Min Congda seldom comes to the locker room this season, because he has won too many games and can't bear to be surprised!
Today is different. The Clippers have lost two games in a row for the first time this season. On this day when the whole team is not happy with him, Min Congda of course has to come to the locker room to have some psychological satisfaction.
I have to admit that as the Clippers become stronger and stronger and become a championship-level team, such happy moments become less and less for Min Congda.
I think back in those days, there were still times when there were three consecutive losses and four consecutive losses. Now, two months into the season, we have lost two consecutive games for the first time.
Seeing everyone dejected, Min Congda kept stepping forward to pat them on the shoulders and give them some encouragement.
"Great performance tonight! Keep up the good work!"
"Stephen, your three-point shot today was very beautiful. I want to hear it again in the next game."
"James, I think the seat on the bench is suitable for you. It must be very comfortable to sit on."
"Mark! Is Bogut's defense good? How many shots did he get today? It doesn't matter. You will be... better in the next game."
It's said to be encouragement, but why do these words sound awkward to the ears of the players? Are they here to be ridiculed?
However, this irony was quite bitter and made the players who performed poorly tonight feel a little embarrassed. Everyone lowered their heads and said nothing.
At this time, the coaching staff returned to the locker room. Tyronn Lue, Lao Jin, Lucas and others all had solemn expressions.
Not to mention Mike Malone, with a drooped face and pursed lips, feeling uneasy and uneasy, his eyes kept avoiding looking at Min Congda.
He didn't dare to look at Min Congda, but Min Congda found him in the locker room. He immediately stepped forward and said: "Mike! Mike!"
Mike Malone raised his head and said with a smile: "Mr. Smart, I'm sorry..."
Min Congda interrupted him and said: "Don't apologize to me. What is there to apologize for? I know that some changes in the team's starting lineup and playing style are suggestions made by you. I think this attitude of daring to make suggestions is Very good, the Clippers have always been an inclusive team!"
"Mr. Smart, I know there is something wrong with my strategy, but actually..."
"No! There is nothing wrong with your strategy! I know that the implementation of any strategy takes time to show its effect, doesn't it? There is no magic bullet for tactics, and everyone will win immediately as soon as they are used. Your suggestions and ideas for the team, I think it is of great reference value and can be implemented!”
"Steve Kerr is an excellent coach, but I think his transformation and ideas for the team have entered a bottleneck period. Only by introducing new ideas and new ideas can the Clippers become stronger. I I believe that’s your original intention as well, isn’t it Mike?”
When Mike Malone listened to Min Congda's words, he didn't feel like he was being eccentric, but sincerely agreed with his thoughts.
He can understand Mike Malone and knows that any adjustments and changes in tactics and lineups will take time to settle.
The long regular season itself is used to adjust the team's lineup and play style. Small fluctuations are really normal.
Mike Malone was suddenly moved. It turned out that Mr. Smart was really different from other general managers.
Although other general managers also understand the above principles, the fans and owners don't care. If you lose too many games, or if a certain lineup or style of play does not perform well for three or four consecutive games, they will ask you to switch back.
You said we need to think long term? What will the general manager say about the long term? If not, I should be dismissed!
Only coaches like Popovich and Riley who have absolute control over the team and players can withstand the pain caused by changes.
For example, after the Spurs' entire core thinking changed in the 2011 season, the pain of being hacked has not healed to this day.
That is to say, Popovich, if it were another coach, he would probably have dismissed the get out of class. If he did not dismiss the get out of class, he would have to be scolded and change the system back.
What is Popovich's foundation in the Spurs?
Mike Malone has only been with the Clippers for a few days. He will not be fired as soon as he signs the contract, but in his opinion, a slap in the face or a beating is inevitable.
Ma Long was mentally prepared, but he didn't know that what greeted him was full understanding, support, and encouragement.
"Mr. Smart, I... thank you for your encouragement. I will add more details to this new tactical system as soon as possible! To ensure that the team wins."
