--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not like we have not had close…" description: "\"It's not like we have not had close games. We've just been able to win them, and as a result, the reality sometimes doesn't set in that you're weak in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/mike-krzyzewski-2324_able_it-s-not-like-we-have-not-had-close-game_2777913.jpg" --- # It's not like we have not had close games. We've just been… ![“It's not like we have not had close games. We've just been able to win them, and as a result, the reality sometimes doesn't set in that you're weak in certain areas or you're not doing certain things well. ... When you win, sometimes it overshadows a poor performance.” quote by Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/mike-krzyzewski-2324_able_it-s-not-like-we-have-not-had-close-game_2777913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/mike-krzyzewski-2324_able_it-s-not-like-we-have-not-had-close-game_2777913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/mike-krzyzewski-2324_able_it-s-not-like-we-have-not-had-close-game_2777913.jpg) > “It's not like we have not had close games. We've just been able to win them, and as a result, the reality sometimes doesn't set in that you're weak in certain areas or you're not doing certain things well. ... When you win, sometimes it overshadows a poor performance.” [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning can mask underlying weaknesses, leading to complacency about performance gaps. **In simple terms:** Success may hide problems. Key Takeaway Identify and address hidden flaws. Themes self-awareness performance growth Mood reflective cautious Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - coaching - team meetings - post‑game analysis Key Concepts psychology team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What areas are you overlooking after a win? - How can you ensure continuous improvement? A Different Perspective Success can breed overconfidence and neglect of improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Poor performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-performance/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [As an athlete, as a sports athlete, it matters if you lose or if you win. The result really matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-korean-zombie/as-an-athlete-as-a-sports-athlete-it-matters-if-you-lose-or-if-you/) [The Korean Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-korean-zombie/) > [If you win a National Championship, or you win two, people think you have not only seen the Holy Grail, but you've embraced it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/if-you-win-a-national-championship-or-you-win-two-people-think-you/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [When you win, sometimes it overshadows a poor performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/when-you-win-sometimes-it-overshadows-a-poor-performance/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [The important minutes are at the end of the game and that you close out games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-schroder/the-important-minutes-are-at-the-end-of-the-game-and-that-you-close/) [Dennis Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-schroder/) > [The close games are usually lost, rather than won. What I mean by that is games are mostly won because of the opponent making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-close-games-are-usually-lost-rather-than-won-what-i-mean-by-that/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [In a lot of close games, I can make a difference with my speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-damon/in-a-lot-of-close-games-i-can-make-a-difference-with-my-speed/) [Johnny Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-damon/) > [We've got to have that mindset that we've got to close out games and go up by more than two scores to really shut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-trubisky/we-ve-got-to-have-that-mindset-that-we-ve-got-to-close-out-games-and/) [Mitchell Trubisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-trubisky/) > [I consider rivalries close games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/i-consider-rivalries-close-games/) [Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/) > [You play 162 games so let's say 100 of them come down to the end where you see the game is out of reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-martinez/you-play-162-games-so-let-s-say-100-of-them-come-down-to-the-end/) [J. 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We're kind of beating ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmelo-anthony/these-close-games-that-we-re-losing-the-teams-are-not-beating-us-we/) [Carmelo Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmelo-anthony/) > [You've got to win close games in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcdermott/you-ve-got-to-win-close-games-in-the-nfl/) [Sean McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcdermott/) > [If you can concentrate on what you're doing and have the desire to do the things you have to do to win, you'll succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/if-you-can-concentrate-on-what-you-re-doing-and-have-the-desire-to-do/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [Everyone has to be a winner, but only things one has to win are himself/ herself and food of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/everyone-has-to-be-a-winner-but-only-things-one-has-to-win-are/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) ## More by Mike Krzyzewski > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. 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