Paul Pierce Quotes

Matches are won and lost so many times in the locker room.

Just try to focus one game at a time, not worry about points or anything like that. Worry about playing the right way and see what comes of it.

Of course you think about the goalkeeper you are facing before a game. You have to prepare yourself for the game and think about the weakness of the players you are up against.

You can't go into a game lax and acting like somebody isn't trying to beat you.

Whoever I'm playing against, I go in and try to stop their best scorer and try to get myself going on the offensive end.

Scouting is important. You just want to know whom you are playing against and how to play them well within the team's defense.

I don't go into a game with specific targets. I don't pinpoint an opposing player before a match, trying to exploit a kind of weakness.

You can teach all the other stuff, you know. You can teach shooting the ball, you can teach having a good touch... passing and whatnot, but when you get out there on the field, it's just a mindset you need to go into the game with.

People expect you to play your best, so I go through a routine to prepare myself so that I know I'm physically and mentally ready - prepared for the game.

My mental approach is totally different. My coach predicated everything on defense. He always talked about defense, defense, defense. I took it to heart that if you play defense, you can take the heart from an offensive player.

Obviously you want to play hard all the time, but at different moments of the game you step it up even more.

As a player, you have to focus on the match and not too much on the surroundings.

When I'm on the field, I'm locked in, focused on my job. I try to have a positive play and try to get points on the board.

When teams see coach Gruden and myself run out on the field, they know, 'Hey, man, we are in for it mentally today.'

I think preparing every week like it's the most important game in the world makes things a little easier once you get in situations where a lot more people are watching and it might be a lot more important for people outside of the building.

When I set my eyes on the gold at the world championships, I was able to maintain that focus that whole day. That's what I aim to do in Rio - my focus is gold, so I can keep in that good state; I can't get too complacent. I can't relax; I can't be content. I need to be 100 per cent switched on.

There's a reason that I have confidence out there, and it's about how I prepare for games and for series and seasons and whatnot, so we've got to stick with that kind of thought process.

My best ability was in just being ready when I was called upon. Then, I would be fit, and my legs would be light. If you sulk and are on the bench, and the gaffer calls you on, you are not ready because there's something going on in your head.

My first mind-set when I am out on the field is to defend well and not concede.

I don't put on makeup when I'm getting ready for a game, because why would I? I am gearing up for battle. How is mascara or eyeliner going to help me win?

Always, always, always when you prepare for a game, you prepare to win the match.

I don't think I will play every game, depending on the tactical situation, depending on the opponent, but I will do everything to try and help the team.

My attitude as a footballer was to always be prepared - make sure you're the fittest and know who you're up against. And that's exactly how I treat the media side.

It's a mystery coming out each and every game to try and figure out how a team is going to guard me and how I'm going to dictate how my team wins.

I watch all my goals before every game on the coach.