--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The season is a beast within itself. It's…" description: "\"The season is a beast within itself. It's not the quickest race; it's a marathon. In the playoffs - if you're fortunate enough to make the playoffs - t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/jerry-west-7315_beast-within_the-season-is-a-beast-within-itself-it-s_773538.jpg" --- # The season is a beast within itself. It's not the quickest… ![“The season is a beast within itself. It's not the quickest race; it's a marathon. In the playoffs - if you're fortunate enough to make the playoffs - that's more like a dash. You have to concentrate on one opponent. When they're done, you have to concentrate on another one.” quote by Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/jerry-west-7315_beast-within_the-season-is-a-beast-within-itself-it-s_773538.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/jerry-west-7315_beast-within_the-season-is-a-beast-within-itself-it-s_773538.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/jerry-west-7315_beast-within_the-season-is-a-beast-within-itself-it-s_773538.jpg) > “The season is a beast within itself. It's not the quickest race; it's a marathon. In the playoffs - if you're fortunate enough to make the playoffs - that's more like a dash. You have to concentrate on one opponent. When they're done, you have to concentrate on another one.” [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playoffs demand focused, sequential effort; each opponent requires dedicated attention, unlike regular season’s broader race. **In simple terms:** Playoffs need focus on one opponent at a time. Key Takeaway Prioritize tasks one by one. Themes sports focus strategy Mood motivational strategic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - team sports - project management - exam preparation - career advancement Key Concepts competition goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance focus and adaptability? - What strategies keep you from burnout? A Different Perspective Over‑focus can cause tunnel vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beast within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast-within/) [Marathon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marathon/) [Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) ## Related quotes > [You don't sell the team short and say, 'We're just trying to make the playoffs,' or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fizdale/you-don-t-sell-the-team-short-and-say-we-re-just-trying-to-make-the/) [David Fizdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fizdale/) > [You live to play in the playoffs. It's like your heart is ripped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darcy-tucker/you-live-to-play-in-the-playoffs-it-s-like-your-heart-is-ripped-out/) [Darcy Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darcy-tucker/) > [Playoffs are like another season to be completely honest. I don't know how to describe it, but it's kind of like a different wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/playoffs-are-like-another-season-to-be-completely-honest-i-don-t-know/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) > [The playoffs are like nothing else. The intensity is off the meat rack and I'm looking forward to going back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/the-playoffs-are-like-nothing-else-the-intensity-is-off-the-meat-rack/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [You get a taste of playing in the playoffs and what that's like, and it's a completely different world. You get a taste in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/you-get-a-taste-of-playing-in-the-playoffs-and-what-that-s-like-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [What I've learned so far from researching is that to win the Stanley Cup, you have to make the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-leonsis/what-i-ve-learned-so-far-from-researching-is-that-to-win-the-stanley/) [Ted Leonsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-leonsis/) > [Well, of course you question it, especially when you get to this point. I always look at it would I rather not make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/well-of-course-you-question-it-especially-when-you-get-to-this-point/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I'm going to make the playoffs. You can believe that. To never play in the playoffs, that will not be my legacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladainian-tomlinson/i-m-going-to-make-the-playoffs-you-can-believe-that-to-never-play-in/) [LaDainian Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladainian-tomlinson/) > [No matter how noble and special people want to make the playoffs out to be... it's a crapshoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orel-hershiser/no-matter-how-noble-and-special-people-want-to-make-the-playoffs-out/) [Orel Hershiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orel-hershiser/) > [I want to make the playoffs here, figure out how to change the culture in Sacramento. Just from being there, the city and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-want-to-make-the-playoffs-here-figure-out-how-to-change-the-culture/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [I thought it was going to be easy. I thought it was going to be every year, 'Oh, we're going to the Super Bowl.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-janikowski/i-thought-it-was-going-to-be-easy-i-thought-it-was-going-to-be-every/) [Sebastian Janikowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-janikowski/) > [I just want to win as a team, take road games, play some of the top teams and beat them to make the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knox/i-just-want-to-win-as-a-team-take-road-games-play-some-of-the-top/) [Kevin Knox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knox/) > [I don't pay attention to accolades or any of that stuff because I think it can serve as a distraction, so for me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-brogdon/i-don-t-pay-attention-to-accolades-or-any-of-that-stuff-because-i/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-brogdon/) > [It's cool to make the playoffs. It's not cool to lose in the first round anymore. The goal is to make the Finals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-lowry/it-s-cool-to-make-the-playoffs-it-s-not-cool-to-lose-in-the-first/) [Kyle Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-lowry/) > [One of the things I learned playing on a good team is when the team wins, when you make the playoffs, everybody looks good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/one-of-the-things-i-learned-playing-on-a-good-team-is-when-the-team/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) ## More by Jerry West > [As you get older, every chance to win a championship is more crucial, because you are going to have less and less of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-you-get-older-every-chance-to-win-a-championship-is-more-crucial/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-and-i-had-a-brother-killed-in/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I don't live in the past. And besides, there are too many times in my career to remember specific events, because I played