After the 17-18 NBA regular season, ESPN and NBA TV asked the same three questions to a number of coaches around the league to review and summarize the ups and downs of the season. The three questions asked were:

"One, how would you rate you and your team this season?"

"Two, look forward to the playoffs in one sentence?"

"Three, what surprised you this season?"

Before the playoffs begin, listen to how the team leaders answer these three questions and soothe your emotions.

Mike D'Anthony.

Houston Rockets head coach with a 65-17 record.

"Great season. The Rockets have the best record in franchise history, and the seamless connection of James Harden and Chris Paul is a testament to how right the team and management were in the summer to believe that 1+1 is greater than 2. We've had a great deal of attacking action, we've improved our defence and a lot of the youngsters have grown a lot under the leadership of our leaders and veterans. It's been a great season, belonging to great players, and a great group of Rockets. ”

"Playoffs? We're all in now and we're aiming for that final trophy, the O'Brien Cup – there's no championship, any greatness is just a joke. ”

"The unexpected thing is, of course, our 'Dr. Yang'. I knew he would fit in well with the NBA, but I didn't expect him to be so good! If you ask me, we don't just have MVPs on our team, but also Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year (Eric Gordon). With Harden under his wing, I can't imagine how high the ceiling will be in the future! ”

Steve Cole.

Head coach of the Golden State Warriors with a 58-24 record.

'We've had a lot of difficulties, especially injuries to the main squad. Curry won't be able to return to the roster when the playoffs kick off tomorrow, and his ankle... All I can say is that Curry and we were so unlucky. The whole league seems to be looking at us as an imaginary enemy, but as the defending champions it is inevitable. I'm glad that there are a lot of young people in the team who are ready to take on the challenge after going through these difficulties. ”

'It's not always easy to defend the title without high expectations, not even the Spurs at the top, so our first step is just to figure out how to beat them.

"Kevin (Durant's) all-round. He's proven to be the league's scariest scorer countless times, but this year he surprised me with his dominance on the defensive end of our team. He's really capable of anything, he's indispensable to us, and of course I really want him to stay in the summer..."

Brad Stevens.

Head coach of the Boston Celtics with a 55-27 record.

"A fantastic season. The lads proved that they are the best team in the entire league, tenacious, united, disciplined, intelligent. They represent Boston's championship tradition, and we've won a lot of difficult games as underdogs. I believe that next season Hayward and Irving will return, and we will be even stronger. ”

"Eastern Conference Finals, anything can happen from then on."

"I was amazed by the rookies in this class. It's not just our high-pick rookies like Jayson Tatum, but also draft 'missing pearls' like Mitchell, Kuzma, and Yang Yiming. I hope to one day bring one or more of their talents to Boston. ”

Bret Brown.

Head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers with a 52-30 record.

"Perfect season. The lads have finally cashed in on their talents. No, that's not their limit, the sky is. I'm very proud to be a basketball coach to such a talented group of young people. ”

"There are no expectations, maybe we won't be able to hit the trophy this time, but I'm sure in time this playoff trip will be a very valuable experience for them throughout their careers."

"Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Their maturity scares me. I've been a coach in the league for many years and shouldn't have made a fuss about the performance of one or two rookies. But they're already seeing in them the shadows of the great duos in league history, Malone and Stockton, O'Neal and Kobe, Chamberlain and West. Don't forget, we have another champion, Fultz! ”

Taryn Lue.

Head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 50-32 record.

'We've had a lot of ups and downs in the season, we've been through a lot, but the good thing is that we have a great player in the game. No one would dispute that he was probably the best ever. In my mind, LeBron James is the GOAT (Greatest of All Times), and it's a great honor to coach him. ”

"As long as James is around, we have a chance to compete for a championship."

"It's still James, it's really admirable that he's in such a high level at 33 years old, even surpassing the younger version of himself. For LeBron James, I will always be in awe. ”

Steve Clifford.

Head coach of the Charlotte Hornets with a 36-46 record. (Classes have ended)

"A lost season. We had a good squad but it didn't live up to the expectations of the fans and the management, so it was disappointing. It could be an injury [Batum], it could be a tactic, it might be a lack of aggressiveness, it could be the chemistry that went wrong, but in short, we didn't make the playoffs, and that in itself speaks for itself. ”

"Rocket. I can feel the hunger for glory on everyone's team – what our team lacks – and this should be their year. ”

"Howard's Double Thirty data. He was in great form, so he was offered a new contract, which he earned. I want to congratulate him. ”

Greg Popovich.

San Antonio Spurs head coach with a 47-35 record.

"What answer do you want to hear? For the first time in 19 years, there are no 50 wins? Seventh in the West? Without Leonard, wouldn't the Spurs be able to play? Now that you've thought of the content, you're still asking me what to do?! ”

"I never 'expected' the playoffs, the people who have gone fishing expect the playoffs. I only 'do' the playoffs, every year. ”

"What else do you think the alliance could surprise me? I was surprised that you asked this question. Thank you! ”

Rick Carlisle.

The head coach of the Dallas Mavericks with a record of 24 wins and 58 losses.

"The team didn't do what we expected, but I guess that's competitive sports. At least we witnessed Dirk (Nowitzki) break himself again, breaking the record. He is now in his own alliance, and all he needs to do is keep moving forward and keep widening the gap with his descendants... Hopefully when I come back next season, I'll be able to coach him. ”

"I hope to see a new champion born, the Raptors in the East, the Rockets in the Southwest, I personally think they all have a chance."

"Jason Kidd's dismissal. I'm very happy to work with him, when he's a player, and to win a championship together. He's a very smart guy, since he was a player. Kidd is a natural leader, a natural coach, and I think he has all the traits to lead the Milwaukee gang to great things, especially Antetokounmpo, from whom he could have learned a lot. So I was very surprised that he was actually fired by the Bucks, and I feel like they made a bad decision in the long run. ”