When you're young, you might not be ready to deal with the frustration of playing the big guys and dealing with their power. But we move better, we see the ball earlier, we can play faster. That's why you see smaller guys able to compete. We use the power of our opponent.
Sports formed me. I was always decently skilled but lacked size, so I had to resort to using my skill versus my power. I strategically play golf because that's all I can do. It's the same on the basketball court. I try to get open and shoot it. Or I use the open space on the soccer field.
When I see somebody, I try to beat him on both ends of the floor. It's the game within the game that you've always got to win. That's always been my mindset. That's how I was taught how to play the game. That's how I learned. And that's what I enjoy.
When we go out and play the teams that we need to beat that aren't near our level, then we've got to go out there and blow them out.
Coaches understand that pressure is part of the rush of coaching. The challenge of trying to outplay your opponent is part of the fun, the adrenaline, the preparation, seeing your team evolve. It's why coaches become coaches.
I don't like people getting the best of me or saying that they beat me. Every game I play, every competition I'm in, whether it's in a game, playing cards, video games, whatever it is, I'm trying to win. That's always been my competitive nature.
We always have respect for our opponents, but we will try to enforce our own game.
We used to get into other players' heads mentally and physically. In my day it was me versus you, my future versus your future.
