--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thought is always about making…" description: "\"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 thinkin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/alexander-ovechkin-3214_chance_the-first-thought-is-always-about-making_15828.png" --- # The first thought is always about making the playoffs… ![“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…” quote by Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/alexander-ovechkin-3214_chance_the-first-thought-is-always-about-making_15828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/alexander-ovechkin-3214_chance_the-first-thought-is-always-about-making_15828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/alexander-ovechkin-3214_chance_the-first-thought-is-always-about-making_15828.png) > “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.” [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on the immediate goal—qualifying for the playoffs—before strategizing for the competition itself, acknowledging that luck also influences outcomes. **In simple terms:** Prioritize qualification, then plan for competition. Key Takeaway Success requires both preparation and chance. Themes goal setting strategic planning uncertainty luck performance pressure Mood determined optimistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - team meetings - pre‑season training - mid‑season assessments Key Concepts competition probability mindset Practical Applications - coaching strategy - player motivation Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on short‑term goals affect long‑term performance? - When should a team shift from preparation to execution? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Making Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-playoffs-381624/) [Play Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-playoffs-381625/) [Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs/) [Playoffs Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs-teams-381626/) [Playoffs Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs-tough-381627/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) ## Related quotes > [The playoffs are tough. It's a different game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/the-playoffs-are-tough-it-s-a-different-game/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [I played in the playoffs with teams that were known for flopping and you do not get respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-webber/i-played-in-the-playoffs-with-teams-that-were-known-for-flopping-and/) [Chris Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-webber/) > [It's the playoffs. Teams are gonna go on runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-thompson/it-s-the-playoffs-teams-are-gonna-go-on-runs/) [Tristan Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-thompson/) > [There's been so many stories throughout the league where teams have started off poorly and ended up in the Finals. Or teams starting out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/there-s-been-so-many-stories-throughout-the-league-where-teams-have/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [That's a moment I will never forget in my life, never ever. It was the first time I made the playoffs. After we lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/that-s-a-moment-i-will-never-forget-in-my-life-never-ever-it-was-the/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [The Process is never going to end. It's an ongoing thing. I don't think it's ever going to stop. As I have explained before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/the-process-is-never-going-to-end-it-s-an-ongoing-thing-i-don-t-think/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [For me, not making the playoffs is a wasted season, a waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/for-me-not-making-the-playoffs-is-a-wasted-season-a-waste-of-time/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [When you can protect your home court, that's one of the biggest things about making the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/when-you-can-protect-your-home-court-that-s-one-of-the-biggest-things/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [Making the playoffs is hard to come by, so if you can help contribute to your team's success it's always a successful time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/making-the-playoffs-is-hard-to-come-by-so-if-you-can-help-contribute/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [Ultimately, if you can say that I'm a bad owner and we're winning championships, I can live with that. But if we're not making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/ultimately-if-you-can-say-that-i-m-a-bad-owner-and-we-re-winning/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Yeah, once you get a taste of the playoffs - I couldn't imagine not making it back to the playoffs. Give credit to LeBron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/yeah-once-you-get-a-taste-of-the-playoffs-i-couldn-t-imagine-not/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [You want to be the guy who makes an impact in every game. In this sport it's all about results-winning games and making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-st-louis/you-want-to-be-the-guy-who-makes-an-impact-in-every-game-in-this/) [Martin St. Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-st-louis/) > [Winning the Rookie of the Year would be nice but making the playoffs would be even nicer for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bogut/winning-the-rookie-of-the-year-would-be-nice-but-making-the-playoffs/) [Andrew Bogut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bogut/) > [Making the playoffs three consecutive seasons is a great accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/making-the-playoffs-three-consecutive-seasons-is-a-great/) [Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/) > [Everyone in the League wants to play in the playoffs; I am no different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-mcdavid/everyone-in-the-league-wants-to-play-in-the-playoffs-i-am-no-different/) [Connor McDavid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-mcdavid/) ## More by Alexander Ovechkin > [My hope, it's not only my hope, but all of the NHL hopes to raise hockey in China because it's a good country to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/my-hope-it-s-not-only-my-hope-but-all-of-the-nhl-hopes-to-raise/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [To me, I feel like your accomplishments have been recognized when you make the cover of a videogame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/to-me-i-feel-like-your-accomplishments-have-been-recognized-when-you/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I can eat anything. After practice I can stop at McDonald's. I don't have a problem with gaining weight, thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/i-can-eat-anything-after-practice-i-can-stop-at-mcdonald-s-i-don-t/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I just try to do my best to shoot the puck and we'll see what's going to happen with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/i-just-try-to-do-my-best-to-shoot-the-puck-and-we-ll-see-what-s-going/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [Sport is important for children, especially from disadvantaged places, to bring up their self esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/sport-is-important-for-children-especially-from-disadvantaged-places/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [Anyone who plays in the NHL dreams to win the Stanley Cup and I dreamed as well to be one of them and raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/anyone-who-plays-in-the-nhl-dreams-to-win-the-stanley-cup-and-i/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [It means a lot to represent your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/it-means-a-lot-to-represent-your-country/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [If I have a chance to hit somebody, it does not matter who it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/if-i-have-a-chance-to-hit-somebody-it-does-not-matter-who-it-is/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [Without training, I'm nothing. If I'm not training, I'm done. Any athlete, they have to train and they have to practice to win games.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/without-training-i-m-nothing-if-i-m-not-training-i-m-done-any-athlete/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I like to have the puck when I have speed. You know, then I'm dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/i-like-to-have-the-puck-when-i-have-speed-you-know-then-i-m-dangerous/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I always look forward to playing in Toronto because it's such a historic city when it comes to hockey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/i-always-look-forward-to-playing-in-toronto-because-it-s-such-a/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [Everybody is jumping up and down back in Russia. Probably lots of vodka, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/everybody-is-jumping-up-and-down-back-in-russia-probably-lots-of/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [Ever since I was a kid and all the time I have played in the NHL, NHL players have played in the Olympic Games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/ever-since-i-was-a-kid-and-all-the-time-i-have-played-in-the-nhl-nhl/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [I never look forward. I live for today. And if you think about what's going to happen in a year, in two years, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/i-never-look-forward-i-live-for-today-and-if-you-think-about-what-s/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [NHL is the best league in the world and I feel that I should play in the best league in the world. Money's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/nhl-is-the-best-league-in-the-world-and-i-feel-that-i-should-play-in/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) [Explore all 136 Alexander Ovechkin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. 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With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. 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