Reggie Jackson Implores Pistons To Block Out Critics, Play For Each Other In Game 4

Cover Image
Photo credit © Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Pistons' season is on the brink. And heading into Game 4 of their first-round playoff series versus the Bucks, Reggie Jackson wants his teammates to play for each other and forget everything else. 

Jackson, who scored 15 points in Detroit's 119-103 loss in Game 3 Saturday night, spoke at length about the importance of emptying the tank on Monday.

"Everybody gets knocked down. That’s why I always loved the D-Wade commercial when I was young – get knocked down seven times, stand up eight. Nobody cares. Just leave it out there. Nobody cares. That’s the biggest thing I try to reiterate to my teammates," Jackson said. "Just come out here, lace up, leave everything you have on the floor and we can come in here, look at each other, stare at your brother and know you gave everything you got. You can go home and look in the mirror and tell yourself, I gave everything I got.

"Some nights you’re going to lose. One team wins the championship. One team. That’s the biggest thing, we always make a big deal. Just one team can win. Go out there and leave it on the floor. As long as you can go into the summer and say, I left it out there, nobody cares. That’s it. It’s that simple." 

That wasn't all Jackson had to say. Not even close. Asked if he'll be taking a nothing-to-lose mentality into Game 4, Jackson said that's his mentality every day. 

"When you go out and leave this game and it’s all zeroes, you can win or lose. It’s a very simple game," said Jackson. "The problem is, you start worrying about the media, you start worrying about everybody’s perception. Who cares? It’s great for the entertainment, it’s great for basketball – I know the league’s probably not happy that I say it, whatever – but who cares?

"I know me personally, I never picked up a basketball to be talked to by media. I never picked up a basketball for a fan or anybody to love me. I picked up a basketball because it was something my family did, it’s something that I love to do. And that’s all I go out there and do. I try to make the most of my family name, I try to enjoy the game I love and leave it on the floor. That’s all you can do." 

As for the critics, pay them no mind. 

"It doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks of you," Jackson said. "When you go home and you see what’s on Twitter, block them out. Somebody’s mad at you because they probably hate their life? So what. Go out there and play the game you love, do what you do to the best of your ability and then leave it on the floor – I mean, in life. That’s easy with life. Not everybody’s Tom Gores, not everybody’s Bill Gates. All you can do is come here in life, give it your best shot and try to be successful."