Min Congda shook his head and said: "Mike, you have not been with our team for a long time. I want to tell you that winning or losing is not important. The most important thing is to use your own abilities and ideas. In the Clippers, our core idea is Everyone has a ball to play, and everyone can use his talents. Don’t limit your vision to the gains and losses of one city or one place, but look at the problem in the long term~”
Mike Malone finally understood that Steve Kerr didn't lie to him. Smart Min was really a coach who didn't care about winning or losing.
What he cares about is not the gains and losses in one or two games, but looking at the development of a team from the long-term perspective of basketball.
No wonder he was able to train the Clippers into a championship team in just three years. This training method that does not seem to be eager for quick success is actually the fastest way to become talented.
I have to say that this world is really strange. The more you want, the more you want to win, and the harder you try, the less likely you are to win.
On the other hand, if you don’t care so much about winning or losing, and just concentrate on doing your own thing, wonderful results will happen naturally.
When Mike Malone thought of this, there was a sudden urge to burst into tears in his eyes. Looking at the smiling Min Congda in front of him, he really wanted to hold his hand tightly and say that he had found his soulmate.
Mike Malone has been in this league for 10 years. Like Mike Brown, he started out as a video editor and works crazy every day, not because he wants to stay in this league, but because he really loves the sport of basketball.
His father, Brandon Malone, has worked in the NBA for so many years. With his connections, it is completely possible for Malone to find an ordinary job.
But Mike Malone just wants to coach, assistant coach, head coach, and direct the team off the court.
In his early years, his father did not agree with him taking up the job of coaching because he knew that this road would be too hard.
Mike Malone also knows how hard it is, and he perseveres in order to realize his dream one day.
He learned a lot in the Cavaliers, and his relationship with James is also very good.
But he must admit that the Cavaliers have been extremely utilitarian in recent years and have been quite short-sighted in terms of transactions and tactical construction.
In only 11 and 12 years, I made some long-term and correct decisions, but unfortunately I was still a little short of the championship.
What's the difference between them? Mike Malone was also thinking, and now facing Min Congda, he knew the answer.
The difference is in the spirit of basketball, the difference is in the persistence of basketball itself, and the difference is in the understanding of victory and defeat.
The Mavericks in 2011 and the Clippers in 2012 are really much better than the Cavaliers in terms of strength?
No, but their spirit, their thinking, and their dedication to basketball allowed them to taste the fruits of victory.
At this moment, Mike Malone felt like he had an enlightenment, like a Buddhist epiphany. He felt that he saw a kind of basketball divinity in Min Congda!
Min Congda was completely unaware of this. He just thought in his mind: "Encourage Mike Malone and let this guy struggle more. I also expressed my position in the locker room and gave Malone support, so that he will not change it back later. Wait until The team has been losing consecutive games, so it’s time for a conflict, right? Hahaha, I’m really a genius.”
Feeling complacent, Min Congda left the locker room.
Mike Malone looked at Min Congda's leaving figure and sighed deeply.
It turns out that Smart Min is not the crazy, crazy, hype master that the outside world has publicized and shown him to be.
That's just his appearance. Under his flashy shell, he actually has the purest and wisest basketball heart!
Tyronn Lue saw Mike Malone in a daze and said, "Hey Mike, what's wrong? Are you shocked? Mr. Smart didn't have any opinions about losing, and instead encouraged you."
Mike Malone nodded and said, "This...is really the first time I've met him."
Curry came over and said: "Slowly you will get used to it. When you get used to it, you will think, I don't want to lose anymore, I would rather he scold me."
Randolph also added: "Yes, it's better to win. I don't want to lose and be ridiculed by him."
Mike Malone asked: "Did he just mock me?"
Gasol shook his head and said: "He didn't mock you just now, he told the truth. But when you have been in the team for three years and he encourages you when you lose, you will be ashamed. You still win. If you win the ball, he will shut up."
Ma Long couldn't understand it. After all, the time hadn't come yet, and he was still immersed in emotion for the time being.
As Min Congda said, once the Clippers change their tactical thinking and rotation strategy, it is not easy to adjust in a short while.
Especially now that it is the middle of the season, as the schedule deepens, the competition is fierce, and the season is intensive, everyone does not have so much time to train.
We just finished back-to-back away games. The team had a day off on January 3rd and had no time for tactical training.
The Clippers will play the Lakers at home on January 4th.
