I was determined to be bad, but I went straight to the Basketball Hall of Fame

Chapter 565 The Clippers Are Not the German Army
Min Congda seldom came to the locker room this season, because he had won too much, and he couldn't bear to watch him!

Today is different. The Clippers ushered in their first two-game losing streak this season. On this day when the whole team is unhappy and he is happy, Min Congda will of course come to the locker room for a walk to achieve some psychological satisfaction.

I have to admit that as the Clippers become stronger and stronger and become a championship-level team, such happy moments are becoming less and less for Min Congda.

Back in the day, there were still times of three-game losing streak and four-game losing streak, but now it’s been two months since the start of the season, and it’s the first time that the team has lost two games in a row.

Seeing that everyone was downcast, Min Congda kept stepping forward to pat them on the shoulders, giving some encouragement.

"Great performance tonight! Keep up the good work!"

"Stephen, your three-point shot today is very beautiful. I want to hear it again in the next game."

"James, I think the bench seat is very suitable for you. It must be very comfortable to sit on."

"Mark! Bogut's defense is good, isn't he? How many shots did you get today? It doesn't matter. Next game you will be... even better."

It is said to be encouraging, but how do these words sound in the ears of the players, how do they feel awkward, why should they be ridiculed here?
But this irony is really quite pungent, which made the players who performed poorly tonight a little ashamed, and everyone lowered their heads and did not speak.

At this time, the coaching staff returned to the locker room, and Tyronn Lue, Lao Jin, Lucas and others all had solemn expressions.

Not to mention Mike Malone, his face drooped, his mouth pursed, his heart was uneasy, his eyes kept avoiding 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 sneer, "Mr. Smart, I'm sorry..."

Min Congda interrupted him, saying: "Don't apologize to me, what is there to be sorry for? I know that some changes in the team's starting lineup and style of play are your suggestions. 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's 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 strategy, once you use it, everyone can win immediately. I think your suggestions and ideas for the team are of great reference value and can be implemented!"

"Steve Kerr is an excellent coach, but I think he has entered a bottleneck period in the transformation and thinking of the team. Only by introducing new ideas and new ideas can the Clippers become stronger. I believe your original intention is the same, isn't it Mike?"

Listening to Min Congda's words, Mike Malone felt that he didn't seem to be eccentric, but sincerely agreed with his thoughts.

He can understand Mike Malone and knows that any tactical and lineup adjustments and changes will take time to settle.

The long regular season itself is here to adjust the team's lineup and play style, and 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, fans and owners don’t care. If you lose too much, or a certain lineup or style of play does not perform well in three or four consecutive games, they will let you switch back.

You said long-term considerations?What will the general manager say in the long run? In the long run, I should quit get out of class!
Only coaches like Popovich and Riley who have absolute control over the team and players can bear the pain of change.

For example, after the Spurs changed their core thinking in the 2011 season, the pain of being hacked has not healed until now.

That is to say, Popovich, if you change to another coach, there is a high probability that get out of class has already been dismissed, and if you don't dismiss get out of class, you will have to be scolded and change the system back.

What is Popovich's roots in the Spurs?
It's only been a few days since Mike Malone came to the Clippers. He won't be fired just after signing the contract, but in his opinion, it's inevitable to get a bad face or beating.

Ma Long was mentally prepared, but he was greeted with 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 the team wins."

Min Congda shook his head and said, "Mike, you haven't been in our team for a long time. I want to tell you that winning or losing is not important, the most important thing is to develop your own abilities and ideas. In the Clippers, our core idea is that everyone has the ball to play, and everyone can use their talents. Don't limit your eyes to the gains and losses of a city or a place, and look at the problem in the long run~"

Mike Malone finally understood that Steve Kerr didn't lie to him, and Smart Min was really a coach who didn't care about winning or losing.

What he cares about is not the gains and losses of a game or two, but the development of a team from the long-term perspective of basketball.

No wonder he was able to train the Clippers into a champion in just three years. This training method that does not seem to be eager for quick success is actually the fastest way to become a talent.

I have to say that this world is really strange, the more you want, the more you want to win, the harder you try, the more often you cannot win.

Conversely, if you don't care about winning or losing so much, and just concentrate on doing your own thing, beautiful results will happen naturally.

Thinking of this, Mike Malone suddenly had hot 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 a soulmate.

Mike Malone has lived in this league for 10 years. Like Mike Brown, he started as a video editor and worked crazily every day, not 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 entirely possible for Malone to find an ordinary job.

But Mike Malone just wants to be a coach, an assistant coach, a head coach, directing the team off the court.

His father did not agree with him to take up the job of coaching in the early years, because he knew that this road was too hard.

Mike Malone also knew it was hard, and he persevered 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 the past few years, and they are quite short-sighted in terms of transactions and tactical construction.

Only in 11 and 12, it can be regarded as making some long-term and correct decisions, but it is a pity that it is still a little short of the championship.

Where are they?Mike Malone was also thinking, and now facing Min Congda, he knew the answer.

The difference lies in the spirit of basketball, in the attachment to basketball itself, and in the understanding of success or failure.

