You come out of the All-Star break with a pretty good mentality that the last third of the season is going to be pretty difficult. We've had a good mentality after the break.

When he does things well, it's pretty special. But there's a flip side, things he needs to be groomed on and made aware of.

[But some of the Wizards players were very well aware of what was going on elsewhere in the conference.] I felt like I was on the leader board of some golf tournament, ... I came out at halftime and every team in our [conference] was getting the result they needed to get. That certainly set the tone for what we had to provide in the second half.

I'm not going to look at this as being the most critical game of my life, but it's important like the other ones were. Coach knows who I am and what I bring. At the end of the day, if I'm someone that he wants around, then that's what he chooses.

I'm not going to say it's a a do or die, but it's important. You're a forward. That's what you get paid to do.

I think getting an early goal helps any forward. He has that killer instinct. Once he gets one, he wants them all. ... He was different class in front of the goal today.