For Harden and George, it was the first time they knew that the team's general manager was so approachable.
I ate, chatted and joked with the players in the training center without any airs from the management.
Like Harden in the Thunder, although Presti is a good general manager, he is very serious every day.
The Thunder's team culture is inherited from the Spurs, and the Spurs have always given people the impression of being rigorous and disciplined like an army.
Popovich himself was born in the military, and he often scolded young players with a hot temper - except for Duncan.
The overall atmosphere of the Spurs has become more relaxed. When Popovich gets older, the team's transformation begins.
In short, Harden has never seen management and players so close.
Because they are not close enough, they have no burden when trading players.
What makes Harden sad to leave the Thunder is the separation from Durant and Westbrook.
They are both young people, very close and very talented.
It's such a shame that they separated after only playing for one year.
But coming to the Clippers is also good. Curry is also young and talented.
And compared with George and Bledsoe, Harden can be regarded as the big brother.
Min Congda and Curry actually started a cooking competition, and Min Congda's appetite has improved this year.
I haven't gained much weight, and I can't even grow taller. I don't know why I eat more and more.
I don’t know where the excess energy went.
The seafood fried rice is eaten one basin after another.
In the end, both of them couldn't eat anymore and lay motionless on the chairs.
Min Congda asked: "Stephen, you eat so much, what should you do with training in the afternoon?"
Curry shook his head and said: "I don't know, I can't move at all. I ate too much."
"You must be sick. You know you are training in the afternoon and you eat so much. I don't care."
"No, if I want to beat you, I will eat more than you."
The boring competitive spirit was aroused here, and the result was that Curry had to take leave from training in the afternoon.
Dunleavy angrily scolded Curry, but there was nothing he could do. Who asked Min Congda to support him?
The Clippers' training maintains this relaxed and lively atmosphere, which Min Congda deliberately created.
He feels that if the players are allowed to practice hard every day, the team's performance will definitely get better and better.
For example, the Lakers next door. It is said that every training session of the Lakers is like a fight, and the intensity is very high.
Kobe is the kind of player who is very serious during training and does not allow anyone to laugh and laugh.
There is also Michael Jordan, who is also a devil in training. His teammates will be scolded if they relax even a little bit.
Not only will he torture you with your skills, he will also torture you with trash talk and make you grow in pain.
Min Congda studied hard at home during the off-season. These are negative teaching materials.
We can't let this unhealthy trend blow into the Clippers' training. Everyone just muddles along, and that's pretty much it.
The training ended at two o'clock in the afternoon, and the team arranged a post-game interview.
The one who received the most attention from reporters was Milicic, who surrounded him to ask about the training situation.
7 years, 7 years have passed, and people still don’t want to let go of this Platinum Era number two.
But this time, Milicic looked very relaxed when facing the interview.
Compared with when he signed three months ago, his mental state is obviously much better.
He was clean shaven and his hair was trimmed and trimmed.
He didn't talk much when facing reporters, but he answered every question well.
When he answered reporters' questions, the word he said most often was "relax."
"I feel very relaxed and not stressed."
"The team's training atmosphere is also very relaxed, and Mr. Smart always reminds us to relax."
"Relax and get ready for the new season."
Compared with last season, another change in Milicic is that his weight has become lighter.
He obviously spent time on body control to get in better shape.
Since his rookie season, Milicic has given up on himself and often eats snacks.
Carbonated drinks, potato chips, cheese, these high-calorie foods are his favorites.
He has not become an overweight fat man like Eddy Curry, which shows that he has restrained himself.
During the seasons in Memphis and the Timberwolves, his weight has affected his ability to move.
In the new season, Milicic decided to take off his burden and give himself a new position.
Since Smart doesn't expect anything from him, his expectation for himself is to become a useful defensive inside man.
Dunleavy repeatedly emphasized interior defense in the first training session, and Milicic ran hard to do it.
After a training session, Dunleavy found that Milicic was doing okay and not as bad as he thought.
After finishing the interview, he packed up everything and drove back to his new home in Los Angeles. Looking at his wife and daughter, Milicic felt very satisfied.
He had a premonition that a new life was about to begin here.
…
On October 5, after three days of training, the Clippers began their preseason tour.
Their first opponent in the preseason is the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Trail Blazers' strength should not be underestimated.
It's just that this team is really unlucky. The No. 1 pick Greg Oden they have been waiting for for a long time still has no hope of coming back.
In a game against the Rockets in December last year, Oden was injured again and left the game and never returned.
Until now, Oden is still on the Trail Blazers' injury list, and the Trail Blazers can only renew Przbilla as a center.
The talented Oden-Aldridge-Roy lineup planned by the Trail Blazers finally fell to the devastation of injuries.
Even so, the Trail Blazers' lineup is still very balanced.
Przbilla, Aldridge, Roy, Batum plus Andre Miller.
It can be said that it is a regular, stable and balanced lineup.
Roy entered the All-Star last season and averaged 22 points per game.
After Aldridge finished his rookie contract, the Trail Blazers renewed his contract for 5 years and 65 million.
As he enters his mature stage, he will usher in an all-round explosion this season.
Plus French Spider-Man Batum and veteran Andre Miller.
In the opinion of expert commentators, the Trail Blazers' lineup is still very competitive.
The only hidden danger is injuries.
The first game of the preseason, the Moda Center, home of the Trail Blazers.
The lazy Clippers faced the highly disciplined Trail Blazers coached by Nate McMillan.
In the first quarter, the Trail Blazers used defense and precise jump shots to maintain the lead over the Clippers.
After that, Dunleavy let go of the rotation and let all the newcomers come on and slip through.
This was Min Congda's request before the game. Whether it is a mule or a horse, it must go up and play.
It's no wonder that the team can play well in this way, and the situation on the field presents a sharp contrast.
Nate McMillan is a coach who is very obsessed with mid-range jump shots and has strict requirements on players' shot selection.
In comparison, the Clippers were in a mess in their first preseason game, with Curry and Harden throwing away at every opportunity.
Not to mention that Dunleavy had a headache when he saw it, but McMillan on the opposite side felt uncomfortable, thinking: "How did the Clippers become like this after one offseason? There is no discipline at all. It seems that there is no need to worry too much in the regular season."
The Clippers' opening game of the new season is against the Trail Blazers.
McMillan saw the messy Clippers on the court and felt that the West might be missing a competitor.
(End of chapter)
