After today's practice, Dunleavy asked Ricky Davis to stay, saying he had something to talk to him about.

Ricky Davis had no intention of leaving the training center, and he was ready to stay and continue to practice and improve his shooting accuracy.

Seeing that Dunleavy was about to chat with him, Davis put on a sports jacket and followed Deng Sr. to the coach's office.

Ricky Davis and Deng Sr. have always had a bad relationship, and even have a bit of stiffness with each other, because Ricky feels that he is not valued by Dunleavy.

In the 2007-2008 season, before Davis was traded to the Clippers, he averaged 13.6 points per game for the Timberwolves.

After being traded to the Clippers, Davis' scoring plummeted to 6.4 points per game.

His stats have been even worse this season, averaging just 4.5 points per game, close to the fringe at the end of the bench.

Davis believes that on the one hand, it has been affected by injuries, and his form 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' style of play is that of a standard shooting guard, he has to carry the ball, he wants to break through, he has to play alone.

It's not about standing in the corner, running and waiting for his teammates to pass the ball, then he can make a move and then focus on defending.

To put it bluntly, he is the boss of the team, but his ability has long been unable to support the identity of the boss.

The heart is higher than the sky, the ability is not enough, and there are more such players in the NBA.

Dunleavy has also seen a lot, and if he wants to survive, he has to make himself what this environment needs.

You want to grow with your heart, either you reach the top of the pyramid in ability, or you go to a lower league to be Jordan.

Dunleavy felt that with Davis's ability and style of play, it was better to go to the lower leagues to be Jordan.

The Euroleague, the Chinese League, or the NBDL or something, that's the 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 to sit down on and said, "What other plans can you have, play well." ”

Dunleavy said, "Do you think you still have the ability to play well?" You've not been doing well this month. ”

With that, Dunleavy showed Davis the stats table for the November game, and Davis still had points, assists, and rebounds.

But his high-end stats are terrible, and when he's on the floor, the team's defensive and offensive efficiency is declining.

To put it simply, the current Davis is the cancer of the team, but Randolph has a high contribution to victory.

"Mr. Smart came over and asked if he could increase Ricky Davis's playing time, after all, he has a salary of more than 2 million, and it is not good to sit on the bench all the time. I said, his current state and performance, if you let him be the coach, he will probably put himself on the bench. What do you think, Ricky? ”

Dunleavy wanted to provoke Davis with such words and make Davis turn his face, so that Dunleavy would have a reason not to show him up.

Even if Min Congda asked, Dunleavy could explain that Davis himself didn't want to perform well.

With Davis's character, he will apply for a trade again, or simply not come, and let the team buy out, which is what Dunleavy wants to see.

After all, Dunleavy is the old coach of the league, Min Congda does not put pressure on his record, let him play freely, and go to the bench more, he will be completely obedient?

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 let their subordinates do things, but all subordinates with some ability cannot implement 100% perfectly without discounts, and they must have their own small abacus.

Those who have crooked abilities and minds will work against the leader.

The ability is small, there is nothing crooked, and the cheating and slickness are discounted.

Those who want to execute 100% without discounts are incapable.

And those who are incapable of people cannot do anything.

Dunleavy is not too capable and does not want to do it, but he is not completely obedient.

Ricky Davis listened to Dunleavy's words, looked at the form in his hand, clenched his fists, and said, "That... Coach Dunleavy, what do you think I should do? What can I do to make a better performance and contribute to the team? ”

Dunleavy wanted to meet Davis's bad temper, but he didn't expect this guy to give in?

It's incredible, what's wrong, I've always been arrogant on weekdays, and I thought James was here to assist his man.

Now I bow my head and ask the coach, what can I do to contribute to the team?

Dunleavy rubbed his nose, he had to think about how to deal with it, didn't this thing play according to the deck.

"You... You start with defense. You're going to do defensive work every day for two weeks and I'll think about increasing your playing time. ”

Ricky Davis' defense has always been a shortcoming, but this year he is 31 years old, let him start practicing defense again?

His body, his consciousness, and his technical foundation were basically set 10 years ago, and how to practice.

At most, practice the defensive attitude, get the form back a little bit, that's all.

But Davis nodded vigorously, and he agreed.

"Good coach, from tomorrow onwards, after every training session I will work on defense...... No, you don't have to start tomorrow, just start today. I'm going to train right away. ”

With that, Davis got up from the bench and returned to the court to practice lateral moves and slides.

Dunleavy came out of the office and watched Davis practice his fundamentals like a high school student on the court, and he was amazed.

"What's going on? Why has he become so obedient, is he really enlightened? ”

Dunleavy suddenly thought of Zach Randolph.

Randolph's recent form has been equally impressive.

Dunleavy didn't like 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 a little stronger than Brand.

But in terms of personality and background, Randolph and Brand are very different.

What is Brand's origin?

In high school, he was a New York State Basketball man, a graduate of Duke University, an NCAA Player of the Year, a first-team All-American, a John Wooden Award winner, a 1999 draft pick, and a Rookie of the Season. Whether on or off the court, he is a trustworthy top power forward, a real captain, and he will never have to worry about Dunleavy.

The 2005-2006 season of the Clippers was a fond memory of Dunleavy's coaching career, and the team was really good that year.

It was only the subsequent sharp turn and Brand's departure that broke Dunleavy's heart, and he was still ambitious.

Look at Randolph again, he missed an entire season in high school for gun theft, and although he and his team reached the Final Four in college, their personal honor was empty-handed, and they were in trouble when they entered the NBA.

Before the start of the season, Randolph got into trouble with a nightclub beating.

But after that time, Randolph seemed to be a different person, and became mature and reliable.

Even after renewing his contract ahead of schedule, he still played conscientiously, and he changed his appearance on and off the court.

"It's weird, is Smart really magical?"

Dunleavy couldn't figure it out and was about to leave, and when he passed by the gym, he saw Randolph doing strength training inside.

"Shet, Smart...... Maybe it's magical...... He seems to have a special affinity with these bastards, is he Song Jiang? ”

Not to mention, Dunleavy is quite knowledgeable, having read the English version of the Water Margin, the story of 105 men and 3 women.

(End of chapter)