After today's training, Dunleavy asked Ricky Davis to stay and said he had something to talk to him about.
Ricky Davis had no plans to leave the training center. He planned to stay and continue training to improve his shooting accuracy.
Seeing that Dunleavy wanted to chat with him, Davis put on his sports coat and followed Deng to the coach's office.
The relationship between Ricky Davis and Lao Deng has always been neither salty nor cold, and there is even some ambiguity between each other, because Ricky feels that he cannot be reused here in Dunleavy.
In the 2007-2008 season, before Davis was traded to the Clippers, he averaged 13.6 points per game with the Timberwolves.
After being traded to the Clippers, Davis's scoring plummeted, dropping to an average of 6.4 points per game.
His data this season is even worse, averaging only 4.5 points per game, making him close to the edge of the bench.
Davis believes that on the one hand, he was affected by injuries and his condition is indeed not as good as before.
On the other hand, he felt that Dunleavy would not use him and always wanted to use him as a small forward.
Davis's playing style is that of a standard shooting guard. He has to hold the ball, break through, and play in isolation.
Instead of standing in the corner, running, waiting for his teammates to pass the ball, he takes a shot, and then focuses on defense.
To put it bluntly, he plays like the boss of the team, but his ability has long been unable to support his status as the boss.
There are too many players like this in the NBA who are ambitious but not capable enough.
Dunleavy has seen too much. If he wants to survive, he must shape himself into what the environment requires.
If you want to grow as you wish, you can either reach the top of the pyramid in terms of ability, or you can go to a lower league and become Jordan.
Dunleavy feels that with Davis's ability and style of play, he might as well go to the lower leagues to be Jordan.
The European League, the Chinese League, or the NBDL, that is the right place for him.
Calling Davis into the office, Dunleavy looked at the unshaven black man and said, "Ricky, do you have any plans for your future?"
Davis found a stool and sat down on his own, saying, "What other plans can I have? Let's play hard."
Dunleavy said: "Do you think you are still capable of playing well? Your performance this month is not very good."
With that said, Dunleavy showed Davis the statistics table of the November game. Davis still had scores, assists, and rebounds.
But his high-level statistics are terrible. When he is on the court, the team's defensive and offensive efficiency decline.
To put it simply, Davis is now the team's cancer, but Randolph has a high win contribution value.
"Mr. Smart came over and asked if Ricky Davis' playing time could be increased. After all, he has a salary of more than 2 million, so it would be bad to sit on the bench all the time. I said, his current state and performance, If you asked him to be the coach, he would probably put himself on the bench. What do you think, Ricky?"
Dunleavy wanted to use such words to anger Davis and make Davis turn against him, so that Dunleavy would have a reason not to use him on the stage.
Even if Min Congda asked, Dunleavy could explain that Davis didn't want to perform well.
Given Davis's character, it would be even more desirable for Dunleavy to see him apply for a trade again, or not come at all and let the team buy him out.
After all, Dunleavy is a veteran coach in the league. Min Congda does not put pressure on him to achieve results and allows him to perform freely. He will be completely obedient if he comes on the bench more often?
Dunleavy is not a puppet. He has his own ideas and coaching philosophy, and he will not completely follow Min Congda.
Just like the leaders in some units ask their subordinates to do things, any subordinate with some ability cannot execute it 100% perfectly without discount. They must have their own little calculations.
Those who are capable and have crooked ideas will go against the leader.
He has little ability and no evil intentions, so cheating and cheating will be discounted.
Those who want to execute 100% without discount are the incompetent people.
But those who are incapable cannot accomplish anything.
Dunleavy is neither very capable nor very capable. He doesn't want to confront others, but he is not completely submissive either.
Ricky Davis listened to Dunleavy's words, looked at the form in his hand, clenched his fists, and said: "Then...Coach Dunleavy, what do you think I should do? How should I do it so that I can perform better and serve the team better?" contribute?"
Dunleavy had already prepared to deal with Davis' bad temper, but he didn't expect that this guy would give in?
It's unbelievable, what's going on? He's always been arrogant and arrogant, but at first he thought James was here to help his man.
Now he lowers his head and asks the coach, what can I do to contribute to the team?
Dunleavy rubbed his nose. He wanted to think about how to deal with it. This guy didn't play his cards according to the set.
"You...you start with defense. You have to do additional defensive training every day for two weeks, and I will consider increasing your playing time."
Ricky Davis's defense has always been a shortcoming, but he is 31 years old this year. Let him start practicing defense again?
His body, his consciousness, and his technical foundation were basically finalized 10 years ago, so how can he practice them?
The most I can do is practice my defensive attitude and get back into shape, that's all.
But Davis nodded vigorously, and he actually agreed.
"Okay coach, starting from tomorrow, I will practice defense after every training... No, you don't need to start from tomorrow, just start from today. I will go to training right away."
After saying that, Davis got up from the bench and returned to the court to practice lateral movement and sliding.
Dunleavy came out of the office and was surprised to see Davis on the court practicing basic skills like a high school student.
"What is going on? Why has he become so obedient? Is he really enlightened?"
Dunleavy suddenly thought of Zach Randolph.
Randolph's recent performance has been equally impressive.
Dunleavy also disliked this fat black man before.
In terms of ability, he is not much worse than Brand.
In terms of physical fitness and talent, Randolph is even better than Brand.
But in terms of personality and background, Randolph and Brand are worlds apart.
What is Brand's background?
Mr. Basketball in New York State in high school, graduated from the prestigious Duke University, NCAA Player of the Year, All-American First Team, John Wooden Award winner, No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft, and Rookie of the Season. Whether on or off the court, he is a trustworthy top power forward and a true captain. Dunleavy never has to worry about him.
The Clippers in the 2005-2006 season are good memories of Dunleavy's coaching career. The team was really good that year.
But the subsequent sharp turn and Brand's departure broke Dunleavy's heart. He originally had great ambitions.
Looking at Randolph, he missed an entire season in high school due to gun theft. Although he and the team reached the semi-finals in college, he had no personal honors and nothing, and he was in constant trouble when he entered the NBA.
Before the start of this season, Randolph got into trouble again after being beaten up in a nightclub.
But after that one time, Randolph seemed like a different person, becoming more mature and reliable.
Even after renewing his contract in advance, he still played hard and changed his appearance on and off the court.
"It's really strange. Does Smart really have any magic power?"
Dunleavy couldn't figure it out and was about to leave. Then when he passed the gym, he saw Randolph doing strength training inside.
"Xie Te, this guy Smart...maybe really has magical powers...He seems to have a special affinity with these bastards. Is he Song Jiang?"
Not to mention, Dunleavy is quite knowledgeable and has read the English version of Water Margin, the story of 105 men and 3 women.
(End of chapter)
