Pat Riley Quotations

If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems and find you are ready for greater challenges.

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.

Don't let other people tell you what you want.

Public life is regarded as the crown of a career, and to young men it is the worthiest ambition. Politics is still the greatest and the most honorable adventure.

Look for your choices, pick the best one, then go with it.

There's always the motivation of wanting to win. Everybody has that. But a champion needs, in his attitude, a motivation above and beyond winning.

You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.

A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning.

To have long term success as a coach or in any position of leadership, you have to be obsessed in some way.

There can only be one state of mind as you approach any profound test; total concentration, a spirit of togetherness, and strength.

Being ready isn't enough; you have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change.

When a great team loses through complacency, it will constantly search for new and more intricate explanations to explain away defeat.

People who create 20% of the results will begin believing they deserve 80% of the rewards.

Each Warrior wants to leave the mark of his will, his signature, on important acts he touches. This is not the voice of ego but of the human spirit, rising up and declaring that it has something to contribute to the solution of the hardest problems, no matter how vexing!

All I did from day-to-day is coach. That's what my job was, that's what my passion was, and the fact that now it's something I'm being considered for is just mind-blowing to me, that I would ever be in that kind of company.

Giving yourself permission to lose guarantees a loss.

A particular shot or way of moving the ball can be a player's personal signature, but efficiency of performance is what wins the game for the team.

Management must speak with one voice. When it doesn't management itself becomes a peripheral opponent to the team's mission.

There's no such thing as coulda, shoulda, or woulda. If you shoulda and coulda, you woulda done it.

Being a part of success is more important than being personally indispensable.

You have to defeat a great players aura more than his game.

One thing I'm not worried about is our rebounding.

Nobody knew he was hurt because he wanted the two points on the lay-up so bad. He drove all the way down and dunked the ball, and then blood was rushing out of his nose. That's who he is. He'll fight through anything. I love him, respect him, admire him and I wish more of our guys would take on his attitude.

I would recommend the NBA show it to all of its young players. These Texas Western guys paved the way, and a lot of these guys don't even know it.

I would say at the end of the games if you went back and charted Jason Williams making shots in the last four minutes he's one of the best at making open shots. So you've got to have him on the court. While everybody says you've got take him off the court because it's a defensive thing, what do I do at the other end?

When I left, I knew the end was near. I didn't think it was going to be 48 hours. ... Anybody who's been through it, you understand. I've got a job to do and I'm going to do it.

Obviously we're concerned about everybody's health, based on what happened last year. We've still got 19 games to play. You can't walk around on egg shells, but we do have to be conscious of the maintenance of these guys.

No gas manager wants to send out high bills. If we're in public gas, that's not what we're about. We're about serving our customers.

Obviously, it was a surprise, based on what's been happening for us. We were running; they were missing. We were running; they were missing.

Obviously I'm very happy with the win and the fact that we had 26 assists and a lot of guys involved. Tonight we did a lot better at cutting and spotting quickly. We just made a lot better decisions.

I have complete faith. That's how I operate, that's how I coach. I had complete faith when we were 25 and whatever (in 2002-03), and I do now. I truly believe that when all the parts are healthy, I know how good we are. I've said it over and over again and I will continue to say it, I just think this team can do something special.

I have complete faith. That's how I operate, that's how I coach. I truly believe that when all the parts are healthy, I know how good we are. I've said it over and over again and I will continue to say it, I just think this team can do something special. And that's the way I'll keep thinking.

I'd like to secure what we've had all season, which is the No. 2 spot. We've got to gather ourselves.

I'd like to secure what we've had all season, which is the number two spot (in the playoffs). We have to gather ourselves and get back on track.

I don't have an answer for that team. We don't have a defensive game for them.

If we're going to make any kind of move, this is the time to do it.

If we had brought back the exact same group we had last year, I think the results would be good, but we needed more talent, ... We built the team around Shaquille that's a now team. We want to get it done as quick as we can. This is by far the best team that I've been around since the ones that I coached in Los Angeles.

If we had come back with the same team as last year, it would have been a disaster. We didn't have the firepower to sustain what we needed in this conference. Last year was a honeymoon year. A couple players had career years. I didn't believe we had the core of players like the core we have now. We have a lot more versatility now.

Last year we understood and found out exactly how lethal injuries at the wrong time can be, so I think we protected ourselves a little bit there. As a matter of fact, I think we protected ourselves big-time in that capacity if we lose a perimeter guy.

Shaq did a great job tonight. We have to make sure he's not in foul trouble and constantly look to go to him.

Shaq had an off night. In the beginning of the game he had a couple of turnovers (because of) strips, but obviously he could play a lot better than he did today.

Shaq is in shape. He's back in 26 games. We've been together 46 games. Enough talk about learning each other and coming together. It's time to put up and play, and play against the best teams in the league, especially at home.

Shaq is very active and motivated right now. There's a lot that's been written of his philosophy for the regular season. He really wants it, and he really wants the ball too.

Half of the guys were asking, 'What is this about? This is just about a hoop game, right?' I said, 'No, no it's not. You'll find out. It's a lot more than that. I would recommend the NBA show it to all of its young players. These Texas Western guys paved the way, and a lot of these guys don't even know it.

There are so many similarities other than size.

He knows exactly how it is. It's very simple. It's five against one. We can live with that and we will. He saw enough to be able to create shots for other people.

He knows exactly how it is (the Bulls defend him). It's not a system; it's five against one.

He just got beat down there, didn't he? Phil is one of the great complainers of all time.