Compared with the instability of the Clippers, the Lakers have gradually entered a stable period.
D'Antoni, the coach, has shortcomings of one kind or another, which causes him to always fail in the playoffs, almost by a small margin.
But in the regular season, there is a reason why he insists on using an 8-man rotation, and that is stability.
From players to coaches, a very good game inertia was formed in the regular season.
Everyone just follows the process, with five starting players and three substitutes, who come on and off the court accordingly.
The team focuses on offense, is fast, and seizes the opponent's loopholes and gaps to pursue and attack fiercely.
Because the number of rotations is small, there are always core players on the court to stabilize the situation and not give opponents a chance to make a comeback.
D'Antoni has learned this trick since coaching the Suns. I can use this to win the regular season championship and win a lot of box office, so why don't I stick to my strategy?
I can rely on this skill and always have a job to do in the NBA. Why should I learn other people's tricks?
In fact, this is true not only in basketball, but also in many fields. Watching others play this way and that way, I think I can do it too.
In the end, I found that my own three-axe is the most suitable and most effective for me. What belongs to others will belong to others after all. No matter how good it is, you can’t use it or it doesn’t suit you.
The Clippers acted as a counterexample this time. They played well and opened up the offense, but they had to put an organization point on the bench. Everyone was not playing smoothly and was not used to it.
As a result, the Lakers suppressed the Clippers from the first quarter of this game. The combination of Leonard + Paul George failed to suppress Kobe and Iguodala well. Instead, the team's offense was still in a state of constipation.
From beginning to end, the Clippers failed to score a victory point that belonged to them. Their offense was not smooth and their defensive efficiency was not high.
Although relying on the players' personal abilities, the Clippers and Lakers struggled to the end.
But this time the Lakers made no mistakes in the final stage. Kobe and Paul hit consecutive mid-range jumpers.
Helped the Lakers win the game with a 3-point advantage at 108:105, and gave the Clippers their third consecutive defeat!
After losing this game, the Clippers' first position in the league is in jeopardy, and they are only half a game behind the second-place Thunder in the Western Conference.
Min Congda was beaming, but Mike Malone was really under a lot of pressure.
He began to question, was his idea wrong?
Although Mike Malone has just joined the Clippers, his research on the Clippers has already begun.
After last year's finals, he watched the Clippers' game videos over and over again, and compiled the statistics again and again.
Many times, the enemy knows you better than you know yourself.
Malone is convinced that his ideas are correct. The Clippers' new lineup and rotation are a more solid and stable system.
Malone believes that the team's top priority is that the players must adapt to this new rotation as soon as possible, and the second is to take time to train and build a new defensive system.
Unfortunately, the league schedule does not give the Clippers such time.
Having just lost to the Lakers on January 4th, the Clippers will immediately face the Golden State Warriors back-to-back on January 5th.
With four games in five days and three venues, the Clippers' schedule fatigue has reached its peak.
In this case, Tyronn Lue discussed with his coaching staff and made a decision: take a rest!
The four absolute main players, Curry, Randolph, Gasol, and Harden, all sat on the bench to rest.
Facing the young Golden State Warriors, the Clippers also used a very young lineup: Milicic, Anthony Davis, Leonard, George, and Dragic.
The sixth man on the bench was replaced by Jimmy Butler.
Min Congda, as the general manager, expressed his strong support for the Clippers' move to rest their main players!
In the locker room before the game, Min Chongda praised Tyronn Lue: "You should take a break when it's time to take a break and let the main players have a good rest. Even if you lose this game, I think your decision to take a break is correct!"
Tyronn Lue nodded and said: "We must take a long-term view of the problem."
Min Congda's thoughts have penetrated into every corner of the Clippers, and his flavor is everywhere.
Looking at the Clippers' bench, Min Congda confidently awaits the team's fourth consecutive defeat.
He believes that these games will be a turning point for the Clippers this season and even on the road to bankruptcy.
Comparable to the Battle of Angler, the turning point of World War II, the Clippers' momentum and morale will enter a downward spiral.
But Min Congda did not expect that this game was indeed a turning point, but the Clippers were not the German army.
(End of chapter)
