04/18/2008 - 14:53
It's Playoff Time: Let's Go
by Tyson Chandler

I'm super amped up. I've been watching film and all the tape. We went through the walk-through yesterday. It's playoff time.

It's a different atmosphere. I think it gets everybody excited and it's a different focus this spring.

On Wednesday, we had already locked up the second spot. We were already the division champs. And the game meant a lot more to them than it meant to us. We knew we weren't gonna get to the No. 1 spot and we weren't necessarily worried about who we played. It was either they win and we play them or we win and we play Denver. It really didn't matter to us. So, I wouldn't say that we didn't give them our best game, but I don't think we were as focused as they were.

All year, and the last month or so, we've been like, "Let the chips fall where they do." We weren't going to plan on anything. Last year, I think Dallas wanted Golden State, and we saw what happened to them. So, whoever we got, we were going to be satisfied.

And there's no worries about Wednesday's game getting their confidence up. I know they know we played them completely differently the three games before that. So, I don't think they take anything from that last game.

I heard Coach Avery saying that we got an inexperienced point guard and we got a young team. I just don't see it. I think when it comes down to basketball, I don't think it matters. Obviously, the more years that you've played together, the better you can be. But I think at this time of the year, all that stuff goes out the window. And we're not talking about a rookie here that's trying to lead us throughout the playoffs. We're talking about a third-year player that's in the MVP race.

FORGET CHICAGO
Looking back at my own playoff experience, I look at the value of every possession. I don't necessarily look back at the way I played. I played really well my first playoff series, and didn't even play much my second time. Honestly, I really try not to look back at anything from Chicago, because I feel like I'm a different person, a different player, and the way I was used on that team is not even close to where I am today.

I really don't look back at that, but I do look back at the whole intensity that the playoff basketball brings, and how one possession can determine the series. So, I do take that into account, but not my individual play.

NO MORE CELEBRATING UNTIL JUNE
Our pep rally went really well last night. It was packed. I like the fact that we had a pep rally, because that really gets the city involved, gets the city behind us. But I don't want to do anymore celebrating until we win a championship.

You know, there's been a lot of celebrating this year, because obviously it's the first of almost everything for this franchise. We've done a lot, but all of that is over. Now, it's about bringing the real prize home, and I think now that of that stuff is out of the way, that's what we can focus on.

I don't necessarily change my schedule now, but I do get a little more intense and a little more focused. I am going to let my family members know to not bother me for any tickets or bother me with anything that isn't that important. All of my attention is focused on the Dallas Mavericks right now, and that's how I want it to stay.

US AND THEM
I've had great memories against the Mavs all year. Dampier is kinda their clean-up guy, so you gotta keep him from getting anything really. He's in there to offensive rebound and be a big body, really. So, with him, you just try to keep him from getting any second-chance points and limit that part of his game.

And Dirk, you just gotta be very aggressive with him. Don't let him get any easy shots and try not to let him get in a rhythm. He's gonna shoot the ball a lot, because you know, he's their scorer. So, they're gonna go to him. He's going to get his points, but you make him work for every point. Make every point tough on him.

Coach Scott just wants us to focus in on the opportunity that we have in front of us. Like we went over last night: Every possession is valuable. Every possession is key. And you gotta seize the moment. The moment is in front of us and right now is the time for us to step up as a team and become one.

So at 6 o'clock tomorrow, I'm gonna be so hyped and focused and ready to go. I probably won't see anything. I won't see a fan in the arena. It's just gonna be tunnel vision. I'm just gonna be looking at that other team across from me.

It's comical to me that they wanted to play us. First of all, it's comical to me that you're scared of a team, and say that you don't want to play them.

But it reminds me of when I was little. I begged for the My Buddy doll, begged for the My Buddy doll. I kept asking, "Ma, get me the My Buddy. Ma, get me the My Buddy." But my mom couldn't really afford it, so she couldn't get it for me at that time.

So, I kept at it. "Ma, get me a My Buddy. Every other kid got a My Buddy. Mom, I never get anything!" Just making my mom feel bad.

So, my uncle told my mom, "I'll fix this." I didn't know my uncle told my mom that, but he came over with this video and pops it in the machine. I'm like, "Ah, My Buddy!" And it turns out it was the Chucky movie.

All the next week, I'm telling my mom, "Please, don't get me My Buddy. Please, don't get me My Buddy."

So sometimes, what you think you really want, you don't really want. The Mavericks think they want us, and they asked for us, and we ain't gonna be My Buddy. They're gonna get Chucky.

• Add new comment