The Mavericks in 11 years, the Clippers in 12 years, are they 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 that he was enlightened, like a Buddhist epiphany, he felt that he saw a kind of basketball divinity in Min Congda!
Min Congda didn't realize this at all. He just thought in his heart: "Encourage Mike Malone and let this guy make more troubles. I also expressed my opinion in the locker room and gave Malone support, so that I won't change it back later. When the team loses consecutive games, there should be conflicts, right? Hahaha, I'm such a genius."

Complacent, Min Congda left the locker room.

Looking at Min Congda's leaving back, Mike Malone sighed deeply.

It turned out that Smart-Min was far from the crazy psychopath and hype master that was advertised and shown by the outside world.

That's just his appearance. Under his flashy shell, there is actually the purest and wisest basketball heart!

Seeing Mike Malone in a daze, Tyronn Lu said, "Hey Mike, what's the matter? Are you shocked? Mr. Smart doesn't have any opinions about losing, but encourages you instead."

Mike Malone nodded and said, "This... is really the first time I have met."

Curry came over and said: "Slowly you will get used to it, and 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, let's win. I don't want to be ridiculed by him when I lose."

Mike Malone wondered, "Could it be that he was mocking me just now?"

Little Gasol shook his head and said: "He didn't mock you just now, he told the truth. But when you stay in the team for three years and he still encourages you after losing, you will feel ashamed. You should win the game, and he will shut up if you win."

Ma Long couldn't understand it. After all, the time hadn't come yet, and he was still immersed in the emotion for the time being.

And the Clippers, as Min Congda said, once they 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.

Just after playing back-to-back away games, the team has a day off on January 1, and there is no time for tactical training.

On January 1, the Clippers will host the Lakers again.

Compared with the instability of the Clippers, the Lakers have gradually entered a stable period.

The coach D'Antoni has various shortcomings, which caused him to always fail in the playoffs, almost a little bit.

But in the regular season, the reason why he insisted on using an 8-man rotation also has his reason, that is stability.

From players to coaches, a very good game inertia has been formed in the regular season.

Everyone just follows the process, starting five players, substituting three players, and picking up and down.

The team's main offense is fast, and they seize the opponent's loopholes and gaps to chase after them.

Because of the small number of rotations, there are always core players on the court to stabilize the situation and not give the opponent a chance to stand up.

D'Antoni started this trick from coaching the Suns. I can rely on 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 I can always have a job in the NBA. Why should I learn other people's tricks and learn to walk in Handan in the end, the gain outweighs the loss?
In fact, not only 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 out that my three axes are the most suitable for me and the most effective. Other people's things belong to others after all. No matter how good you can't use it, it doesn't matter if it's not suitable for you.

The Clippers showed a counterexample this time. They played well and opened up the offense. They had to put an organization point on the bench. Everyone was not used to playing smoothly.

As a result, the Lakers suppressed the Clippers from the first quarter of the game. The combination of Leonard + Paul George failed to suppress Kobe and Iguodala very well, but the team's offense was still in a state of constipation.

From the beginning to the end, the Clippers did not hit their victory points, the offense was not smooth, and the defensive efficiency was not high.

Although relying on the personal ability of the players, the Clippers and the Lakers fought 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 108-point advantage at 105:3, and gave the Clippers a three-game losing streak!

After losing this game, the Clippers' No. [-] position in the league is already in jeopardy, and they are only half a game away from the Thunder who are second in the Western Conference.

Min Congda smiled happily, but Mike Malone was really stressed.

He began to question, is his idea wrong?

Although Mike Malone has just entered the Clippers, his research on the Clippers has already begun.

After last year's Finals, he even watched the clips of the Clippers' games over and over again, and compiled the statistics again and again.

Many times, the enemy knows you better than yourself.

Malone is convinced that his ideas are correct, and the Clippers' new lineup and rotation are a more solid and stable system.

Ma Long 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 find time to train and build a new defensive system.

Unfortunately, the league schedule does not give the Clippers such time.

Just lost to the Lakers on January 1, the Clippers will immediately face the Golden State Warriors back-to-back on January 4.

With 5 games in 4 days and playing in three venues, the Clippers' schedule fatigue reached its peak.

In this case, Tyronn Lue discussed with his coaching staff and made a decision: take turns!

Curry, Randolph, Gasol Jr., 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, plus 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 to rest their main players in rotation!

In the locker room before the game, Min Congda praised Tyronn Lu: "When it's time to rest, you should take a rest and let the main players take a good rest. Even if you lose this game, I think your decision to rest is correct!"

Tyronn Lu nodded and said, "We have to take a long-term view."

Min Congda's thoughts have penetrated into every corner of the Clippers, and his smell is everywhere.

Looking at the Clippers' bench lineup, Min Congda confidently waited for the team's four-game losing streak.

He believes that these few games will be a turning point for the Clippers this season and even on the road to bankruptcy.

Comparable to the turning point of World War II, the Battle of Pingan, the momentum and morale of the Clippers will enter a downward trend.

But Min Congda did not expect that this game was indeed a turning point, but the Clippers were not the German army.

(End of this chapter)