so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-don-t-live-in-the-past-and-besides-there-are-too-many-times-in-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You can't ever totally know what's inside of someone else, or see the kind of will someone like Magic has. You have to rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-can-t-ever-totally-know-what-s-inside-of-someone-else-or-see-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [“Suddenly Sue shrieked as only four-year-old girls can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/suddenly-sue-shrieked-as-only-four-year-old-girls-can/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/the-support-this-city-and-our-fans-have-shown-the-grizzlies-made-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I always wanted the ball in my hands with a game on the line, as I think any real competitor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-always-wanted-the-ball-in-my-hands-with-a-game-on-the-line-as-i/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/some-guys-lay-their-fannies-out-there-every-night-they-play-the-game/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You need to possess more than a little nastiness to play basketball at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-need-to-possess-more-than-a-little-nastiness-to-play-basketball/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Personalities seem in many cases to dominate the lucrative endorsement market. But that doesn't upset me. What upsets me is when not enough attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/personalities-seem-in-many-cases-to-dominate-the-lucrative/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You get so addicted to winning that you don't want that feeling to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-get-so-addicted-to-winning-that-you-don-t-want-that-feeling-to/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [We talk about players of yesteryear, guys who could play or couldn't play, and I think it's ridiculous to try to even compare people...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/we-talk-about-players-of-yesteryear-guys-who-could-play-or-couldn-t/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [As a player all you can do is play within yourself, even in the context of a team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-a-player-all-you-can-do-is-play-within-yourself-even-in-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [There's been so many unbelievable players in Los Angeles, maybe the best of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/there-s-been-so-many-unbelievable-players-in-los-angeles-maybe-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) [Explore all 92 Jerry West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## More Beast within quotes > [In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/in-giving-us-dominion-over-the-animal-kingdom-god-has-signified-his/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [“Iris tasted of red wine- the red wine she must have drunk at dinner- and all the reasons he shouldn't do this fled his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/iris-tasted-of-red-wine-the-red-wine-she-must-have-drunk-at-dinner/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [We humans fear the beast within the wolf because we do not understand the beast within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-hausman/we-humans-fear-the-beast-within-the-wolf-because-we-do-not-understand/) [Gerald Hausman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-hausman/) > [“War and peace Humanity has fought many wars, But won none, Because even in peace the victors carry its scars, That they can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javid-ahmad-tak/war-and-peace-humanity-has-fought-many-wars-but-won-none-because-even/) [Javid Ahmad Tak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javid-ahmad-tak/) > [I’m aware of my weaknesses and THE BEAST WITHIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/i-m-aware-of-my-weaknesses-and-the-beast-within/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [It's the nature of the beast within us to keep going back to the familiar rather than to strap on faith and face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/it-s-the-nature-of-the-beast-within-us-to-keep-going-back-to-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [We ride through life on the beast within us. Beat the animal, but you can't make it think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigi-pirandello/we-ride-through-life-on-the-beast-within-us-beat-the-animal-but-you/) [Luigi Pirandello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigi-pirandello/) > [“He rrraped herrr,” the beast within him shrieked from deep in his gut, shaking everything but my resolve. Pietr stepped back, putting his hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-delany/he-rrraped-herrr-the-beast-within-him-shrieked-from-deep-in-his-gut/) [Shannon Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-delany/) > [“I'm willing to grind, endure & suffer to wake that beast within me, to grow, accomplish & win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-kumar-puli/i-m-willing-to-grind-endure-suffer-to-wake-that-beast-within-me-to/) [Sachin Kumar Puli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-kumar-puli/) > [“The beast within called to my human skin to set it free in the wilderness. But I can’t. It didn’t want to listen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-blackwelder/the-beast-within-called-to-my-human-skin-to-set-it-free-in-the/) Ami Blackwelder > [Every man has a wild beast within him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-the-great/every-man-has-a-wild-beast-within-him/) [Frederick The Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-the-great/) > [“I have long been of the Opinion, says he, that the Fire was a vast Blessing and the Plague likewise; it gave us Occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-have-long-been-of-the-opinion-says-he-that-the-fire-was-a-vast/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“They can't change (...). But I do believe they have a beast within. In some it's buried so deep they'll never feel it; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-curtis-klause/they-can-t-change-but-i-do-believe-they-have-a-beast-within-in-some/) [Annette Curtis Klause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-curtis-klause/) > [“There is a beast within my heart. She plays immaculately with the beauty in my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-lee/there-is-a-beast-within-my-heart-she-plays-immaculately-with-the/) [Melody Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-lee/) > [“Understand that when the beast within you succeeds again in paralyzing into unending incompletion whatever you again had the temerity to try to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bidart/understand-that-when-the-beast-within-you-succeeds-again-in/) [Frank Bidart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bidart/) [Browse all 21 Beast within quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast-within/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The season is a beast within itself. It's not the quickest race; it's a marathon. In the playoffs - if you're fortunate enough to make the playoffs - that's more like a dash. You have to concentrate on one opponent. 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