--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you mess around, and you don't take…" description: "\"If you mess around, and you don't take every game as seriously as possible, there's going to be a time you get to the Finals and say look, 'We're not s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/harrison-barnes-6200_game_if-you-mess-around-and-you-don-t-take-ev_1548414.jpg" --- # If you mess around, and you don't take every game as… ![“If you mess around, and you don't take every game as seriously as possible, there's going to be a time you get to the Finals and say look, 'We're not sharp right now.' At that point, there's nothing you can do.” quote by Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/harrison-barnes-6200_game_if-you-mess-around-and-you-don-t-take-ev_1548414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/harrison-barnes-6200_game_if-you-mess-around-and-you-don-t-take-ev_1548414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/43e/harrison-barnes-6200_game_if-you-mess-around-and-you-don-t-take-ev_1548414.jpg) > “If you mess around, and you don't take every game as seriously as possible, there's going to be a time you get to the Finals and say look, 'We're not sharp right now.' At that point, there's nothing you can do.” [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking games lightly leads to missed opportunities; seriousness is required at critical moments. **In simple terms:** Play seriously when stakes rise. Key Takeaway Maintain focus, especially in high‑pressure games. Themes sports competition focus Mood determined serious Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - playoffs - finals - career milestones Key Concepts performance pressure team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep fun in competition? - What routines help you stay sharp? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on seriousness can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I took the game seriously. It was my profession. My teammates also took losing hard. We would all sit in the locker room after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-frazier/i-took-the-game-seriously-it-was-my-profession-my-teammates-also-took/) [Walt Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-frazier/) > [Obviously, playing for India is special, but I try to play each and every game seriously, and my only thinking is to improve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/obviously-playing-for-india-is-special-but-i-try-to-play-each-and/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [Life is a game in which the rules are constantly changing; nothing spoils a game more than those who take it seriously. Adultery? Phooey!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/life-is-a-game-in-which-the-rules-are-constantly-changing-nothing/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [Don't remember where I was I realized life was a game. The more seriously I took things the harder the rules became.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megadeth/don-t-remember-where-i-was-i-realized-life-was-a-game-the-more/) [Megadeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megadeth/) > [I started playing from the age of 11-12. I loved the game immediately but started playing the game seriously only in 1993-94.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/i-started-playing-from-the-age-of-11-12-i-loved-the-game-immediately/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [Playing for South Africa is an absolute honour, and I don't feel like I need to relax. Every game I take more than seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imran-tahir/playing-for-south-africa-is-an-absolute-honour-and-i-don-t-feel-like/) [Imran Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imran-tahir/) > [I get criticized for being me. I'm enjoying life, and people see it as me not being serious. Not taking the game seriously. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-young/i-get-criticized-for-being-me-i-m-enjoying-life-and-people-see-it-as/) [Nick Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-young/) > [You have to take every game very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/you-have-to-take-every-game-very-seriously/) [Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/) > [When I'm smiling, I'm supposedly not taking the game seriously. When I'm not smiling, then it's like, "He don't care. He's just out there."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/when-i-m-smiling-i-m-supposedly-not-taking-the-game-seriously-when-i/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [It's important to take every game seriously, whatever the competition is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-lloris/it-s-important-to-take-every-game-seriously-whatever-the-competition/) [Hugo Lloris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-lloris/) > [I realize that you still have to take the game seriously, but you have to have fun at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/i-realize-that-you-still-have-to-take-the-game-seriously-but-you-have/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) > [When I was about 12 years old, I knew I had to take the game more seriously if I wanted to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jennings/when-i-was-about-12-years-old-i-knew-i-had-to-take-the-game-more/) [Brandon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jennings/) > [For me, as someone who takes the game seriously, really loves the game of basketball, just looking at the trajectory of my career and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-randle/for-me-as-someone-who-takes-the-game-seriously-really-loves-the-game/) [Julius Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-randle/) > [This is a job and Survivor is a game show. So, this is something to take seriously and work really hard at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-haskell/this-is-a-job-and-survivor-is-a-game-show-so-this-is-something-to/) [Colleen Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-haskell/) > [I take this game very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mcnabb/i-take-this-game-very-seriously/) [Donovan McNabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mcnabb/) ## More by Harrison Barnes > [I remember throughout middle school and high school how excited my mom, sister and I would be when a UNC game was on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-remember-throughout-middle-school-and-high-school-how-excited-my/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [You can never not make