoffs, I expect to win every time.