I coached an absolutely awful game; terrible game plan, pick-and-roll schemes; everything.

I am totally indifferent to what other people think. There are always going to be people trying to take you apart. But I do know if we are 0-6 against the top teams, there is room for improvement.

I can't judge by practice, because he doesn't practice.

I can't remember ever dealing with something like that over a long period of time. There are always disputes. You have them. But when you carry it that far, anything can go on. But that happens in this league. A lot of it stays in the locker room. We try to keep it in the locker room if we can.

Frustration is part of this game. You have to press on. That's it. You can't let that get to you. Welcome to the NBA playoffs.

If we would have gotten Finley, ... then we would have had what people would have called the perfect summer.

I give all the credit to Brian Hill for keeping that team together.

If it's two to four weeks, then I'll be happy. He'll work very diligently to get it healthy. He'll stay in condition. Just as long as he's ready to play when it counts the most.

I hated to break up the energy level we had going early in the fourth quarter.

But it's up to Shaquille, too. I mean, it's up to him. And this is where the old coach came out of Stu. He started using some coaching terminology. He said, 'Well, you've got to get him to make a V-cut every now and then. If he makes a V-cut, then they impede his progress, they'll call it.

But we're ahead 2-0. That's what it's about.

I feel we're going to be a very good team. This is not a measuring stick at all.

Basically, one guy beat us. ... Vince was unbelievable.

I have a Louisville Slugger in my locker. It's like 42 ounces. We corked it also, with cement.

Guys dug it out. Everybody contributed and it was a good win.

He reminds me a lot of (Raptors guard) Mike James when he was here his first year. We didn't have a lot of confidence in Mike. It took a while.

We've got to stop the penetration, that's key. We've got to keep our bodies in front of the ball better.

What we've noticed a little bit about Chauncey and what Flip has done with this team, he has injected a sense of energy into his team early. Chauncey is no longer just a late-game (shooter). Throughout the course of the game, you've got to be very aware of him, and obviously at the end of the game you've got to deal with him and what's he doing.

He's a great player. He's one of the top five guys in the league.

He's a great player, there's no doubt about that.

We thought we were going to win. We can play with anyone when we're really in it and focused mentally on what we have to take away from a team like that.

With me, you're either in or out. I picked them. I'm with them. I'm going to try to keep coaching them. I'm not going let this shake me. I've been around this game too damn long.

I also believe Odom would complement Eddie Jones and Brian Grant, our two veteran leaders. As I have said before, we are committed to winning and will do whatever it takes to give our fans talented players and a great team.

I agree with him. We want to keep playing the game better, we want to keep winning, but it's not a measuring stick as to how good we are or how good we can be.

He wants to play, he wants to be out there. We're not being overly cautious, he's got a problem and we just want to treat it. We want to get it right.

He was absolutely great. He did things I haven't seen him do for a couple of years. He's got a lot of energy and he's taking two or three people to the rim. He's picking people apart.

He keeps rising to the occasion. A remarkable player. I'm glad to have him on my side.

He kept telling me he's ready. But I'm a stubborn old coach.

He'd average 20 points a game if he was put in that role every night and I'll be damned if I'm not going to try to put him in that role - now. You forget a little bit about how good he can be if he gets good opportunities.

He was running at full speed. Anyone else that would have caught the ball would have ended up in the first row.

He was having a great game and it was a pretty ugly foul. I think he is OK.

He was feeling real free, and we need that from him. That's what we expected when we traded for him, is that we'd have that versatility. Having a great game from Antoine really helps.

He understands what he needs to do to get himself ready. And I think he's very, very smart in what he's doing in dropping the weight and getting down to a point where it's going to extend his career. I think he understands that, even though he won't admit it.

If Tim Duncan's foot is bothering him in the playoffs, you never know what could happen. The Lakers are a good team. They could make a run in the West.

He did things that I haven't seen in a couple of years.

He'd go a week and he'd be OK, and then he'd get hurt again. So I just hope he's healthy now and I can use him in that role.

He has a little bit of a slow release on his jumper. He's got to get there quicker, be set a little quicker. ... People are closing on him pretty hard and making him put it on the floor.

He has a little irritation on his knee. I don't think it is anything more than that.

He has a little irritation on his knee. I don't think its any more than that. He sort of experienced it (Wednesday) morning. We'll see how it goes.

He has a little irritation on his knee. It came out of nowhere.

He had one of those nights. He won't have many of them.

He is a very athletic, quick, explosive scorer and has great experience. One of the reasons why we are making the trade is that we haven't had anyone here like that since Tim Hardaway left.

He was definitely set back with the back for three months, and I don't think he ever really regained physically his game 100 percent.

He's grabbing the ball strongly. He's catching the ball in traffic now. It's positioning. It's conditioning. It's getting your head under the rim.

He's had a very consistent year, with the exception of the last couple of weeks, and I think he's getting worn down a little bit. He's got a little bit of an injury, so we're trying to work through that, but it is what it is, because he has to play now with Jason out.

He's had some pretty ... good games. He's playing extremely well, we're winning and he's stepping up.

He was at the rim all night. He has tremendous athleticism, strength, force and instincts.

He was at the rim all night. Once he gets in the open court, you can forget it.

He has a great demeanor about it. If he got upset, it would be awful.

He had an impact on some of the drives they made. I'm sure they kicked it out a lot because of him.

He had a problem with it the first year he was here. He sweats a lot and, like most players, doesn't drink enough liquids.

History is history. But they've had our number for the last two or three years.