your voice heard - there's always more we can all be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-can-never-not-make-your-voice-heard-there-s-always-more-we-can/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [The longer you stay in college the better a brand you build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/the-longer-you-stay-in-college-the-better-a-brand-you-build/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [From the small town in Iowa where I grew up, to Chapel Hill where I went to college, to the Bay Area and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/from-the-small-town-in-iowa-where-i-grew-up-to-chapel-hill-where-i/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I think how you dress says a lot about how you carry yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-think-how-you-dress-says-a-lot-about-how-you-carry-yourself/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Basketball is such a good platform to be able to have a real impact on kids. We don't have all the answers, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/basketball-is-such-a-good-platform-to-be-able-to-have-a-real-impact/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I love to get involved with the community by doing programs that promote literacy and education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-love-to-get-involved-with-the-community-by-doing-programs-that/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I've grown in maturity because I understood from an intellectual standpoint how serious Covid-19 is and all the effects it was having on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-ve-grown-in-maturity-because-i-understood-from-an-intellectual/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [You have to commend the players who've stepped up and used their voice, who've been courageous, and when it came to Colin Kaepernick, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-have-to-commend-the-players-who-ve-stepped-up-and-used-their/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I think as I've gotten older, I've realized the more important details. Yes, you're going to make money. Yes, you're going to do all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-think-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-realized-the-more-important-details/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [The NBA is a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/the-nba-is-a-business/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I know that I won't be an athlete forever. I have to have a vision of what I want to be afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-know-that-i-won-t-be-an-athlete-forever-i-have-to-have-a-vision-of/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [You want to know what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-want-to-know-what-you-do-best/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Anytime you have opportunities to spread the game of basketball, it is a big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/anytime-you-have-opportunities-to-spread-the-game-of-basketball-it-is/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [I know my body pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/i-know-my-body-pretty-well/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) [Explore all 99 Harrison Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) ## More Finals quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [When I represent my country I don't think about the number of caps, but about trying to qualify for finals. That's what counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/when-i-represent-my-country-i-don-t-think-about-the-number-of-caps/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [Nothing from man's hands, nor law, nor constitution, can be final. Truth alone is final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/nothing-from-man-s-hands-nor-law-nor-constitution-can-be-final-truth/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [If today were your final day of this life, would those things causing you stress still do so?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/if-today-were-your-final-day-of-this-life-would-those-things-causing/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [The ultimate goal of radical politics is gradually to displace the limit of social exclusions, empowering the excluded agents (sexual and ethnic minorities) by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/the-ultimate-goal-of-radical-politics-is-gradually-to-displace-the/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [I have a great record against anybody right now, so it doesn't really matter who I play in the final. I'll be in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/i-have-a-great-record-against-anybody-right-now-so-it-doesn-t-really/) [Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/) > [The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-final-estimate-of-men-shows-that-history-cares-not-an-iota-for/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [Death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-so-terribly-final-while-life-is-full-of-possibilities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The meaning of this is, that whomsoever we love, in him we find our own soul in the highest sense. The final truth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-meaning-of-this-is-that-whomsoever-we-love-in-him-we-find-our-own/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Once the war began, the government could do anything 'necessary' to win it; so it was with the 'final solution of the Jewish problem,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-mayer/once-the-war-began-the-government-could-do-anything-necessary-to-win/) [Milton Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-mayer/) > [I am down mentally. I can't understand how it happened and who is to blame? I don't know why the ground was rolled before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeasin-khan/i-am-down-mentally-i-can-t-understand-how-it-happened-and-who-is-to/) Yeasin Khan > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-learned-a-tremendous-amount-about-what-was-important-to-me-as-a/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) Browse all 2,282 Finals quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you mess around, and you don't take every game as seriously as possible, there's going to be a time you get to the Finals and say look, 'We're not sharp right now.' 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