On the morning of October 2, 2010, the Clippers' new season training camp officially opened at the Oil Pipe Training Center.
Because the Clippers signed a sponsorship agreement with YouTube, the team's training uniforms and training center must be marked with the YouTube logo.
Min Congda, who is a frequent visitor to the training center restaurant, came early in the morning. He specially brought a squid that he had just bought in the morning and gave it to the chef of the training center to make squid fried rice for noon.
I really treat the kitchen of the training center as my own restaurant.
But the chef was happy because Min Congda gave them a salary increase.
After the revenue from jerseys and other peripheral items increased, the league’s share settlement has not yet arrived.
Min Congda immediately advanced the income and used it to increase wages for his employees.
Although it is not possible to increase all employees by 20% like when they first came here, it is enough for each person to add a few hundred dollars.
This feeling of constantly rising wages is really great for ordinary employees.
The training center’s food, equipment management, and sanitary conditions are all very good.
Players feel at home when they come here, especially those who are new to the team.
James Harden, Milicic, Bonner, Jeremy Lin, Bledsoe, Paul George, Hinrich.
The Clippers have a lot of newcomers in the new season, which is a big trouble for the coaching staff.
Newcomers mean that the team needs to formulate new tactical routines, and the tactical understanding needs to be cultivated again.
Mike Dunleavy, who was inexplicably scolded three times during the offseason and nearly died of a heart attack, was filled with worries.
There was not much hair on the head, but now the Calabash Baby saves Grandpa, and every hair is gone and never comes back.
In his 20 years as a coach, he has never encountered an offseason operation like Min Congda's.
The team has just achieved a good record and entered the playoffs. The lineup structure is reasonable and the three generations of old, middle and young have a good mix.
As a result, Camby, a stable and excellent inside veteran, just didn't want it anymore, which made the Cavaliers cheaper.
Signed a parallel import who has proven to have no potential, and the Red Mamba who is slow as hell.
Gordon, a shooting guard who performed so well in the playoffs, is young and promising and full of potential.
No, he was sent to the Thunder for Harden, who has unknown potential and is also a bearded man.
Smart, do you have a fetish for big beards?
Madi Collins, Novak, a stable guard substitute, plus a third-position shooter.
In exchange for Hinrich, it stands to reason that this deal is okay on the surface.
Because Hinrich, as the 2003 Platinum Generation, is powerful.
But his ability is not what the Clippers urgently need right now.
And his contract is too big, which locks up the Clippers' operating space.
The Clippers, who could have harvested a lot in the 10-year free market, can be said to have harvested nothing.
It is said that James wanted to come to the Clippers, but was persuaded to leave by Smart!
Thinking of this, Mike Dunleavy felt his heart aching again.
This coach really won't last long. If he survives another season, he might be pissed to death by Smart.
At the beginning of last season, seeing the talented Curry, Dunleavy still wanted to return to the finals.
Don't go back to the finals. It's really not worth risking your life on the court first.
Min Congda saw Deng Levy and came over to say hello, "Old Deng! I brought you some black sesame seeds. I heard they can mend your hair. Do you want to give it a try?"
Dunleavy stood on the sidelines with his hands on his hips, watching the players warm up, not wanting to talk to Min Congda.
Min Congda came over and said with a smile: "Old Deng, if you continue to pretend to be deaf and mute and ignore me, I will kill you immediately."
Dunleavy understands Min Congda's no-nonsense style in the Clippers, and he doesn't want to lose this coaching job.
He had no choice but to turn around with a fake smile on his face and said: "Oh, dear old man, it's been a long time since I saw Smart. Look, look, the lineup you paired me with during the offseason is so luxurious. What a potential. This season, we will go even further."
Min Congda thought to himself, Lao Deng, you are still arrogant. How can you go further with this broken lineup?
If we make it to the playoffs again this season, I'll rip off my head and use it as a chamber pot for you!
Seeing Dunleavy's angry look on his face, Min Congda knew that he had made the right deal and signing.
This lineup has big flaws. The core problem is defense, and the inside is too slow.
Although Camby didn't play much last season, he was eventually displaced from the starting position by Gasol.
But as the former best defensive player, Camby's basic defensive skills are there.
Camby does a very good job in backcourt rebound protection and basic rim protection.
His lanky body ensures his mobility and ability to detect and fill gaps.
In the new season, the Clippers' internal additions Milicic and Bonner are not very good defensively.
Not to mention Bonner, Milicic has never shown very good rebounding and basket-protecting abilities.
Generally speaking, the team's expectations for him are that he can bring out his offensive talents.
On the defensive end, his career-high rebounds per game season was only 6.
Among them, backcourt rebounds are even worse, averaging about 3 or 4 per game all year round.
This is not qualified as a backup center.
And as a Serbian player, he did not inherit the traditional European big man's talent for passing the ball.
He has averaged less than one assist per game in his career and has basically no ability to support or pass the ball.
The only thing that gives people hope is his inside footsteps, good touch, and height and wingspan.
But he has played in the league for 7 years. Is it possible that he still needs to develop his ball-handling offense? Impossible.
Therefore, giving up Camby and choosing to sign Milicic is definitely a bad move at the moment.
Randolph and Gasol already have the disadvantage of being slower on defense.
If you make up two pieces at once, it will be slower. Are you not deliberately causing trouble?
There is also the Clippers' most lethal third position.
Dunleavy has been thinking about finding an excellent No. 3 position in the summer.
Not to mention James, you can also bring in Luol Deng or Rasu Butler.
No, the draft picked a limp Paul George at No. 3.
This kid looks like he hasn't woken up. Do you think you are McGrady?
There is also the second position. Deng, who used to have a round face and a big butt, is the Clippers' defensive potential on the outside.
When facing Kobe in the playoffs, Gordon showed sufficient defensive strength.
If you train him well, he will definitely be a defensive gate on the outside in the future.
As a result, the trade was gone, in exchange for Harden.
He was unshaven and also had a lazy look.
He can walk on the court but not run, looking like he hasn't woken up.
Smart has a really good eye for looking for half-asleep rookies like this.
And Curry, although he performed very well in the new season, but if you look at him laughing and shaking his head, is he a serious basketball player?
By the way, there’s that Nick Young! He's been grinning like crazy all day long, but I haven't seen him in a straight shape!
When Dunleavy was young, basketball was a tough-guy sport, and good coaches would have strict requirements on the players' words and deeds.
The Clippers don't look like a team that plays well now.
By the way, the most dishonest person is General Manager Smart, who does some crooked things all day long.
You still get me scolded all the time!
Dunleavy even asked the general manager for instructions: "Smart, what kind of tactics are you going to have the Clippers use in the new season? Will it be the same as in the playoffs?"
Min Congda quickly shook his head and said: "No, no, no, it's not right to play like the playoffs. We still have to start from the inside with Randolph as the core."
(End of chapter)
